A new collection brings together craftsmanship and sustainable technologies.
Cone Denim will present Ethica, a denim design collaboration with Guatemalan-based designer Juan Carlos Gordillo and sustainable finishing firm Jeanologia at Kingpins New York this week.
The collection showcases artisanal craftsmanship and sustainable design, blending creativity with purpose to create a visually striking array of denim garments. It was created with Cone Denim fabrics, custom-designed and hand-painted in abstract forms to create one-of-a-kind pieces by Gordillo.
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“We thought a pairing of craftsmanship with modern technology would be an interesting contrast and design collaboration,” said Pierette Scavuzzo, Cone Denim design director.
Cone’s biodegradable fabrics that contain 100 percent cotton, recycled cotton and Tencel are the foundation to the collection. The fabrics offer lightness and fluidity to Gordillo’s designs.
Jeanologia finished the final garments at its Miami hub, applying laser and ozone treatment to achieve his vision. Garments have a handcrafted feel with emphasized fine lines and laser-cut patterns reminiscent of the classic whiskers found in weathered denim.
Gordillo said the garments tells stories of ethics, artistry, and transformation. “With every piece, Ethica weaves a narrative of raw, evocative beauty and functional elegance, designed to accompany everyday life while projecting a powerful statement: quality, ethics, and sustainability are inseparable,” he said.
The designer, who has been featured at Vienna Fashion Week and Berlin Fashion Week, has experience in sustainable denim fabrics.
In 2023, he presented ReNacer, a collection that combined upcycled denim fabrics with innovated materials like Black Dry Denim from Tejidos Royo. In 2019, he partnered with Lenzing, Tejidos Royo, Officina39 and Tonello to develop Planet Rehab, a collection that demonstrated the denim supply chain’s commitment to reduce its environmental impact.
