Naia™, a sustainable fiber brand from Eastman, has partnered with ESDI Escola Superior de Disseny in Barcelona for an educational project that aims to inspire and empower the next generation of fashion designers.
This unique collaboration focuses on fostering a culture of eco-consciousness within the fashion industry by providing students with the opportunity to design and produce garments using Naia™’s innovative and sustainable fibers.
The project culminated in a fashion competition where ESDI students showcased their creativity and talent by creating garments inspired by Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy.” The event, held on July 1st at the Alliance Francaise in Sabadell, Barcelona, was a resounding success, with a panel of internationally renowned fashion and textile industry leaders judging the student’s creations.
As part of the project, Eastman partnered with two esteemed textile manufacturers, Hallotex from Spain and Riopele from Portugal, to provide students with fabrics made from its Naia™ Renew fiber. This unique fiber is made from 60% sustainably sourced wood pulp and 40% certified recycled content, utilizing Eastman’s patented carbon renewal technology to convert hard-to-recycle waste materials into valuable resources.
The winning collection, EKOS, was designed by a team of ten talented third-year ESDI fashion students. Their designs, inspired by the concept of inner struggle and the search for emotional balance, showcased the versatility and beauty of Naia™ Renew fiber while delivering a powerful message about the human condition.
This educational collaboration between Naia™ and ESDI is a testament to both organizations’ commitment to sustainability and innovation. By empowering students with the knowledge and tools to create sustainable fashion, they are paving the way for a more eco-conscious future in the fashion industry. The project also underscores the importance of collaboration between industry and academia in driving positive change and creating a more sustainable world.
This initiative aligns with Eastman’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and demonstrates its leadership in reducing environmental impact through advanced molecular recycling technologies. By investing in education and fostering partnerships with educational institutions like ESDI, Naia™ is not only creating sustainable materials but also nurturing the next generation of designers who will shape the future of fashion.
“At Eastman, we believe in the power of education to foster a more sustainable future. Partnering with ESDI allows us to support the next generation of designers by providing them with the tools and opportunities to innovate responsibly,” states Carolina Wilches. “Education is a cornerstone of our sustainability strategy, which is why we prioritize initiatives that enhance student learning and development.”
“This collaboration has been very beneficial for ESDI students because they have been able to work in a very similar way to the professional one: choosing from a number of predetermined fabrics, visiting suppliers and devising the project as a team, to end up doing individual work that they will have to put together again for the fashion show presentation,” says Jorge Zuazo, head of the Fashion Design Department at ESDI.
EKOS, was created and curated by a group of ten third year ESDI fashion students
Mariona Garcia receives ‘Naia™ Renew Staple Fibre’ award from jury and school
Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2023 revenue of approximately $9.2 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.
ESDI is a university school of design, affiliated with the Ramon Llull University, with 35 years of experience training designers. The Higher School of Design ESDI was founded in 1989 as an initiative of the Textile Design Foundation FUNDIT, and thanks to the support of government agencies and more than 90 business groups and significant companies in the textile sector. The aim with the creation of this school was to bring competitiveness to the Catalan business fabric and to respond to the need of society and industry, in a territory with a strong textile tradition.
Its current mission is to support and motivate industry through design and innovation, with an international vocation but with a territorial balance, providing the necessary educational tools to train people capable of redesigning and transforming the world. For more information, visit www.esdi.es