Designer Jonathan Cohen embraced the environmental properties of Econyl nylon to create his Fall/Winter 2020 capsule collection.
Shown at New York Fashion Week, the collection is meant to promote and symbolize zero-waste design and is an expression of integrating the beauty of nature with premium fashion.
“We believe it is vital for designers to take responsibility for the waste they produce,” Cohen said. “Designing with Econyl yarn has given me the opportunity to get creative and reinvent waste into vibrant, one-of-a-kind pieces that amalgamate the essences of nature with the Jonathan Cohen woman.”
Cohen drew inspiration from the aesthetic qualities of Econyl yarn to create 10 styles, including a royal blue ruched pencil skirt and a puff-sleeve black midi dress. The use of Econyl yarn throughout the collection signifies a progression for the brand in advancing its commitment to taking responsibility for its material impact.
“The abundance of waste in our landfills and oceans is harming our environment,” said Giulio Bonazzi, president and CEO of Aquafil, which makes Econyl nylon. “By turning waste into high-quality, regenerable fibers, Econyl regenerated nylon helps leaders in the fashion industry create beautiful textiles without depleting scarce resources.”
Econyl yarn helps divert global waste such as fishnets, carpets, textile scraps and industrial plastic from landfills and oceans. More than 1,000 brands use it to produce a wide range of textile products, such as sportswear, swimwear, bags, eyewear and carpets.
Cohen and business partner Sarah Leff launched the Jonathan Cohen brand in 2011. Pushing their creative approach further, the brand started to focus on zero-waste design to address the urgent need for sustainability in fashion.
In October, as part of a campaign to protect the Cocos Island UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society partnered with Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment to collect and transport 34 tons of marine pollution, illegal shark finning long lines and other confiscated fishing gear, which had been accumulating on the remote volcanic island of Cocos for more than 25 years.
For the one-time project, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society removed more than 1,700 miles of nylon monofilament fishing line from Cocos Island and shipped it to Aquafil to be transformed into Econyl regenerated nylon.