Spanish technology firm Jeanologia is no stranger to producing under pressure. Throughout 2020—one of the most volatile years in recent history—the company developed numerous innovations, all while producing masks for local healthcare workers to meet the immediate demands of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a matter of 45 days, the company said it was able to manufacture 500,000 masks.
Enrique Silla, the company’s CEO and co-founder, said the chaotic period will continue to inspire the fashion industry to perform differently. One of the greatest lessons he learned was around the basic concept of supply and demand.
“It’s time to change the way we produce,” he said. “It’s time to produce what we sell, rather than sell what we produce.”
This sentiment is a key driver of Jeanologia’s push for digital design. In July, the company introduced eDesigner, a tool that ensures the accuracy of garment finishing, since historically, matching denim washes with digital designs has resulted in numerous samples and trials. The tool makes it possible for designers to see the product exactly how it will finish.
“I think that in the next few years, physical and digital design are going to work together and join hands,” he said.
Silla also sees a fruitful future for denim, despite consumer trends shifting toward loungewear and activewear. Denim’s “familiarity” will help maintain its popularity both during and in the wake of the pandemic, he added.
“We are trying to find familiar things,” he said. “Denim has always represented comfort.”
Click here to listen to the full conversation with Silla.
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This podcast episode is made possible by Cotton Incorporated, a not-for-profit company funded by U.S. cotton producers and importers, and whose mission is to increase the demand and profitability of cotton. Discover What Cotton Can Do.
