Cone and AMK embrace female workwear
US mill Cone Denim will debut Rooted, a denim collaboration with AMK Atelier and videographer Eduard Nijgh, at Kingpins Amsterdam on April 16-17.
The collection follows the work of farmers at De Stadsgroenteboer in Amsterdam, documenting wear patterns and testing fabric durability for a year in custom workwear designed by AMK Atelier.
Rooted garments use a range of Cone Denim fabrics, including the Cone Denim Community Deforestation selvedge fabric.
Cone Denim design director Pierette Scavuzzo said: “The first fabric Cone ever produced was for workwear, designed to be durable and built to last.Fast forward 130 years, and we are still innovating in the workwear space, which remains a key market for us.
“Rooted is a celebrated collaboration, allowing us to reconnect with our roots while offering what we hope will be both an inspiring and unique perspective from an all-female team of farmers. I feel the content will remain inspiring and relevant to future designers, regardless of the time.”
The AMK Atelier team visited farmers at De Stadsgroenteboer over the last year to learn about their work, create customised clothing unique to each farmer, and document the quality of the garments as they were worn over time.
“For too long, women have been forgotten by the world of workwear,” said Rooted designer and AMK Atelier owner Maria Gunnarsson. “It has been a joy to remind our industry of the feminine.”
Silhouettes from the collection include an array of modified vests, cargo pants and convertible zip pants that can transform into shorts.
Inspired by their archives, Cone chose fabric constructions that embody Rooted’s spirit in a sustainable way, including innovative dye methods using 98% less water and fibres such as certified recycled cotton and Tencel.
“The intricate details and functionality that Maria has put into these garments are timeless,” added Scavuzzo. “When I envisioned the documentation of this collection throughout the harvest year, I thought about the possibility of someone viewing our Rooted collection 20, 50, or even 100 years from now. We hope this collection serves not only as a piece of history but also as an archive that continues to inspire for generations to come."
