Juan Manuel Gómez on Using Denim as His Canvas and Upcycling as an Art Form
Colombian-based artist and designer Juan Manuel Gómez is dedicated to denim. Jeans serve not only as a medium for his art, but also an opportunity to upcycle garments and keep them in circulation longer.
Juan’s denim art utilizes laundry techniques, and this ultimately led him to a career creating denim dyes as the design leader at Officina+39. Here, he talks to Carved in Blue about his Deverazul art initiative and Telariazul Upcycling Remade that is reimagining denim.
Carved in Blue: Could you share an overview of the founding of Deverazul, and the meaning behind the name?
Juan: Deverazul was born 10 years ago with a first art exhibition in a gallery in Medellin supported by Candiani Denim, where the idea was to use denim as a canvas in a different way, using laundry processes as pictorial tools. The meaning is: the duty to see and look in blue or the duty of doing in blue, a wordplay that perfectly applies to denim, which is such a democratic and versatile material, and allows for collective creation.
Carved in Blue: How would you describe the intersection of art and denim? Why does denim lend itself to artistic expression?
Juan: I would describe it as a meeting point between material and language; denim, a fabric that adorns us, protects us and becomes a layer that withstands the passage of time, also serving as a surface for expression that is worn and transgressed. It is the indigo blue, the color that acts as the thread connecting art and denim, in my case carrying a symbolic charge from creativity.
Carved in Blue: You also head up Telariazul Upcycling Remade. How can art help facilitate circularity in denim and extend the life of garments?
Juan: Medellín, Colombia is my city, with a denim industry boasting over 60 years of history. From fabric production to cutting, sewing, washing and dyeing, we have a multitude of local brands, making Medellín a denim hub in South and Central America. However, there is still much to be done in recognizing the importance of upcycling, circularity and sustainability. Telariazul was born as a project where art and design converge to create on existing garments using hands-on craftsmanship. Natalia Loaiza and I are starting Telariazul from scratch to redefine the world of denim.
Carved in Blue: What are your latest projects for Deverazul and Telariazul Upcycling Remade?
Juan: Recently, in collaboration with Tonello and Officina+39, Telariazul created the capsule collection “deepindigo,” featuring unique pieces almost carved into them, using Easy Indigo and Dye-Mate technologies to dye garments. With Deverazul, I will be participating in a talk at the Kingpins China event on May 24, where I will discuss my career as an artist and wash developer. Additionally, some garments and artworks that I have created over the past years will be exhibited during the event.
Carved in Blue: How can laundries infuse more art into the finishing process?
Juan: Creating more connections with young designers and artists who can collaborate with experienced laundry masters in their companies is crucial. It is also important for the denim industry, especially brands and full package companies worldwide, to believe more in the creative potential for research and development within laundries. Today, we see a range of trends inspired by the early 2000s, where laundry played a significant role. The challenge now is to replicate this creativity and sustainability simultaneously.
Carved in Blue: What is next for you?
Juan: I plan to celebrate my 20-year career working for Pelco and Prointex in Medellín, Colombia, where I have grown and learned a lot. Currently, I am preparing the upcoming collection for Officina+39, where I have been for the past six years. Additionally, I am organizing a private event in Medellín, Colombia at the end of the year, integrating the themes of art and denim.
Carved in Blue: What does Carved in Blue mean to you?
Juan: Exploring the depths of denim with knowledge and information: carved into the blues.