Vionnet x Mark Quinn: From Ocean Waste to Sustainable Collection. French fashion house Vionnet and British visual artist Mark Quinn come together to launch a series of “Eco Surf Capsule Collection” inspired by the plague of ocean plastics.
We saw this year’s Fashion Revolution create more awareness than ever as a voice for responsible fashion. More and more brands are realizing just how important it is to be socially responsible. One of its newest examples is the “Sustainable Surf” collection created in collaboration with France-based fashion house Vionnet and British visual artist Marc Quinn. Goga Ashkenazi, Creative Director at Vionnet, was inspired by Quinn’s Raft series, which delves into the increasing problem of plastic pollution by capturing the accidental beauty of non-biodegradable waste. Ashkenazi described this collab as a true coming together of the minds to raise awareness of harmful materials that are created the decay of plastic bags by humans.
The result is a beautiful, colorful, forward and modern 340 piece sustainable surf capsule was made up of jumpsuits, trousers, and cardigans, along with accessories made entirely from sustainable materials. The range, which takes its inspiration from surfing culture, uses materials such as cotton poplin, eco-leather, recycled plastics and technical parachute fabric. ‘It looks to the surfer community,’ Ashkenazi says of the offering. ‘Surfers are a vocal group when it comes to sustainability and environmentalism’ she adds. ‘Because of their love for and personal relationship with the ocean.’
In order to help clean up the world’s oceans, Vionnet is set to donate 50 percent of the sustainable surf collection profits to Parley For The Oceans, the global initiative which addresses major threats to the world’s oceans. ‘It’s amazing to purchase something and to know that wearing that garment has positively contributed to the clearing up of the planet,’ Ashkenazi says. What a way to make waves.
‘Monolith’, non-biodegradable plastic waste bags & non-biodegradable polystyrene on wood. © Marc Quinn (2018)
The eco surf capsule collection will be sold through a shop-in-shop at Selfridges, which will remain open for seven weeks, with a special installation presenting giant reproductions of some of the artist’s ‘Raft Series’ paintings via 3D monitors.