Exhibitors Spotlight:
Ecoalf
Editorial
Edition 101
10.12.2021
Inside Ecoalf’s Vision of a Sustainable Fashion Future

Exhibitors Spotlight focuses on a selection of brands exhibiting at this year's Pitti Uomo, showcasing their upcoming collections and special upcoming projects.

Javier Goyeneche’s label Ecoalf has been putting the future of our planet at the forefront of his brand since 2009, way before sustainability became the fashion industry’s favorite buzzword. “I wanted to create a truly sustainable fashion brand,” he says when we sit down to discuss the new collection before it heads to Pitti. “[I] believed that the most sustainable thing to do was to stop using natural resources in a careless way to ensure those of the next generation. Recycling could be the solution if we were able to make a new generation of recycled products with the same quality and design as the best non-recycled.”
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That mission remains intact 12 years on and it’s stronger than ever. But for Ecoalf, being a sustainable brand involves much more than just incorporating recycled materials, it requires a complete mentality and behavior shift, such as monitoring how much waste you generate and buying less while also buying better. “The current fashion business model is not working,” Goyeneche continues, referring to the live fast, die young way in which the industry operates. “A new trend every month and the idea of buying/throwing/ buying/throwing is creating a terrible impact on the planet. Fashion can be sustainable if we continue to lower the impact of our items, starting with timeless designs and high-quality materials to ensure durability and maximize the lifespan.” 
Naturally, Ecoalf’s FW22 collection is rooted in this environmentally conscious approach. The planet’s two poles have provided inspiration — “the coldest points on earth, but also the purest. [They are] completely untouched, and as the ice around them continues to melt, they still remain intact.” Therefore, the garments the brand is presenting this season are extremely clean and minimal, stripped of all superfluous detailing and embellishments.
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The season also integrates OceanYarn: yarn made from recycled plastic bottles found in the ocean that has been recovered by fishermen who collaborate in the Ecoalf Foundation’s Upcycling the Oceans project. “This high-quality OceanYarn is transformed into technical outerwear for the winter and weaves into a line of knit tunics and dresses designed for the everyday.  Other pieces such as jackets feature a three-layer fabric with a 100 percent recycled polyester exterior layer, a TPU middle layer to make it 5K waterproof, and an interior layer that is also recycled polyester. Together they provide a high-performance material with 3K breathability. It’s a collection designed for years, not [for a] season.” 
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Further, this season sees the continuation of Ecoalf’s foray into the world of furniture, which it has been working on for the past two years in collaboration with Valencian furniture company, VICCARBE. Their latest collaborative piece will be a customizable sofa and will be presented during Salone 2022 and, it goes without saying, the piece“follows the highest sustainability and circularity standards!”