Juan Carlos Gordillo Creates Painterly Collection with Cone Denim and Jeanologia
Guatemalan-based designer Juan Carlos Gordillo is known for his upcycled denim creations, but his latest collaboration sees him putting an artful spin on fabrics from Cone Denim.
For this project, dubbed Ethica, Juan Carlos hand painted fabrics with abstract images of florals and butterflies, making one-of-a-kind pieces. For an added personal touch, the designer sewed the garments by hand.
“We admired the work of Juan Carlos and his remarkable ability to bring culture and art into his garment designs,” said Pierette Scavuzzo, design director at Cone Denim. “Every detail and step of his process is deliberate and paced with intention. After our initial connection, we wanted to provide Gordillo with another platform to showcase his hand-sewn garments, particularly in an era of heavy automation.”
Launched at Kingpins Show New York this week, Ethica also showcases sustainability and green innovation. This starts with the Cone fabrics used, which include 100 percent cotton, recycled cotton and TENCEL™.
The apparel in Ethica—which ranges from jackets and shirts to shorts and pants—features flourishes such as structural ruffles, patches, raw hems and contrasting patchwork.
“Beyond design, these garments tell stories of ethics, artistry and transformation,” said Juan Carlos. “They celebrate the interconnectedness of humanity and nature, inviting reflection on the importance of protecting our environment. Each stitch and faded detail carry a message: Conscious choices in fashion are essential to building a better future.”
After Juan Carlos designed and constructed the garments, they were sent to Jeanologia for finishing. The laundry innovator used lasers and ozone bleaching to further the handmade feel of the articles and give them a weathered look. Cone leveraged Jeanologia’s Miami hub to keep the supply chain more localized. “We thought a pairing of craftsmanship with modern technology would be an interesting contrast and design collaboration,” said Pierette.
Sustainability is a thread that runs through all of Juan Carlos’ work, and this collaboration aims to show that prioritizing ethics does not mean compromising style.
“This is denim that not only covers bodies, but also inspires change,” he said. “With every piece, Ethicaweaves a narrative of raw, evocative beauty and functional elegance, designed to accompany everyday life while projecting a powerful statement: Quality, ethics and sustainability are inseparable.”