Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the fashion world. And using fabrics that are both premium and planet-kind is now at the top of the agenda for most major design houses.
British-born designer Osman Yousefzada is no exception. His SS22 collection, which he unveiled at this season’s London Fashion Week, included several pieces crafted in new material Tencel Luxe – a new sustainable alternative to silk.
What is Tencel Luxe?
Tencel Luxe is made from sustainably sourced wood pulp that is transformed into an endless filament with properties that are comparable to silk.
As a step-change in sustainable wood-based cellulosic fibre technology, Tencel Luxe-branded lyocell filament is derived from wood grown in renewable, sustainably managed forests. It is produced in an environmentally sound closed-loop process that recycles process water and reuses the solvent at a recovery rate of more than 99 per cent.
This new textile advancement promises a truly sustainable alternative to silk: a cellulosic filament made from a renewable raw material that thrives with natural rainfall and sunlight, and is certified as biodegradable and registered with the Vegan Society.
London Fashion Week
Intensely aware of the environmental and social impact of the fashion and textile industry, Osman Yousefzada says he wanted to create clothes with a purpose beyond satisfying commercial demand. Biodegradability was a key focus for the designer this season – making Tencel Luxe a great choice for his collection.
“Tencel is peerless when it comes to sustainable fabric innovation,” he explains. “And the new Tencel Luxe filament is utterly remarkable in its comparability to silk. I was amazed at its versatility. Its ability to be blended with other fibres means that there is infinite scope for designers and brands that want to take steps to be more sustainable and ethical without compromising on luxury, quality or possibility.
“We need to let go of the all-or-nothing attitude to sustainability and just try to do better. It is essential that designers and brands are consistently looking for ways to reduce their impact on the planet by pro-actively seeking fabrics that have less impact on the planet is its people and pursue more ethical practises. That’s all. Just keep taking steps in the right direction. The advent of Tencel Luxe filaments brings a whole host of potentially better choices.”
Osman Yousefzada SS21 highlights
- Sheer jumpsuits made from gossamer lace jersey made with TENCEL™ Luxe. One is paired with a balloon-sleeved cobalt opera coat with knotted square panels another has cascading ruffles at the side seams, sleeve and across the back yoke.
- A striped taffeta made with TENCEL™ Luxe comes in a black party dress with flouncy puffed sleeves.
- The fullness of bishop sleeves amplify the romance of a belted gown made with TENCEL™ Luxe in soft baby blue, while godets at the hem of a lemon yellow jersey catsuit bring a disco beat to the line-up.
- A crisp, black gabardine twill made with TENCEL™ Luxe appears in a sharp blazer with exaggerated shoulders, teamed with bike shorts, and a coat of military bearing that’s worn with a shimmery organza skirt made with TENCEL™ Luxe.