New York - London-based ka wa key is the latest brand to use sustainable Spinnova materials. with the label's new capsule collection made of Spinnova fabrics and yarns introduced at the New York Fashion Week.
Spinnova uses a patented technology which enables it to make a cellulose-based fibre with no potentially hazardous chemicals or waste in the production process, cutting out 99 per cent of the water used in conventional cotton production.
The technology has made strong progress over recent years, demonstrated through the partnerships Spinnova has forged with the likes of Finnish fashion house Marimekko and Norwegian outdoor apparel brand Bergans to develop apparel and accessories using its fibre.
The latest collaboration has seen Ka Wa Key’s designers, Key Chow and Jarno Leppänen, use different Spinnova materials to produce a range of knitwear which will also be shown in Paris in October but will not be available to purchase.
"We found an instant connection with Spinnova because we share the same ambition to make the fashion industry more sustainable," the designers said. "To our amazement the Spinnova materials were also really versatile and we could use them exactly as we wanted – whether it was painting on the textile, dyeing it, adding digital prints or knitting with it. I think this collection really shows that there’s nothing restrictive about using sustainable materials."
The capsule collection inspired by a Finnish film Hardly a Butterfly includes knitwear and woven styles such as printed twill. Just like other Ka Wa Key garments, the collection is genderfluid. The colour palette also draws inspiration from Finland, specifically the country’s national butterfly Holly blue.
The collection uses sustainable and fully circular Spinnova fibre, which is made out of wood or waste and produced without harmful chemicals. "We’re happy to see that our material fits runways, everyday use and outdoors alike. Collaborating with emerging brands is just as important to us as working with established brands as we believe the entire textile industry needs to become more sustainable," said Spinnova’s CEO and co-founder Janne Poranen.