In the atelier with Alvarno: the secrets of his new sustainable designs

When Alvarno's phone rang to receive the proposal, they took it with the peace, different.The challenge was clear: creating designs with a canvas that Mercedes-Benz was going to pick up on the facade of its offices.The protagonist, one of his most 'echo' cars: the EQA, an SUV –100% electric and zero emissions - with which to be able to move with total freedom through the city.

Although original, the 'challenge' might seem more or less assumed if we did not take into account the dimensions of the canvas (60x18 meters) - with its corresponding difficulties in handling - and working with a material not thought about to make garments.The end, recycle and make sustainable fashion.A series of values, respect for the environment and passion for detail, which shares its ally in this adventure: Mercedes-EQ, the range of electrical mobility of the brand that advocates free cars of pollutant emissions and, how this projectset, for sustainability in production.With all this on the table, the offer ended up becoming a resounding yes for this duo of experienced needles.

"The fashion of the future has to be sustainable," Arnaud has this clear and they have demonstrated this on the catwalk, when they have presented designs made with recycled materials.A reuse that is made more than necessary in a sector dominated by the ‘Fast Fashion’.According to the report 'A new textile economy: redesign the future of fashion', of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, less than 1% percent of the material used in the manufacture of clothing is recycled.If Alvarno shows that a dress can be made from a canvas, almost anything is possible.

And, as they tell us, this conscious way of working and making fashion has come to stay;goes beyond the fabric to use and that it is or not recycled."This is a respect for the whole process, from the people who will make it to the way of presenting it," adds Álvaro.And it is that no more than a visit to his atelier is needed to understand it: the production of his garments is totally handmade, cared for to the minimum detail and with the hands of his seamstresses as the main work tools.

This way of understanding luxury and sustainability is what we also find in the EQC, the Mercedes-Benz car in charge of taking each destination on time;A vehicle with a luxurious and aesthetic care, which does not produce pollutant emissions, which barely generates noise when circulating and intelligent battery charge technology.At the moment, we turn up engines and set up to the work table.

"It reminds us of sports technical fabrics, because.In addition, it is drilled helps us to work, ”Álvaro tells us.The fabric is the one that rules and, therefore, they have had to adapt seams, patterns and even the way of passing the scissors, in fact, to cut it, they had to go to a parking lot, extend it on the ground to start with the first measurements.

Apart from the complexity of the technique, another of the key points of this work has been to convert these canvas pieces into clothing with the Alvarno label.The objective, after all, is to give them the spirit of minimalist sophistication that characterizes them as a brand and that, in turn, links them to designs, luxury and sustainability that distinguishes Mercedes-Benz.And, although it is hard to believe, the designers confess to us that everything can be done with this material: a coat ¾, a sweater, a pants, perhaps a draped dress...

Some of these designs can be seen in the Mupis that will be installed between September 14 and 20 in Madrid Calle Serano.The final brooch to this collaboration will be put by Alvarno in his parade, which will take place on September 20 at the gardens of the Lázaro Galdiano Museum in Madrid.There they will present, for the first time before the public, one of the looks that have made from this special fabric. Aunque el resto de la colección también irá por esta línea: 'upcycling&recycling' al más puro estilo Alvarno."It's going to surprise, that sure, but you have to wait after the parade, listen to the reactions.Before you never know, "says Arnaud.

We recommend that you are very attentive to that day and later because, in Elle.This will tell you everything and we will discover many more details of this exclusive collaboration.On going!