LONDON — Two sustainability advocates have come together for a collection inspired by the sea, the windswept cliffs of Cornwall and stylish fishermen the world over.
Designer Amy Powney has teamed with Finisterre, the British cold-water surf and outdoor brand, on a limited-edition, 17-piece capsule collection for “city and sea,” that’s meant to help urbanites dress for a walk on the blustery cliffs of Cornwall, and surfers look chic in the city.
Powney, who launched her sustainable label Akyn earlier this year, created a collection filled with chunky, but lightweight, fisherman knits, Aran sweaters, and warming pieces such as a waterproof parka and a quilted liner jacket.
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The palette takes in mossy greens, deep blues and muted neutrals inspired by the rugged natural landscape of Cornwall, while materials include Tencel wood-based fibers, certified organic cotton, recycled fills, and 100 percent merino wool.
The Finisterre x Amy Powney capsule, which launches on Thursday, also marks the outdoor brand’s first move into womenswear with a fashion edge. There’s even a stylish campaign, shot by Lucy Laucht, meant to reflect the laid-back feel and romance of the collection.
In an interview, Powney said creating the collection was a breeze, as she thought of her own wardrobe needs for a stroll along the beach, or the streets of London.
“I’m a hybrid girl, so I wanted to appeal to the urban customer, and the outdoor one, too. I wanted it streamlined, elevated and refined, with oversized shapes,” and the technical and sustainable qualities that Finisterre is known for, she said. “I didn’t overthink it.”
Powney, a longtime ambassador for Lenzing’s Tencel, has created two pieces made with the brand’s biodegradable fibers which are derived from wood pulp: a pair of barrel-leg trousers and a high-neck jersey top.
She based the trousers on Finisterre’s cargo pants, but removed the pockets and gave it a more “refined, urban” feel.
“You could wear them here in London with the jersey top. We’ve styled it with belt and boots to have that really chic, menswear kind of look. Equally, you can wear the trousers with hiking boots when you go coastal,” added Powney.
She said Tencel gives her designs “drape and luster” and that she’s increasingly using the fibers in the new Akyn collection for everything from linings to tailoring and denim. “And we’ve got ambitions to be using it across the board,” she said.
Prices range from 25 pounds for a pair of cable-knit socks to 295 pounds for the waterproof parka. The fisherman rib rollneck sweater is priced at 145 pounds while the Aran knit costs 195 pounds.
The collection will be available exclusively on finisterre.com and in select stores.
Powney and Finisterre are also using the collection to support a water-related cause. As part of the collaboration the partners plan to donate 5,000 pounds to support Thames21, an environmental charity that works with communities to restore and ensure the protection of U.K. waterways.
Powney said the collection is “a reminder that we are all inherently connected, that our lives are intertwined with the surrounding ecosystems. Finisterre has an incredible commitment to saving the sea, and as an urban dweller, I am very aware that all rivers lead to the sea; therefore, we are all connected, all part of the problem and together can all be part of the solution.”
Finisterre’s product director, Amelia Hornblow, said Powney’s “work in fashion has been a huge inspiration to us, and her commitment to sustainable design and sourcing align seamlessly with Finisterre’s values.”
Eva McGeorge, global director marketing and branding at Lenzing Group, said Powney’s green campaigning has been instrumental in “educating the end-consumer and influencing the brands around her” about sustainable sourcing, manufacturing and the performance of natural fibers.
The collaboration comes just a few months after the launch of Akyn, which Powney founded after leaving as creative director of the London-based brand Mother of Pearl.
At Akyn, Powney is working with a limited number of materials including regenerative, organic and recycled cottons; certified merino wool; and fabrics made from Tencel fibers for the low-key collection of suits, separates and knits.
Powney has also brought on board the faithful Portuguese suppliers and factories that she’d been working with until recently at Mother of Pearl.
She’s also keeping the supply chain as short, and as vertically integrated, as possible, and is working towards setting wider goals with her suppliers, such as switching to renewable energy.