After being rewarded with the 2021 C.L.A.S.S. Icon Award, the Portuguese brand Duarte is ready to present its Spring/Summer 2022 collection developed with C.L.A.S.S. ecohub support. The streetwear designer Ana Duarte has worked in close contact with the Milanese hub in order to create a 40 pieces collection where the approach to materials, suppliers, new business models and communication could include and support a holistic view of the sustainable values aligned with style, performances, look and touch and Duarte identity.
The inspiration behind the collection is the superhero Tadao – Ana Duarte’s dog, an English Cocker Spaniel – which is the World Keeper fighting against the environmental issues mankind has generated. Like a protector of sustainability, it battles modern monsters as Smog Man, Fire Man, Deforestation Man and Wave man, who respectively represent the issues of air pollution, climate change, forest destruction and water overconsumption. A very simple, direct and engaging way of talking about hot topics and simple, direct solutions.
The collection is made of 20 outfits, mainly unisex apart from some of them typically feminine as the crop tops. Hints of bright red and mustard yellow are alternated with denim, grey and pale azure tones, blending in with the colorful prints. Accents of black – used in inserts or as piping – seem to emphasize the outline of the garments. The different textures of the materials create a sense of movement, further enhanced by the unique patterns. All the garments’ prints are exclusively designed by the designer, following each collection inspiration: this time, they recall urban landscapes and the appeal of big metropolis, with Tadao as protagonist in prints, patches and ankle socks.
The collection includes a matching sweater with trousers made of Newlife™, a yarn 100% made In Italy coming only from post- consumer, traceable plastic bottles.
A unisex oversized bomber is crafted from Newlife™, lined with precious 100% Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei fabric by Gianni Crespi Foderami and matched with printed neoprene hoodie and shorts.
Long-panelled unisex coat and trousers made with ReLAST® denim by Candiani, a responsible textile featuring a premium recycled stretch yarn, ROICA™ EF by Asahi Kasei. The coat is lined with a fabric by Gianni Crespi Foderami in 100% Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei, a new generation material made from the smart-tech transformation of cotton linter.
The same sustainable stretch yarn is implied in the responsible tulle by Iluna Group, and featured in a shorts and top women’s ensemble, paired with a neoprene printed bomber. The tulle is skillfully matched with 100% Tencel™ back in the loop fabric by Maeba International underneath it
Gizeta Calze for Duarte
The new Tadao socks are a special project all dedicated to circularity. They are in fact developed by Gizeta Calze starting from Nilit®’s premium and sustainable nylon fiber SENSIL® BioCare, enriched with a special special biodegradation additive proven to accelerate fiber break down in ocean waters and in landfills, in blend with ROICA™ V550 by Asahi Kasei, a premium sustainable stretch with pure circular economy credentials. The microfibers of SENSIL® BioCare garments, if released during washing, will be broken down at a quicker rate compared to conventional Nylon 6.6 fibers when they end up in the ocean waters, helping reduce the buildup of microplastics waste in the ecosystem. While ROICA™ V550 from Asahi Kasei, degrades without releasing hazardous substances as evidenced by Hohenstein Environmental Compatibility certification and offers pure circular economy benefits related to material health as evidenced by the Cradle-to-Cradle Product Innovation Institute’s Gold Level Material Health Certificate.
Duarte had its catwalk in Lisbon on 9th October. A selection of the collection will be available for purchase on Duarte official website (www.duartebrand.com) and the rest will be on sale both on the website and in the stores starting from February, and on the online platform for responsible shopping Renoon with a dedicated brand page. Furthermore, Duarte will be supported by IDEE Brand Platform in the development of commercial activities for the SS22 collection.
