Styling it up
Swarovski has provided upcycled Swarovski crystals to four sustainably-focused designers as part of this year’s Vogue Salon. The partnership with German Vogue gives up-and-coming German designers a platform to present their new collections during Berlin Fashion Week. This collaboration began in the summer of 2016 and this season, for the first time, designers will be able to make their mark within the new circular economy.
The chosen designers, Julia Leifert, Lara Krude, Lydia Maurer and Valeska Duetsch, were selected by Christiane Arp, Editor-in-chief of German Vogue, and Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board, for their dedication to sustainable fashion. The commitment remains true to Daniel Swarovski’s founding vision of a responsible company, passionate about the wellbeing of its employees, the environment and society.
Making upcycled crystals available for designers gives the materials a new life and better environmental value. Since the inception of the Swarovski Upcycling Program over 2 million upcycled (unused or reused) crystals have been donated to students, designers and stage and screen projects, including Viktor & Rolf’s spectacular all-white 25th anniversary haute couture collection in 2018.
Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board, commented: “As a company with a 125-year heritage of innovation, creative collaboration and responsible business, it is a true pleasure to expand our support for Vogue Salon by providing these talented emerging designers with end-of-life Swarovski crystals to be upcycled into exciting new creations. Design can be a driving force for sustainable development and cultural change, and we are delighted to promote the smart use of resources through this exciting collaboration.”
Christiane Arp, Editor-in-Chief of German Vogue and initiator of Vogue Salon commented: "With this collaboration we want to make the quality and the creativity of young designers visible. Talents need the support of big brands in order to optimally present themselves. Therefore, I am very pleased about Swarovski's renewed commitment to Vogue Salon. ".
After visiting Swarovski’s historic headquarters in Wattens, Austria, with the Fashion Council Germany for crystal workshops, the designers created sparkling and sustainable capsule collections.
Learn more about this year’s designers.
Julia Leifert
Julia Leifert, formerly known as Philomena Zanetti, pursues a passion for sustainable luxury fashion. She was the winner of the 2018 Fashion Council Germany Sustainability Award and is devoted to raising awareness around fair and environmentally friendly fashion.
Phylyda
Lydia Maurer uses her label to redefine swimwear, creating customizable swimwear for the modern women that is body-positive. Her creations see the beauty in every woman and are “celebrating everybody.”
Belize
Valeska Duetch is focused on quality materials and relaxed cuts and she finds inspiration in the style of French fashion houses in the 1970s. The London-based label focuses on expert craftmanship with high-quality materials.
Lara Krude
Lara Krude relies on traditional craftmanship and high-quality processing techniques to make her creations. In 2019 she won the ‘German Sustain Concept Fellowship Program’ from the Fashion Council Germany for her designs and sustainable concepts.
The Vogue Salon capsule collections will be showcased during Berlin Fashion Week at KaDeWe,July 1 – 13, 2019.