Insider: The CNMI Green Carpet Fashion Awards

As exclusive partner to the CNMI Green Carpet Talent Competition, The Bicester Collection by Value Retail has a long history of spotlighting and supporting emerging talent with a view to creating a sustainable fashion industry.

The Bicester Collection Mentorship Programme is offered to the five finalists of the CNMI Green Carpet Talent Competition. This 12-month education programme gives the finalists the chance to work with a range of experts from Value Retail and its industry contacts from Europe and China.

The five finalists will attend The Green Carpet Fashion Awards, Italia 2018 – dubbed ‘The Oscars of Fashion’ by the industry – at La Scala on 23 September 2018, closing Milan Fashion Week. Last year attendees included Gisele Bündchen, Naomi Campbell, Dakota Johnson, Anna Wintour and many more big names.

One of the finalists will be announced as the winner of the Franca Sozzani GCC Emerging Designer of the Year Award on stage at La Scala and will be given the opportunity to present at Milan Fashion Week in February 2019, supported by the CNMI (the National Chamber for Italian Fashion).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FINALISTS BELOW.

#1

BEHNO – SHIVAM PUNJYA Behno was founded in 2014 with the aim of addressing poverty and global health through traditional and non-traditional enterprise channels.

MATERIALS

• Remnant handwoven silk.
• ECONYL® regenerated nylon, an innovative and sustainable way to create products from waste in a continuous loop.
• The ECONYL® regeneration system can be repeated endlessly without any loss in the quality of the material.

SUSTAINABILITY/ETHICS Recycled materials, repurposing and upcycling garments, handwoven and organic fabrics, and artisanship.

#2

DAVIDE GRILLO Davide Grillo’s journey started with a series of courses at Central Saint Martins. In 2011, his collection inspired by the women of Boldini won him the Riccione Moda Italia prize, and, soon after, he started working as a designer for Pinko.

MATERIALS

• ‘Feathers’ made from laser-cut silk that are naturally dyed and then washed for volume, before being applied to a repurposed silk base.
• ‘ReSequins’: sequins laser-cut from used plastic bottles.
• Colour effects are achieved by using coloured plastic bottles, coloured fabric and coloured thread, or placing the sequins over a digital print.

SUSTAINABILITY/ETHICS Organic materials, recycled materials, natural dyes and upcycled plastic bottles.

#3

GILBERTO CALZOLARI Born and raised in Milan, Gilberto Calzolari graduated from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts and went on to have an impressive career in fashion working for global luxury brands such as Marni, Alberta Ferretti, Valentino, Miu Miu and Giorgio Armani.

MATERIALS

• Jute bags from Brazil. These coffee bags were purchased from the markets around the oldest canal in Milan. The bags are sold in Milan to be used as water barriers to stop canals flooding, which is increasingly an issue due to rising water levels caused by global warming.
• Swarovski Advanced Elements lead-free crystals and hanging pendants sewn in wire.

SUSTAINABILITY/ETHICS Upcycled low-impact materials and low impact-embellishments, addressing global warming and climate change.

#4

TEATUM JONES – CATHERINE TEATUM AND ROB JONES Established in 2011 by Catherine Teatum and Rob Jones, Teatum Jones is a London-based luxury label recognised for its modern, polished and bold aesthetic, for smart, creative and confident women.

MATERIALS

• Fil Coupé made in Italy using recycled polyester and Lenzing Modal.
• Recycled polyester lining.
• Laser-cut sequins made from sponsored plastic water bottles from shows and painted with natural-pigment acrylic paints.

SUSTAINABILITY/ETHICS Upcycling and recycling materials and components, low-impact materials and supporting communities through sourcing artisanal materials.

#5

WRAD – SILVIA GIOVANARDI WRAD began on Instagram in 2015 to raise awareness about the true impact of clothing. Since then, the brand has evolved into a sustainable, innovative lab and streetwear label.

MATERIALS Recycled graphite dyeing, with recycled graphite powder replacing chemical dyes with a natural and non-toxic mineral otherwise disposed of in landfill. The graphite is a by-product of the tech industry, and is converted from powder into a water-based solution effective for dyeing fabrics.

SUSTAINABILITY/ETHICS Low-impact materials, a low-impact dyeing process developed by the brand and overall commitment to sustainability and educating consumers.