Fast-lane fabric manufacturer Alcantara – more usually known for supplying Ferrari and Aston Martin supercars with materials suited to their high-end interiors – launched a fashion exhibition in London this week, in collaboration with UK-based designers hand-picked by global design network Not Just A Label (NJAL).
The idea was to test the high-tech luxury faux suede material’s versatility away from its usual trimming role in cars, yachts, aeroplanes and furniture, so Alcantara approached NJAL to propose which designers should come onboard for the project. 'It was important they were open to adopting new materials in their work,' says NJAL CEO and founder, Stefan Siegel. 'Like Fannie Schiavoni, who is known for her chain-mail jewellery for big celebrities like Rihanna. They all had to present an idea and we picked the best ten to fly to Italy to work with Alcantara’s designers to then develop their ideas.'
The results are free to view at Protein Studios’ ground-floor space in Shoreditch in east London for a week (until 20 July) and include a dramatically-structured coat with copper mesh interwoven into the Alcantara by Sadie Clayton, a beautiful geometric flower-like hanging objet d’art by Jule Waibel and an interlocking modular dress by Lazerian. Designer/maker Liam Hopkins from Lazerian says he was inspired by the way Alcantara is made for the construction of his dress. 'One of the things I found out was that Alcantara kind of explode one of their raw materials into multiple particles and then bring it back together to make the fabric strong,' he enthuses. 'So I wanted to take a form of a dress, explode it and then bring it back together as one. My idea was to potentially 3D scan someone to capture their form and through this process alter the form of each section.'
While the exhibition does not directly signal Alcantara’s entry into the fashion business, CEO Andrea Boragno was excited by its possibilities, as he concludes: 'This is something new and different from the usual uses for Alcantara, which is good, and the automotive industry is moving towards a more lifestyle approach – so this show offers a different standpoint and [perhaps] an opportunity.'
The idea was to test the high-tech luxury faux suede material’s versatility away from its usual trimming role in cars, yachts, aeroplanes and furniture. Pictured: bags, by Cat Potter
NJAL CEO and founder Stefan Siegel explains how it was important for any designers involved to be 'open to adopting new materials in their work'. Pictured: Jule Waibel's geometric, flower-like hanging objet d’art
Siegel continues, 'They all had to present an idea and we picked the best ten to fly to Italy to work with Alcantara’s designers to then develop their ideas.' Pictured: sculptural dress, by Kay Kwok
The results are free to view at Protein Studios’ ground-floor space in Shoreditch, and include a dramatically-structured coat with copper mesh interwoven into the Alcantara by Sadie Clayton, a beautiful geometric flower-like hanging objet d’art by Jule Waibel and an interlocking modular dress by Lazerian (pictured)
A dress by Martine Jarlgaard, with sleeve detail
While the exhibition does not directly signal Alcantara’s entry into the fashion business, CEO Andrea Boragno was excited by its possibilities
Boragno concludes, 'This is something new and different from the usual uses for Alcantara, which is good.' Pictured: dress by Sadie Clayton, neckline and sleeve detail
INFORMATION
’Made in Italy, Designed in Britain’ is on view until 20 July. For more information, visit the Not Just a Label website
ADDRESS
Protein Studios
31 New Inn Yard
London, EC2A 3EY
-
Join our tour of Taikaka House, a slice of New Zealand in SeoulTaikaka House, meaning ‘heart-wood’ in Māori, is a fin-clad, art-filled sanctuary, designed by Nicholas Burns
-
Why radical Swedish designer Ann-Sofie Back was way ahead of her timeA new book and exhibition, ‘Go As You Please’, celebrates 20 years of Ann-Sofie Back’s subversive, Swedish design. Nicole DeMarco speaks to the designer about her distinct (and much-referenced) brand of ‘failed glamour’
-
Duyi Han’s immersive psychedelic installation in Shanghai is like ‘seeing the world from a higher dimension’Chinese artist Duyi Han on ‘Visions of Bloom’ in Shanghai, his reimagination of a secret Chinese garden through a psychedelic video and furniture installations
-
‘R for Repair’ at London Design Festival displays broken objects, re-formedIn the second half of a two-part exhibition and as part of London Design Festival 2022, ‘R for Repair’ at the V&A displays broken objects, re-formed
-
‘Finding quality through the act of making’: Pearson Lloyd celebrates 25 years of designPearson Lloyd’s show ‘Change Making’ reflects on past designs from its archives, showcasing the influences on and evolution of the studio, from furniture design to the NHS
-
Tom Dixon marks his studio's 20 years with a show of design experimentsMushroom, cork, steel coral and more: Tom Dixon showcases an overview of his design experiments as he celebrates his practice's 20 years
-
Porro unveils new London showroom at Coal OfficeLondon Design Festival 2022: industrial architecture meets pure geometries in the new Porro showroom, taking over a space within Tom Dixon’s Coal Office to showcase the brand’s systems and furniture
-
Vitra unveils new London home in the Tramshed, ShoreditchLondon Design Festival 2022: after a year-long renovation, Vitra opens the door to its new showroom in the heart of Shoreditch
-
Mudlarking beside the River Thames inspires The New Craftsmen’s makersLondon Design Festival 2022: The New Craftsmen’s new collection, ‘Claylarks’, features work from a group of creatives inspired by a River Thames mudlarking expedition
-
One tree, ten designers: SCP presents The One Tree Project at London Design FestivalLondon Design Festival 2022: SCP enlisted ten British designers to create furniture and objects from a felled ash tree from founder Sheridan Coakley's Hampshire garden
-
London Design Medals 2022London Design Medals 2022 are awarded to costume designer Sandy Powell, architect Indy Johar, researcher Joycelyn Longdon and photographer Sir Don McCullin
