A Responsible Denim event took place in Paris last week. © ISKO

Turkish fabrics producer ISKO hosted a Responsible Denim event in Paris last week to share knowledge and experiences on the development of an integrated field-to-fabric approach all along the value chain. “When it comes to responsible denim, ISKO is the go-to place. Since the start, the world-leading ingredient brand ISKO has focused on providing high-quality standards while raising environmental awareness and supporting a responsible culture,” the company reports.

The event’s highlights included a special panel to talk about how the denim industry can become more responsible. Moderated by Maria Cristina Pavarini, Sportswear International Senior Features Editor, the discussion involved the Denim Guru and Designer François Girbaud, along with Miles Johnson, Former Creative Director of Patagonia and Levi Strauss, Rachel Pierce, DenimHand Director, and Ebru Ozkucuk Guler, ISKO Senior CSR Executive.

Other highlights were a Responsible Denim Presentation by Lambert + Associates; a presentation of ISKO Earth Fit, ISKO’s lowest-impact denim collection; an educational exhibition with a strong focus on what everyone should be aware of regarding responsibility in the industry; and the launch of the third Eyether collection, created by Creative Room and François Girbaud with innovative ISKO fabrics.

Responsible denim

“When it comes to Responsible Innovation, it’s important to acknowledge and understand all environmental footprints to see where even better choices can be made,” the company says. “As part of this vision, an Environmental Management System is in place at the ISKO factory. Certified to an international standard, it ensures that the environmental impacts regarding energy, water, waste, chemicals, and emissions are well managed.”

The event’s highlights included a special panel discussion. © ISKO

ISKO worked to obtain Life-Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for all of its 25,000+ denim products, evaluating their total life cycle from raw material to waste/recycling. To ensure the validity and replicability of these LCAs, ISKO was also the first denim manufacturer to get pre-certified EPDs, providing the water usage and carbon footprint of 1 square metre of fabric.

These results were used to create the independently devised Product Category Rules (PCR) related to the assessment of the environmental performance of “woven, knitted and crocheted fabrics of naturals fibres (except silk) for apparel sector”. These are now available for any company to voluntarily develop and publish information on the life cycle environmental impact of their services.

ISKO Earth Fit

The pinnacle of the ISKO Responsible Innovation strategy was reached with the creation of ISKO Earth Fit. Embracing articles from all of ISKO fabric lines, it uses innovative and responsible fibres, such as organic cotton, pre-consumer recycled cotton, and post-consumer recycled polyester from PET bottles. It has been awarded both the Nordic Swan and EU Ecolabel certifications, addressing the entire life cycle of the product.

ISKO Earth Fit fabrics were the material of choice for a set of artistic designs and applications showcased during the event, such as a selection of ISKO I-SKOOL garments and an exclusive presentation.

Bird Wing. © ISKO

Made entirely of ISKO Earth Fit are also the three nature-inspired denim sculptures – a coral, a wood, and a feathery wing – created by the artist and fashion designer Lucy James and displayed at the event. These have become the focus of the ISKO’s Denim with a Conscience campaign.

Eyether III collection

With its name stemming from the combination of “eye” and “other”, Eyether is a brand-new interpretation of style bringing together ISKO innovation and the disruptive creativity of Denim Guru François Girbaud. Further shaped by the design and research support of ISKO’s Creative Room, this collection responds to the needs of today’s denim wearers, looking for functional, smart-looking silhouettes.

Combining stretch warp threads with rigid weft threads, this denim allows for the creation of shapes perfectly in line with the demands of modern life, according to the manufacturer. For the third edition of the Eyether collection, ISKO fabrics have been developed in multi-weave combinations. This recalls the familiar codes of the “grisaglia” universe, symbolic of sartorial culture in the greatest traditions of Italian master tailors.

ISKO shared knowledge and experiences on the development of an integrated field-to-fabric approach all along the value chain. © ISKO

François Girbaud interpreted this concept through a unique, modern “active tailoring”, making great use of both the technical and decorative elements of these fabrics. With the help of Creative Room, he created styles where the unique properties of vertical stretch are used to generate tension throughout the whole length of the leg or the body without movement restriction, enhancing the tapered silhouettes. He also plays with the different weave patterns within the fabric to bring attention to specific areas of the body.

www.isko.com.tr