BESTSELLER INNOVATION
It gave me great joy when BESTSELLER approached me to create a showcase collection of 3 design. Their aim was to show, in accordance with their Fashion FWD strategy, what's possible in practice with the cutting edge innovation of Spinnova fabric. You'll read more about the fabric further down.
"At BESTSELLER, we want to accelerate fashion’s journey towards a more sustainable reality. Our industry has a significant impact. By countering climate change, using resources efficiently and promoting human rights, business can be a positive force for change. Our sustainability strategy is named Fashion FWD and it sets our near-term direction and keeps us accountable with goals to achieve by 2025. When we have achieved these goals, we will then set new ones, always aiming higher towards our North Star.
Fibres and materials are essential to fashion. We're committed to sourcing and using materials that proven to have less environmental impact on the climate, when compared to conventional materials of the same category."
DESIGN - BESTSELLER
MALENE RASMUSSEN
Malene works in BESTSELLER’s innovation team, with a focus on circular design. Her designs are inspired by workwear, and functionality. Comfortable garments that can be used in different occasions.
WORKER JACKET & PANT
The mens outfit is a relaxed worker jacket in a deep green twill fabric. The buttons are dark brown, made of wood resin. The pant is wide and relaxed, with some cargo details.
CASUAL JACKET & SKIRT
The womens outfit is playful and relaxed. The bright blue jacket is boxy with patch-on pockets and a drawstring in the waist, the matching buttons are made of curoza nuts. The skirt is ankle long, and has a drawstring in the waist so it fits all body shapes. There are 2 pockets in the side seams.
SHOULDER BAG
The unisex shoulder bag is made in an ecru twill fabric. It has no trims, which makes makes it very easy to recycle. All stitches are tonal for the whole collection.
FABRICS - SPINNOVA
FABRIC COMPOSITION & FEATURES
Spinnova’s pristine fibre is made of wood without any harmful chemicals. The breakthrough technology guarantees close to zero water use and minimal CO2 emissions while at the same time ensuring the touch and feel of natural fibres.
Spinnova creates its innovative textile fibre out of cellulose. The raw material used to create the fibre is the same pulp that's used for making paper. The wood comes from FSC certified tree farms. Spinnova treats the pulp only mechanically, to create something called micro fibrillated cellulose; the feedstock for their process.
Spinnova has received awards from the likes of the Fast Company, ISPO, Scandinavian Outdoor, ANDAM, Monocle and Marie Claire UK.
CREATE -
AMK ATELIER
The collection was briefed to me in the atelier by Malene with sketches and notes on what fits she thinks would be suitable in this new fabric form Spinnova.
FIT DEVELOPMENT
I researched my pattern library to see what I could use as a block and I shared my ideas for shape and shiluoettes that could match her sketches. Together we agreed on the designs and shapes, and I started to draft the patterns.
PATTERNS & FIRST SAMPLES
All design details were incorporated into the drafting of the pattern, and the patterns were plotted. After this I stitched the first samples. All samples were made in a similar fabric in weight and drape as the Spinnova fabric. It is important to make the samples in a similar fabric to sign off the designs.
HANDMADE IN AMSTERDAM
It is important for me at AMK atelier to work with partners who share the same core values as me, in this case, sustainability. It was a such joy to work with an innovation team, you could really tell that their everyday work is based on sustainable solutions. It was an honer to work with them on a project like this. Circular thinking form the designs to the smallest details, such as the trims.
CUT & SEW THE COLLECTION
We hosted a digital fitting with models to sign off all protos. When all was approved I started making the final collection. The showcase collection shows the possibilities of the novel Spinnova fabric and will hang on display in their innovation lab in Denmark.
ONE OF A KIND MADE BY HAND
The collection is created with love and care in the atelier, and in a new innovation material. We hope this will inspire more people working towards a more circular fashion industry.
