There are many paths to achieve sustainability, and the latest to be explored by Diesel is evergreen garments.
The Italian brand announced plans for Diesel Library, a collection that takes a genderless design approach and represents a new strategy for its core category.
Diesel Library marks a shift in how Diesel will produce its denim collections in the future. Going forward, the library will offer a wide range of evergreen and longer-lasting denim items on a “made-to-stay basis,” with 50 percent of the overall denim collection having a permanent shelf life.
“Everything will be created under this banner, moving away from the 5-pocket delineation between women and men,” the company stated. “In this, a new personality and new branding attributes will be established.”
Fewer SKUs is a win for both business and the environment. During a recent Rivet roundtable, Patrick Valeo, CEO of Diesel, shared how inventory management became a main pain point during the pandemic. The brand “had approximately 200,000 more SKUs within our warehouse than we really should have had” going into the pandemic, he said.
A part of the Diesel Library collection will debut in Diesel creative director Glenn Martens’ debut show in June. The garments will be available in select Diesel stores around the world and on diesel.com starting from November 2021.
Martens’ intention is to “refresh” the base of every category at Diesel. The brand, however, is steering clear of describing the garments as classics. Rather, Diesel Library will introduce “essential pieces conceived to outlive trends and last for years on end” and create a “total look.” The collection will include trousers, jackets, tops, skirts and more.
The enduring designs will be backed by responsible manufacturing methods, including fabrics made with low-impact components such as organic and recycled fibers and finishing treatments performed with water- and chemical-reducing techniques.
Related Story
The line also takes extra care to use environmentally friendly trims. Leather patches are chrome-free tanned, metal buttons have nogalvanized treatments and the inner labels are made with recycled materials. Cellulosic trims like hangtags and patches are made with FSC-certified materials.
All the sustainable features will be traced and communicated through a QR code printed onto the hangtag attached to each Diesel Library piece. In this way, each garment will be equipped with a “digital passport” that guarantees customers access to a dedicated web page where they can learn more about all the responsible attributes of each specific item, the company stated.