The Italian brands that helped transform denim from a commodity garment to a coveted fashion item in the ’80s and ’90s are flashing their influence once again and in new ways.
Along with being one of Kingpins’ key nostalgic trends for Spring/Summer 2020, Italy’s take on American jeanswear also serves as the inspiration for Tonello’s new sustainable project with Denim Dudes founder Amy Leverton.
The Italian garment finishing technology company debuted “Re-invented in Italy” at Kingpins Amsterdam this week, a capsule collection that gives vintage pieces from iconic Italian brands like Iceberg, Diesel, Fiorucci and more a second chance at life.
With the collection, Tonello aims to inspire brands to “reduce, reuse, recycle and reinvent” by combining contemporary sustainable fabrics and new technologies with vintage garments. The strength of the pieces, Tonello stated, is how it creates a feeling of “déjà vu” in new and surprising ways.
For the collaboration, Tonello and Leverton selected vintage sportswear pieces like Versace windbreaker pants, Benneton sweatshirts and Diesel jeans, and they worked together to reimagine them as relevant streetwear items.
Each item was deconstructed and upcycled to create new garments made with recycled denim fabrics from Candiani, Tejidos Royo, Bossa, Orta Anadolu and Arvind. Sustainable labels made from recycled graphite and recycled polyester were supplied by Panama Trims.
For finishing, Tonello achieved vintage effects through its sustainable technologies, including Laser Blaze and All-In-One, a combination of the company’s Nostone, Ecofree 2 and Up processes.
The result is an on-trend range of hybrid denim items, such as Versace cargo jeans with a nylon back, overalls made from two pairs of Diesel jeans and an Ellesse denim pop-over.