From left to right: Tomaso Anfossi & Francesco Ferrari (CO|TE), Tiziano Guardini (Tiziano Guardini), Daniele Calcaterra (Calcaterra), Desiree Bollier (Chair, Value Retail), Mateja Benedetti (Matea BENEDETTI), Leo Macina (Leo Studio Design).

Matea Benedetti, Calcaterra, Coite, Leo Studio Design and Tiziano Guardini are finalists for The CNMI Green Carpet Talent Competition, as part of The Green Carpet Fashion Awards, Italia.

The inaugural competition – a partnership between Eco-Age, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana and Value Retail – challenged emerging designers to pair ethics with aesthetics by creating a bespoke look celebrating Italian craftsmanship and sustainable innovation.

Ten semi-finalists were reduced to five during a nail biting final round held in Paris. Emerging designers were required to present to a panel of fashion-industry grandees and had just minutes to make their impact and explain their interpretation of sustainability in fashion and how they had utilised the Made In Italy supply chain.

Matea BENEDETTI has created a look crafted from Apple Skin- a leather alternative created from apple waste from the food industry. This fabric is a unique Italian innovation, created in Bolzano.

CALCATERRA look features “feathers” made by weaving hemp rope, organic cotton organza and silk. Suiting made with TENCEL®, a fibre made from wood pulp, sourced responsibly from sustainable forest plantations and produced in a closed loop process to ensure virtually all water and solvents are continually re-used, powered by renewable energy.

While CO|TE produced in Lombardy, Italy, features organic silk shirting and undergarments crafted from ECONYL- a yarn made from recycled fishing nets and carpets.

Leo Studio Design look produced in Puglia features printed culottes, backpack and shoes made of ECONYL, a yarn made from nylon waste (including finishing nets and carpets). The printed skirt is made of organic cotton, using no pesticides or fertilisers in the process.

TIZIANO GUARDINI created his look from organic peace silk and recycled nylon. The dress features hand embroidered “sequins” which are created using upcycled seashells and discarded CDs collected in Italy.

“Our goal through this emerging designer competition was not just to find the best talent but to plug that talent into a brilliant network of support and knowledge,” says Livia Firth, Founder and Creative Director, Eco-Age. “Through the mentorship scheme with Value Retail we’re offering our finalists, passionate about ecological and social justice a pathway to true sustainability: the ability to be able to grow and sustain their fashion business in the future. Many sustainable designers have not had these opportunities before so we’re hoping it’s a game changer for sustainable design in fashion”.

Carlo Capasa, Chairman, CNMI, said: “The CNMI Green Carpet Talent Competition is a beautiful and unique project representing the first part of the first Green Carpet Fashion Awards. This project includes an important educational aspect: sustainability must become one of the characteristics of the future of fashion, clothing and accessories. Must not only be beautiful and well made, but also sustainable!”.

The winner of the CNMI Green Carpet Talent Competition will receive FRANCA SOZZANI GCC AWARD FOR BEST EMERGING DESIGNER, in honor of the late Vogue Italia editor-in-chief who was dedicated to supporting new generations of talent. The recipient will be announced at The Green Carpet Fashion Awards, Italia on Sept 24 at La Scala and will have the invaluable opportunity to present at Milan Fashion Week in February 2018.

Vivienne Westwood’s ‘Get a Life’ discussion at Bread and Butter by Zalando, Berlin, the legend spoke about the importance of art and literature while forging a path of inventiveness. It was a rare glimpse into the process and practice of one of the most prolific designers of our time alongside an entire exhibition dedicated to iconic Dame.

I call the diaries Get a Life as that’s how I feel: you’ve got to get involved, speak out and act, says Dame Vivienne.

While the diary was written, primarily, with the intention of warning people of the danger we’re in from climate change (a subject that feels particularly pertinent given fracking’s recent UK go-ahead, despite a rejection from Lancashire council), it is, as Vivienne puts it, also a great thing to do for yourself. “It marks your life, you know where you’re up to, and where you’re going,” she says. “You pin down your ideas, adjust and develop: a constant résumé and improvement”.