Exploring the Kingpins x Ravensbourne Innovation Project, Part III
Today’s young minds are carving a new space out for denim and its more sustainable future.
The Kingpins x Ravensbourne Innovation Project tasked second year fashion students at the London university with designing a sustainable denim brand in just 10 weeks.
“I think that the most rewarding of the experience of being part of the Denim Innovation Project was to assist to one of the students formative (together with the teachers and professionals who were leading the course),” Jeanologia’s Carme Santacruz said. “I had the opportunity to see the evolution of all the projects, and see the final result in the award event celebrated in London. The professionalism that they face the formative and the contest was exemplary.”
Carved in Blue is sharing the last installment of the three-part series of stories from the fledgling designers and the judges who reviewed their work—and what the project has meant for both.
Ravensbourne student Milda Gatelyte said the project was unlike any other.
“The denim innovation project was a part of our Fashion Buying & Brand Management course. Although, it was not like any other project we had and I was extremely excited about it since the very beginning,” she said. “There was a lot of research behind every garment. We were sponsored with sustainably made beautiful Bossa red selvedge denim and managed to create minimal waste (fits in your palms) garments: culottes and a jumpsuit. But the star of the show was the zero waste and minimal stitching denim jacket, that was made by manipulating the fabric.”
The reason she wants to play a role in the modern denim industry, is for the sake of the environment.
“During this project I was shocked to learn that even though there are many ways to change how we make denim to make a positive impact rather than a negative one, many companies choose to continue to pollute the planet. Our goal with our brand is to transform that,” she said. “I believe we are missing denim products that are sustainably made to last from season to season and our products were made exactly for that.”
When asked ‘What does Carved in Blue mean to her?’ Milda said, “Carved in Blue means the innovation and the future of the denim business to me. It’s a company that shows we already have all the resources we need to completely transform the industry.”
The judges also had a lot to say about what the innovation project meant to them.
“I have learnt to rediscover a different layer of passion I can add to my work; and learnt how to research deeper and not just be happy with answers given,” Cone Denim’s Gabriel Magopat said.
The project had the effect of rekindling things for Candiani Denim’s Alberto Candiani, too.
“Lately I have learnt that us, the so-called professionals can learn more from the students than what the actual students can learn from us,” he said. Why? “Because everything is changing and students are processing the change in a more organic and natural way. This is the most rewarding factor here. Embrace the change, its meaning and work with those they represent the future, do not idolatrate those they only represent the past especially in our industry where the past is real industrial and environmental catastrophe.”
Times have certainly changed since most of the judges were students. And so has the industry.
“In my opinion, the main difference is that the industry finally has realized that the students are the professionals of tomorrow and invest in their formation will have a positive impact in the future of denim,” Carme said. “In Jeanologia, our passion is to involve students and professionals in our mission zero for a more sustainable textile industry.”
For Gabriel, it’s the tools that have really changed things.
“The biggest difference is that we have more instruments to properly investigate the provenience of our clothing,” he said. “And I can see companies like Lenzing and Cone are relentlessly working to bring forward innovative products in an eco-conscious way.”
For Alberto, it has been about the greater interest in sustainability and what it can do for the world.
“Finally, I am not the only one believing in sustainable innovation and change,” he said. “When I was at college and I had this early vision the older guys were telling me I was a dreamer. There is no dream here, it’s a tangible commitment made of actions only! I still feel the same revolutionary fire burning inside me like when I was a student.”
When asked what advice they would offer to the students, here’s what each judge had to say:
Carme: “I really believe in this Pablo Picasso’s quote ‘Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.’ So, my advice is work hard and be nice to people.”
Gabriel: “My advice to the students is to listen to their inner voice; the voice of truth and passion. The voice that tells them to make right decisions when it comes to people and planet.”
Alberto: “If your dream is a vision make it real. If your dream it’s just a dream it means you are sleeping and you’d better wake up. Technical expertise counts more than what you think it probably count as much as creativity. Those two factors are not in conflict, they actually go together.”