Andrea Rosso joins Sophie Bramel in Munich
Andrea Rosso, head of sustainability for Diesel and the OTB group, joined Inside Denim’s co-editor Sophie Bramel at Performance Days in Munich as part of a panel exploring circularity through the lens of creativity.
Chaired by Sophie, the panel also included Daniel Hartung, designer and founder of Hartung Paris; and Courtney Samulik, supply chain lead for recycling innovator Circ.
The conversation highlighted the role of good design, for all garment components, including trimmings, above and beyond sustainability criteria. Ms Samulik described Circ’s recycling method and pointed out that its ability to take in blended fabrics was a unique advantage that offers designers added liberty.
On the integration of more sustainable practices into the apparel industry, Mr Rosso pointed out that a company’s organisation has a strong impact on decision-making processes: “One department may find a solution useful or pertinent, but if another department, say the product design team, has a different view, the whole process must go back to the drawing board.”
For both Mr Rosso and Mr Hartung, the best products are built from the ground up, to purpose. Mr Hartung shared an experience he had when working for Nike: he had found a way to reuse offcuts and thus create a zero-waste production line for one product. “Initially, the manufacturer hated me because I was disrupting his workflow. But two years later, he had applied the principal to other ranges, at no added cost.”
While Performance Days often focuses on the technical issues of circularity, this panel highlighted the importance of creative thinking in changing linear mindsets. It, like the new sections dedicated to creativity at the Munich show, are a reminder that good design can go a long way, said Sophie.
The seminar will soon be available on the Performance Days website
