Dod Alfaiataria and Canatiba Create Urban, Unisex Collection with TENCEL™
São Paulo-based brand Dod Alfaiataria’s fashions sit at the intersection of style and sport. Launched in 2018 by 30-year fashion retail veteran Jubba Sam, the label pulls from the founder’s background and needs as a skateboarder, with designs that are similarly at home in his day-to-day life and at the skate park. While initially focused on tailored pants, the line expanded beyond trousers in 2022.
Now, Dod Alfaiataria is mixing its skateboarding style with enhanced sustainability through a partnership with TENCEL™ and denim mill Canatiba Textil. The debut Dod x TENCEL™ x Canatiba Textil Sustainable Capsule Collection features five gender-neutral styles, including baggy pleated pants, oversized shorts and a trucker jacket in indigo denim, as well as tan corduroy pants. Launched in August, the line is available in Dod stores and its direct-operated e-commerce platform.
“For Dod, it is very cool to take this step towards sustainability with a company as big as Canatiba and with a global brand like TENCEL™,” said Jubba. “We already wanted to explore this raw material and test things, shapes and patterns. I’m incredibly happy with that.”
The development production process behind the collection—including the spinning and weaving at Canatiba and the garment production at Dod Alfaiataria—aimed to minimize waste, pollution and carbon emissions. The collection’s sustainability profile also benefits from TENCEL™ fibers, which are made from wood using low-impact processes. TENCEL™ also biodegrades, ensuring that clothing can return to the earth at the end of its life.
“Our cellulosic fibers are produced from responsibly sourced wood from controlled or certified origins meeting FSC or PEFC standards (nonprofit organizations that promote responsible management of the world’s forests), in addition to being biodegradable and compostable,” said Juliana Jabour, business development manager for Lenzing in South America. “We add value to the textile community through innovative and responsible premium fiber products and services. Our brands stand for comfortable and responsible textiles.”
Canatiba Textil made the textiles out of a cotton and TENCEL™ blend, leaning into natural fibers. Most of the fabrications are rigid, but the corduroy has 1 percent spandex for stretch. In addition to spinning and weaving, Cantiba washed and garment dyed the pieces in the collection. “For this project, we chose the Fluído Maxskin denim, a heavier indigo fabric, with marked twill, original and intense dyeing and with the shine due to the fiber contained in it,” said Ivna Barreto, marketing manager at Canatiba Textil. “The fabric is heavier, but the TENCEL™ fiber brings a fluidity and comfort in use that is essential for Dod. The corduroy comes more tropicalized, where we mix cotton with the TENCEL™ fiber that provides a thermal comfort that is the face of Brazil.”
Brand and manufacturing partnerships are important for Lenzing, driving sustainability through the supply chain. “Sustainability is a continuous effort and that every little action makes a difference,” said Juliana. “By working together, brands can create a powerful synergy to drive positive change in the fashion industry and inspire other companies to follow the same sustainable path.”