We know they’re good for the environment. But what exactly are these so-called sustainable fabrics that are taking over our world? Luxury labels are shifting their focus to vegan leather and recycled materials. And the fabrics we grew up with simply don’t cut it anymore. “There is a plethora of new materials that designers and textile manufacturers are working with to make fashion more sustainable. Bamboo and banana fibre, leathers made from plant-based materials, and even sustainable silk is being devised. Along with all these innovations, it is vital to remember to buy from accountable and transparent brands, buy less and buy better, and rewear, repeat and repair your clothes,” believes fashion designer Nachiket Barve. Saachi Bahl’s Saahra Sustain offers womenswear classics handcrafted in GOTS certified cotton or peace silk, shoes from plantbased bio-leather called Pinatex, collections made from Econyl and even bags made from cork. On the design side of things, brands are using reclaimed and waste materials that has led to the creation of unique products and the design world is excited to further explore this avenue. Redefining this space, sustainable home decor brands and designers show us the beauty of old is gold. Econyl Econyl is making its presence strongly felt in the market. The fabric was pioneered by Italian company Aquafil in 2011 and is a recycled nylon fibre that is regenerated from plastic trash in the ocean, such as fishing nets, discarded bottles and industrial waste. Aquafil cleans and shreds this waste through a chemical purification process to extract pure nylon. That means that the resulting fibre, Econyl, is no different from virgin nylon. Giulio Bonazzi Chairman and CEO at Aquafil Group gets his passion for sustainability from his native place, a beautiful area in the middle of the mountains of Italy (Dolomites and Alps) near Garda Lake. The place taught him to love, value and respect the beauty that surrounds you. We spoke exclusively to maestro himself to know more about the material.“ECONYL® is regenerated nylon 100% with a different story. It comes from nylon waste such as fishing nets, fabric scraps from mills and carpets destined for landfills. It is used for apparel, carpets, and other interior design products. And it has exactly the same performance as fossil-based nylon.” The pace at which brands are adapting to the material is impressive and currently Aquafil, with ECONYL®, collaborates with more than 2500 brands in the world. “As consumers continue to stay aware of material ingredients, it’s important that brands choose supply chain transparency. This will not only empower the consumer, but it will also invite designers to tap into a new level of innovation and creativity. And this is why brands are choosing sustainable ingredients like ECONYL® nylon for their collection,” shared Bonazzi. ECONYL is mostly known by customers due to pieces offered by Adidas in its 2017 collaboration with Parley, Prada’s line of bags made with the fabric in 2019 — ReNylon, and Gucci and Burberry have also used Econyl in their outerwear pieces and accessories, including the latter’s iconic trench coat. “Brands are using Econyl across different product categories like swim/resort to luxury. It is coming with the functionality of a virgin material making it good for fashion and the planet,” said Saachi Bahl. ECONYL is also used for home décor by brands such as Noho, a New Zealand based eco-chic brand that creates durable and dynamic chairs made with materials from discarded waste. Alcarol in nature creates functional home décor pieces while preserving the natural materials as they would appear in their respective habitats. From dining room and coffee tables to consoles and shelving, each creation replicates a distinctive landscape, bringing depth, perspective and beauty into your living spaces. Finally, Rols, a Spanish carpet manufacturing brand since 1917, integrates ecological materials such as wool or jute, and ECONYL® regenerated nylon into their designs, believing that ‘quality goes hand-in-hand with treating the earth with respect’. Cupro Another sustainable fabric that is fast gaining popularity is cuprammonium rayon, also known as Cupro. This is a plant-based fabric and made from cotton linter, which is a waste product of cotton that’s often discarded. It can also be derived from recycled cotton garments, especially T-shirts. Cupro as a fabric is fine, sheer, smooth, soft to touch, hypoallergenic, stretch-resistant, durable and dries quickly. Some even call this fabric Vegan Silk. Amouve procures organic cotton directly from Indian farmers and this practice has also led to less usage of water as compared to regular cotton. The brand offers a Econyl Aquafil Econyl 18|LUXEBOOK|APRIL 2022 APRIL 2022 |LUXEBOOK|19
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