Technik-Leather
Company von Holzhausen
Introduction Date January 1, 2017
Project Website http://www.vonholzhausen.com
Why is this project worthy of an award?
Von Holzhausen is an accessories brand that believes in Ethical Style. At the core of the brand mission is Technik-Leather, a high-tech, leather alternative this is 100% animal free and made with the highest standards of sustainability. Technik-Leather flips the paradigm of traditional leather alternatives by combining a high-tech environmentally conscious material with functionality and style. We use the most advanced processes to ensure a tremendous value, never sacrificing style or functionality. Vicki von Holzhausen, the brand founder drew upon her decade long experience in the auto industry, working as a designer for Audi and Mercedes-Benz to innovate Technik-Leather for use in the fashion industry. “My aim was to deep dive into my experience as an car designer and innovative a material that gives the consumer a better choice than leather, one that’s good for people, animals, and the planet while never sacrificing on style. We as designers have a limited time to solve this issues and I want to contribute to the solution.” All von Holzhausen accessories are made with Technik-Leather in the USA using the most ethical processes.
What else would you like to share about your design? Why is it unique and innovative?
Technik-Leather is an advanced and nontoxic water-based polyurethane designed to have the supple hand of traditional leather combined with the durability of a performance fabric. It is made with the utmost concern of the environment and with care for the long-term impact on our planet and the people involved. The manufacturing processes used to create the material focus on conversation of raw materials, toxic-free solutions and minimal dependency on natural resources. Technik-Leather is one third the weight of traditional leather. It is stain resistant, scratch resistant, water resistant, and flawless allowing for freedom to use it in ways not suitable for leather.
Who worked on the project?
Vicki von Holzhausen
View the project video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TQalBf6sk4
The American Giant Roughneck Pant
Company American Giant
Introduction Date March 26, 2018
Project Website https://www.american-giant.com/roughneck-pant/M4-3H-12.html
Why is this project worthy of an award?
What it is: This year, American Giant (the company behind the greatest hoodie of all time) entered the woven garment category with the Roughneck Pant. Constructed from a premium cotton-blend stretch canvas, the pant is exceptionally comfortable and durable, built to stand up to anything and everything required of the modern man’s wardrobe. Commuting via bicycle, sitting at a computer, pouring beers at a brewery – the pant is flexible and breathable, designed to move with you throughout your day. The Roughneck isn’t merely a pair of pants; it’s a sophisticated piece as modern and versatile as its wearer. Where it’s made: Like all American Giant products, the Roughneck Pant is manufactured completely in the U.S. – from canvas that is milled and dyed in Georgia, to assembly in Los Angeles. End-to-end, scalable American manufacturing is a unique approach in today’s fast-fashion-dominated apparel market, but a commitment to this domestic model drives every product American Giant engineers, from their popular flagship hoodie to upcoming product innovations. Because American Giant works closely with local supply chains and manufacturing communities, investing in domestic partnerships and employees, they are able to produce woven canvas for the Roughneck Pant at scale, despite the challenge of limited American mill infrastructure. The pant’s cotton is grown here, the fiber is crafted here, the leather detailing is cut and sewn in factories here. What it means: Beyond the Roughneck Pant’s exceptional hand construction, the pant is emblematic of a major shift in contemporary culture. The era of the 9-5 workday is bygone; the modern man’s work uniform needs to hold up across settings – from changing diapers to leading a board meeting. Flexibility and quality are key to building a modern wardrobe that shines, and are main tenets of the Roughneck design.
What else would you like to share about your design? Why is it unique and innovative?
How it’s made: Core to American Giant’s production process is the U.S. workforce. CEO Bayard Winthrop is revitalizing American labor, putting employees back to work in facilities from Oakland to the Carolinas. The Roughneck Pant in particular is a testament to the company's commitment to reviving factory employment. Its production is unique, relying on deep institutional knowledge and specialized mill infrastructure in a historic Northern Georgia facility, and a strong commitment to supply chain partners. For American Giant, “Made in America” isn’t a catchphrase or marketing message invoked to capitalize on a current cultural and political moment. It is an anthem that reflects the brand’s commitment to high quality products, true craftsmanship, and a dedication to American optimism and grit.
Who worked on the project?
American Giant CEO and Founder Bayard Winthrop
View the project video:
The Collective
Company Koio
Introduction Date June 1, 2017
Project Website https://www.koio.co/blogs/koio/starstruck
Why is this project worthy of an award?
In June 2017, world-class leather goods brand, Koio, announced the launch of its new initiative: The Collective. Meant to celebrate the inspiring people and stories that embody the spirit of the Koio community, the new project encompasses an ongoing series of collaborations with artists, creators, athletes, etc. that push the boundaries of expectation to pursue their passions. Using sneakers as a canvas, Koio seeks to tell the stories of collaborators that share the brand’s rebellious DNA - inspiring others through each shoe’s unique design. Their creative approach to unconventional collaborations - always involving complimentary digital and physical experiences - has quickly established Koio as the curator of cool in the sneaker marketplace. Over the past year, the brand has launched limited edition sneakers under The Collective with the likes of: JonBoy - As a teaser ahead of the June launch of the Koio x JonBoy sneaker, Koio and JonBoy, teamed up to host a tattoo pop-up in the Koio NoLita store, where the usually impossible-to-book tattoo artist opened his books to take appointments and tattoo customers for one day only. With an additional event in June 2017 for the official launch of the Koio x JonBoy sneaker - the shoe was available in black and pink suede calf leather and featured important elements of JonBoy’s signature style and tattoo art such as “Koio x JonBoy” in JonBoy’s handwriting on the insole and JonBoy’s name lasered in morse code on the sole. Game of Thrones - HBO approached Koio to create a limited-edition metallic, gold leather, Kingslayer sneaker to help promote the season seven premiere of Game of Thrones. Never sold online or in-store, the limited edition sneakers were given to the cast, and awarded to a select number of fans via an Instagram competition. The Beverly Hills Hotel - In ode to the Beverly Hills Hotel’s iconic Banana-leaf wallpaper, Koio teamed up with the hotel to launch a three shoe capsule collection, available exclusively through the property’s gift shop. Ben Medansky - Referencing Ben Medansky’s signature ceramic style, the Koio x Ben Medansky sneakers feature grey-speckled white Italian calf leather mimicking iron-rich clay, a striking cobalt blue rubber sole in ode to the artist’s favorite color, and ceramic accents on the laces. The Flower Shop - Designed in ode to the laid back New York style of the men behind The Flower Shop, the Koio x The Flower Shop sneaker is exclusively available for purchase at the NYC restaurant and features black Italian calf leather, black rubber soles, a gold embroidered rose, matching The Flower Shop’s logo, and the restaurant’s address, 107, embroidered in gold on the heel. Quincy Davis - Evoking surfer, Quincy Davis’ active lifestyle and surfer style, the Koio x Quincy women’s sneaker features light washed denim, rose gold rubber sole, eyelets and laces, in ode to her middle name, “Rose”, and a fierce bird detail on the insole. James Whiteside - As a nod to traditional ballet and James Whiteside’s experience as a top modern day ballet dancer, the Koio x James Whiteside sneaker features burgundy satin with tiger scratch embroidery detail inspired by James' tattoo.
What else would you like to share about your design? Why is it unique and innovative?
N/A
Who worked on the project?
- Johannes Quodt, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Koio - Chris Wichert, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Koio - Ben Medansky, Ceramicist - Quincy Davis, Surfer - James Whiteside, Principal Dancer at The American Ballet Theatre - JonBoy, Tattoo Artist - Ronnie Flynn and Dylan Hales, owners of The Flower Shop - HBO / Game of Thrones, Brette Graber - The Beverly Hills Hotel, Kristy Whitford
View the project video:
thedrop@barneys
Company Highsnobiety
Introduction Date October 28, 2017
Project Website http://thewindow.barneys.com/thedrop/
Why is this project worthy of an award?
As the retail industry continues to experience shifts, luxury retailers must adapt to this changing landscape in innovative ways. Traditional marketing strategies fail to grab the attention of young consumers who today drive the luxury market. Barneys’ New York, recognizing the need to create unique experiences, wanted to do more to connect with customers and potential customers—particularly younger shoppers—to increase sales both online and in its stores. Gen Z and Millennial consumers have an increased need for experiences and newness, and for retailers to resonate with this audience, they can no longer just afford to be retailers. They now need to engage with customers on multiple planes—physical, social, digital—and all of these channels need to be connected. With this, Barneys set out to rethink their approach and decided to experiment with marketing initiatives aimed at people who hadn’t previously shopped with the retailer, but could afford to. That was the brief when modern luxury retailer Barneys asked Highsnobiety—the insiders' destination for emerging trends in fashion, culture and lifestyle—if they could help turn their HQ brick-and-mortar store into must-visit, must-Insta, business-buoying asset. As the lines between luxury fashion and streetwear continue to blur, Barneys tapped into Highsnobiety’s expertise around the “the drop” model and their deep understanding of the street fashion and lifestyle space. Knowing their audience desires and demands the newness, excitement and exclusivity that comes with limited product in a limited time and place, the two worked to figure out how to bring “the drop” experience, momentum, and feel to a traditional retail setting in a way that feels organic and generates major buzz. The answer was clear; they needed to deliver limited edition products, find a way to collaborate with as many of their favorite designers and cultural icons as possible, and create a seductive, of the moment, experience. And with that, thedrop@barneys was born. A pioneering retail concept that would blend exclusive capsule collection and product drops from designers, with appearances and content from the hottest names in fashion, music, food and culture - all served up in two days of social-currency-creating action at Barneys flagship Madison Avenue store. Not surprisingly given the mind-boggling mix of news-making product, talent and content at this first-of-its-kind experience, it was a roaring success. Almost 12,000 people visited the Madison Avenue flagship on Saturday and Sunday, and 55% of them were new to Barneys. Sales on the Saturday spiked 25%, with 20% of purchases being made by customers new to Barneys. The store saw another 9% lift on Sunday. thedrop@barneys merchandise was also available online, where sales rose 30%. It was covered by everyone from fashion must-reads to mainstream media and lifestyle outlets, and lit up social media channels. Most importantly, Barneys and Highsnobiety debunked the popular myth that millennials won’t visit a bricks and mortar luxury specialty retailer. It turns out they’ll swarm to a physical location in influence-creating hordes if it offers the right blend of experience, streetwear, luxury and culture - and thedrop@barneys did just that.
What else would you like to share about your design? Why is it unique and innovative?
Throughout the weekend, Barneys New York dropped 30 exclusive capsule collections, hosted more than 80 designers and vendors with more than 40 activations throughout the store across men’s, women’s, kids, home, beauty and jewelry. Customers experienced a wide range of unique in-store activations, including: a T-shirt bar featuring 25 exclusive graphic T-shirt styles from coveted brands, a DJ set from Heron Preston and Off-White’s Virgil Abloh, curated spaces by FEAR OF GOD, FILA, tattoos by celebrity artist Jonboy, piercings by renowned piercer J. Colby Smith, a customized SWEAR sneaker bar, an appearance and signing by Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter of The Roots, a special handbag activation with Saint Laurent, custom hat orders from Nick Fouquet, Converse chain-stitching customization, and more. On the first day of the event, Barneys dropped nine major new collections with personal appearances from the most sought after designers including Off-White’s Virgil Abloh, Amiri’s Mike Amiri, Fear of God’s Jerry Lorenzo, Heron Preston and Faith Connexion. They also had exclusive releases from Gucci, Alpha Industries, Alexander Wang and many more. On the second day, they hosted panel discussions with a variety of designers, influencers and fashion industry insiders, while Highsnobiety and Barney’s livestreamed the events.
Who worked on the project?
Tomm Miller, Senior Vice President, Communications and Marketing, Barneys New York Jeff Carvalho, Managing Director N.A., Highsnobiety
View the project video: https://youtu.be/0DUcETvRfkQ
The Ginkgo Creative Residency 2017
Company Ginkgo Bioworks
Introduction Date May 1, 2017
Project Website https://www.ginkgobioworks.com/creative-residency/
Why is this project worthy of an award?
Luxury fashion brands and leading designers are turning to biology as a new source of innovation. As we’ve seen with Modern Meadow and Bolt Threads, biology is poised to bring sustainable practice and technological transformation to the fashion, textile and design industries. This 21st-century convergence of biology, design and technology ushers in novel methods of biofabrication that catalyze new aesthetics and performance capabilities driven by nature’s inherent brilliance, allowing us to explore how living media is set to shape culture and society through design. In the summer of 2017, Ginkgo Bioworks, the organism design company, launched its first Creative Residency, a designer-in-residence program aimed to encourage collaboration between the scientific community and creative thinkers looking at their work through a new lens of biology. The company partnered with Natsai Audrey Chieza, founder and director of Faber Future— a biodesign lab working in collaboration with living systems to explore and enable sustainable material futures. With a background in architecture and material futures, Chieza pioneered design-led processes for dyeing fabrics using pigment-producing bacteria. The results are unlike any fabric you’d find off the shelves in the fashion district and better yet, they’re significantly more environmentally friendly. The fashion industry is notoriously harmful to the environment, and typical fabric dyeing processes are a huge pollutant. For context, a basic cotton T-shirt requires approximately 700 gallons of water to grow, produce and transport, and 20% or more of that water is used in the dyeing process alone. By reimagining the dying process through a direct fermentation method—where living cell deploy pigment directly on to the fabric—the need for water is drastically reduced. As Ginkgo’s first ever creative-in-residence, Chieza spent her summer at Ginkgo’s headquarters developing and scaling aspects of her research, leveraging the microbial strain engineering capabilities of Ginkgo's foundry, and building custom tools from Ginkgo’s neighbouring Autodesk Build Space. These tools enabled her to control the pigment-producing bacteria to “grow” larger scale designs. This experimental collaboration culminated in three key design + science artefacts: Scale, Void and Assemblage 001. Scale explores how Ginkgo’s foundry infrastructure and its maxims of scale enable larger lengths of fabric to be dyed, up to 5 meter square silks. Void was an opportunity to scale and refine the engineering of existing prototypes of bespoke tools to control the growth patterns of S.coelicolor, leading to a collection of distinctive large-scale graphic prints. Assemblage 001 was driven by Chieza’s new approach to pattern cutting that sought to deconstruct the component pieces of a garment so that custom bio-dyeing protocols can be applied to each pattern. This is the world's first garment designed to be pigmented by S.coelicolor. The outcomes of this creative collaboration demonstrate innovation by design in its truest form; one-of-a-kind textiles created through the design of novel processes, tools, and organisms. This project pushes the limits of both biotechnology and fashion to create design interventions that have the power to disrupt an entire industry.
What else would you like to share about your design? Why is it unique and innovative?
The end goal of this program (and the beautiful designs it produced) is to bring sustainability and a new way of rethinking old processes to the fashion industry. Moving forward, and building on the success of The Ginkgo Creative Residency 2017, Ginkgo will be running the program on an ongoing basis every summer, allowing creatives from any discipline to embed themselves in Ginkgo’s labs and continue to expand on what’s possible at the intersection of synthetic biology and fashion. Applications are now open for this year’s residency, seeking proposals from practitioners in any creative discipline on how their work might intersect with synthetic biology. At Ginkgo, we believe that multidisciplinary thinking has the power to open up new opportunities for synthetic biology and to catalyze crucial conversations about our shared futures on this planet and beyond. The creative residency is intended to broaden this vision, to frame the creative potential and implications of this technology.
Who worked on the project?
Natsai Audrey Chieza
View the project video: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cs0mbijmki6ghw4/AABJzT3VkUwATpEj9SFFN0zra?dl=0
