SDW Students: Saúl López Gil

SDW Students: Saúl López Gil

For some young designers, there’s no other choice but sustainability. 

Jeanologia and TENCELTM recently worked with university design students for the Sustainable Denim Wardrobe collection and Softwear Project, and Carved in Blue is chatting with some of the students to learn about the sources of their inspiration and how they see today’s modern design world. 

Saúl López Gil, a sustainable fashion designer who was commended for his interesting proposal and dynamic visuals, shares why young designers are still optimistic despite the challenges that abound. 

Carved in Blue: Why sustainable fashion?

Saúl: Because for me it’s the only way to make fashion today, the obvious and most needed. I can have a clear conscience when I support sustainability.

Carved in Blue: Tell us about your project’s concept.

Saúl: Worn and broken finishings are one of the most used identity stamps today in jeans industry, but they are used as something purely aesthetic and not functional. The objective of my project is to use this resource as something useful to create garments whose broken and worn finishes serve as a means to make transformable garments.

Carved in Blue: What is most important to today’s textile design students?

Saúl: To be aware about the impact that the textile industry has on the planet and to take action using and investigating new sustainable materials and processes.

Carved in Blue: What are some of the biggest struggles for today’s young designers?

Saúl: To find a place between the amount of highly qualified designers and competition that exists today in this industry.

Carved in Blue: What are some of the most interesting sources of inspiration for design students?

Saúl: It’s probably very different for each designer. For me, the most interesting source of inspiration are books and documentaries where you can obtain concepts and ideas to develop, but also images, music and street daily life.

Carved in Blue: Are students generally optimistic or pessimistic about the future of denim? 

Saúl: Optimistic. You can’t think about a wardrobe without a denim garment.

Carved in Blue: Could you see yourself pursuing a job in the denim industry and why?

Saúl: Of course, because it is an enormous and diverse industry where there is so much to do and to experiment, specially in sustainability.

Carved in Blue: What were your thoughts on participating in the sustainable denim wardrobe collaboration? 

Saúl: I felt so excited. It’s an amazing opportunity to show you my work.

Carved in Blue: Where is your favorite city to visit for inspiration?

Saúl: Maybe Berlin, but I feel really inspired when I visit my village Monreal de Ariza in Aragón, Spain.

Carved in Blue: Bootcut or flares / Straight cut or skinny?

Saúl: All of them, depends of the context. But I would say flares and straight create a cool silhouette.

Carved in Blue: What does Carved in Blue mean to you?

Saúl: A seal for denim, something timeless, a 3D digital textile image.