NYFW 2019: Textile Takeaways 

An Emphasis on Sustainability  At this year’s New York Fashion Week, we saw all kinds of textile trends. From holographic vinyl to colorful organza, nearly every look turned heads. However, the main attraction may not have been the eclectic designs, but instead the implementation of sustainable materials. Even NYFW vets such as Tory Burch and Mara Hoffman, took the opportunity to align themselves with fashion’s most important mission. However, they were not alone in their efforts. Here are some textile trends we found noteworthy, most of which can be credited to the up-and-coming.    Recycled is the Name of the Game Whether it’s polyester or trash from the ocean, New York Fashion Week’s newest designers have found innovative ways to add an eco-friendly touch to their collections. Collina Strada, in particular, used 75 percent deadstock fabric and beads made from recycled ocean plastic in their Spring/Summer 2020 Ready-to-Wear line. Models sporting the looks put on a bit of a performance as well, carrying reusable bottles and taking bites from food in glass containers; further enforcing to their audience that green is the way to go.  New Zealand-based designer Maggie Marilyn also utilized recycled and repurposed fabrications in her latest Spring collection. 50 percent of the collection is made with recycled fabrics, and most of the garments contain scraps from previous collections. One such look, a simplistic black safari shirt made from recycled fabric, caught our eye. Maggie’s goal is to become a more circular brand, and it looks like she’s off to a good start.    When Fashion and Auto Meet An unlikely duo, the fashion and automotive industries came together at NYFW for one of the most talked about collaborations of the season. South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai and New York-based label Zero + Maria Cornejo debuted a capsule collection, featuring, get ready for this: repurposed car seats. Hyundai donated leftover materials to the designer, taking elements from the highway and applying them to the runway.    Reviving the Dead(stock) Turns out, Collina Strada isn’t the only brand to bring old textiles back from the dead. Linder, a label known for marrying minimalism with eclectic design, used deadstock parachute fabric (found on eBay) in their Spring 2020 collection.  From lingerie to pencil skirts, Linder proved that this fabric can be used for more than just skydiving.    Saving Water  The focus wasn’t just on the fabrics themselves, but the process behind making the fabrics. Los Angeles designer Rosetta Getty experimented with a new technology for her latest collection, called DriTan. Developed by Ecco Leather, DriTan utilizes the moisture already present in hide to “tan” the leather. This not only conserves water, but considerably reduces the amount of chemicals used. This technique was utilized in the making of Getty’s collaboration with Danish footwear brand ECCO, and is sure to spark a movement in leather-dying.  The fact that sustainability plays a role in fashion more now than ever before is reassuring. The case for sustainable materials must be kept alive, so designers can take notice of the impact they have on the environment and how they can do better. The more brands who participate in eco-friendly practices, the less consumers will have to wonder about when they pick up the tag. This New York Fashion Week was a breath of fresh air. So, let’s keep up the momentum. We’re on the right track.    Read more about NYFW below: NYFW 2019: A Step Toward Sustainability NYFW 2019: Emerging Brands