Invista’s Cordura brand has announced the top three winners of the second phase of its Work ‘N Mode contest after the brand brought its Fashion X Function campaign to Paris with the contest for the students of the L’Atelier Chardon Savard fashion design school.

The contest inspired students to reinterpret and re-imagine work clothing for men and women using a broad range of Cordura brand performance fabrics.

“We were extremely impressed with what these students envisioned using our fabric,” said Cindy McNaull, Global Cordura brand and Marketing Director. “They demonstrated innovative design work while expanding upon Cordura brand’s fashionable yet functional durability for workwear.”

Winners

Phase one of the contest involved final-year students working on prototypes while phase two involved third year students working with sketches.

Phase two first place winner Fiona Fondadouz will receive EUR 750 and a six month internship with the Lafont brand. Second place winner Laureline Vinozzi will receive EUR 450 and third place winner Jessica Carre will receive EUR 250. All winners will also receive their choice of a range of Cordura fabrics to the value of EUR 250.

Fashion trends and workwear

The goals of the contest were to encourage future designers to incorporate fashion trends into workwear and to rethink technical functions in a spirit of creativity and innovation.

Invista’s Cordura brand asked students at the Atelier Chardon Savard to reflect on the possible links between fashion and the functional features of workwear. Throughout the year students were exposed to special teaching session that focused on the specific characteristics of technical textiles used in the manufacture of protective clothing, as well as the expectations of the people who wear this clothing.

 Students submitted sketches of their Cordura fabric workwear designs in October to a jury of workwear and fashion professionals. Entries were judged based on the stylistic originality of the design, the degree of thought given to the technical constraints associated with protective clothing, and the relevance and appropriateness of the choices students made in terms of utilising the technical properties of Cordura fabrics. 

Collaboration with Cordura

Winning sketches were on display at the ExpoProtection show that took place at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from 4 to 6 November. “This was an opportunity for us to build on our already well-established collaboration with Cordura brand fabrics for hi-tech work apparel,” said Alexandra Avram, Marketing Director at Lafont.

“And it was really exciting to participate in the judging and to pick the winner who had best combined creativity with functionality. It was an amazing experience and I think the Atelier Chardon-Savard students really embraced the world of workwear and managed to properly apply the trends identified in the fashion scene to workwear.”

Cordura brand

Known for its resistance to abrasions, tears and scuffs, Cordura fabric is used in many of the leading high-performance gear and apparel products ranging from luggage, upholstery and backpacks to footwear, military equipment, tactical wear, workwear, and performance apparel.

The Cordura brand is a registered trademark of Invista. With leading brands including Lycra, Coolmax, Cordura, Stainmaster and Antron, Invista is one of the largest integrated producers of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibres.

The company’s advantaged technologies for nylon, spandex and polyester are used to produce clothing, carpet, car parts and countless other everyday products.

Click to find out more about the Work’N Mode contestants

www.cordura.com

www.invista.com