An Evening of Smart Innovation in New York

An artistic installation designed by renowned Paris-based knit designer Cécile Feilchenfeldt that showcased an array of exquisite knit creations was among the highlights of a recent event hosted by the Milan-based C.L.A.S.S., the platform for Creativity Lifestyle and Sustainable Synergy, with the support of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in New York.

, Textile installation by Cécile Feilchenfeldt. Photo courtesy of Rodin Banica

Entitled An Evening of Smart Innovation, the intimate gathering in New York on March 22nd gave fashion industry leaders, educators, designers and members of the press the opportunity to be inspired and to explore the limitless possibilities using innovative smart materials. So, with responsible design in mind the guests were able to touch and feel the luxurious smart textiles supported by sustainable credentials from a number of textile mills and yarn producers: Bacx by Centro Seta, Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei, ECOTEC® by Marchi & Fildi, Organic Cotton Colours, Re.VerSo™, ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei, TINTEX Textiles, and Zignone. The new generation of beautiful cottons, rich silks, lush wools and opulent cashmeres showcased throughout the C.L.A.S.S. event are currently available to the market.

The evening was orchestrated by Ginger Design, a team of Italian creatives, filmmakers, food and textile designers as a way to create a unique immersive experience telling the story of C.L.A.S.S.’ visionary journey. Thus, providing guests with an awareness and chance to embrace knowledge related to four key areas that set new standards for fashion vital to C.L.A.S.S.’ business philosophy: Heritage, Smart Innovation, Circular Economy and Design Responsibility.

With imagination and responsibility at the forefront of the event, guests were also treated to a film by Cristina Picchi that represented harmony between the various phases of the textile process and the cycles of natural elements.

The March 22nd date also coincided with International Water Day and a crucial reminder for sustainable water management, a key issue in textile manufacturing. Many of C.L.A.S.S.’s partners, such as ECOTEC® by Marchi&Fildi, Bemberg™ and ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei and TINTEX Textiles use technological breakthroughs to offer fashion materials that provide significant reductions in water during the manufacturing process, an important step toward responsible future fashion systems.
“In touting significant reductions in water, energy usage and CO2 emissions, C.L.A.S.S.’s  message has always been one of consistency but now with today’s customers becoming increasingly environmentally mindful, the timing has never been better to bring awareness to the ways that responsible sustainability can be incorporated, in an authentic way, into a fashion or lifestyle brand increasing the bottom line without compromising design integrity,” said C.L.A.S.S. founder Giusy Bettoni.