C.L.A.S.S. ICON 2021 winner DUARTE returns to Milan Fashion Week

By mixing C.L.A.S.S. responsible materials, colorful prints, urban feels and artistic inspiration, the Portuguese streetwear brand creates a new style and a clear yet cool message for conscious fashion consumers.

The rewarded 2021 C.L.A.S.S. Icon Award Portuguese brand Duarte is ready to presents its Fall/Winter 2022/23 collection developed in collaboration with C.L.A.S.S. Eco Hub during Milan Fashion Week. With the support of WHITE, Duarte’s creations will be featured as a special project at WSM (WHITE Sustainable Milano) platform space inside “Unveiling the fashion Backstage”, a docu-event focusing on an immersive journey into the amazing world of premium and smart supply chains that make innovative and responsible fashion wardrobes a reality.

For its second collection Duarte still counts on C.L.A.S.S. support in sourcing materials and communication activities as part of the Icon Award yearly program. The streetwear designer Ana Duarte, with the help of the Milanese hub, is back with a renewed collection that counts 40 pieces continuing the concept and the story behind the previous World Keeper: the irresistible superhero Tadao – Ana Duarte’s dog – fighting against the environmental issues created by mankind and personified as Smog Man (air pollution), Fire Man (climate change), Deforestation Man (forests destruction) and Wave Man (water overconsumption).

This time the inspiration is also Street Dance drawn directly from the city streets, with majorly unisex pieces (apart from some small specific details linked to sizes or ergonomics) and materials that both respect the planet and keep you warm. The prints drawn from ripped posters giving birth to a sort of new style that we can name “Eco-Street Dance”. The color palette explores the dark shades of grey, cream, blue and black, with artistic pops of color of a hopeful urban culture that tears apart posters from the past and turns them into a new brighter story.

 

Talking about materials, the collection presents a selection of urban pieces for everyday superheroes, fighting against environmental issues – with a holistic approach to sustainability values thanks to the synergy with C.L.A.S.S. and its Back in the Loop area: a section dedicated to alternative and sustainable sourcing against the massive amount of materials and textiles produced that are not used and discarded by the fashion system. This is mostly powered by MAEBA International – and its ReLiveTex® fabrics – leader in selecting and repurposing premium Italian fabrics with exceptional 60 years of expertise in collecting high-quality materials from leading brands and textile manufacturers, and the first company at an international level to be accredited for the UNI EN ISO 14021 certification which grants the traceability of the collected materials.

The linings complete the full sustainable picture, thanks to Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei fabrics by Gianni Crespi Foderami. Bemberg™ is a new generation material made from the smart-tech transformation of cotton linter pre-consumer material, converted through a traceable and transparent closed loop process. Entirely made in Japan, it comes with Compostability and Ecotoxicity Certifications verified by Innovhub-SSI, RCS, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 and the Eco Mark certifications. The factory is ISO 14001 certified, too.

 

The collection will mark the return of Duarte’s cool and responsible style to Milan Fashion week and White Sustainable Milano. “We are proud to support Duarte as her style, her creations, visual communication and message are so beautiful, innovative and responsible. On top of that, her message to the consumer is so clear and easy for everybody to understand. With Duarte it is very easy to make a “conscious choice” without any sacrifice, and completely in line with the C.L.A.S.S. manifesto” says Giusy Bettoni, C.L.A.S.S. CEO & founder.

The collection will also be presented on its new brand page on Renoon, an app that guides consumers into Responsible Shopping. In addition, Duarte will be supported by IDEE Brand Platform in the development of commercial activities for the FW 22/23 collection.

 

MOST REPRESENTATIVE DUARTE’S OUTFITS:

 

Among the most representative Duarte outfits for FW 22/23 collection, we can find:

A black and grey look made up of a vinyl and metallic shirt, a metallic top and paneled metallic pants. All repurposed fabrics are ReLiveTex® by MAEBA International.

A digitally printed sky-blue coloured long coat – lined with a 100% Bemberg™ fabric by Gianni Crespi Foderami – with vynil details is made in repurposed  ReLiveTex® MAEBA fabrics and 100% organic cotton and paried with a digital-printed top in 100% organic cotton and blue bombazine trousers yet again made with ReLiveTex® by MAEBA International repurposed ingredients.

 

A teddy sweater with a comfortable, relaxed fit is paired with cream and black shorts. Yet again, all the pieces are crafted from repurposed MAEBA International ReLiveTex® textiles.

 

 

Finally, a waterproof cream coat and blue bombazine trousers in MAEBA International ReLiveTex® fabrics are matched with a white poster sweater in 85% organic cotton and 15% recycled polyester by Stanley/Stella.

 

 

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