According to Greenpeace, an estimated 12 million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans, annually, harming sea creatures, birds and other plants and organisms that live beneath the water. If you weren’t aware, the fashion industry contributes to this problem in a major way, and is responsible for almost half of those bits of plastics in the seas and oceans.
Taking a stride towards ethical and ecofriendly fashion with an aim to protect the world’s oceans, is Prada. The Italian luxury house has been revered for their signature nylon Prada logo bags that first launched in the 80’s, and still carry the nylon range of backpacks and totes in the fabric. Now, as consumers are more aware of environmental damages, and careful to consume ethically and responsibly, the fashion industry has seen an increasing demand for “socially conscious” fashion, which has inspired Prada to re-launch their nylon range.
Entitled the Re-Nylon Project, the luxury maison will be launching a capsule collection of some of their most iconic nylon bags – but in an alternative and sustainable fabrication. This new type of material is called Econyl and is made from plastic waste, fishing nets, textiles and plastic waste collected from the sea. Econyl has been produced, tested and researched to ensure that it will stand the test of time so that the new Prada bags will maintain their quality.
The bag range to be launched by Prada will have 6 classic, unisex styles that are both practical and stylish, including fannypacks, backpacks, a tote and a shoulder bag, and completely made from sustainable materials. Prada has also revisited and redesigned their triangular Prada logo, giving it a new face that coincides with their message about sustainable fashion. Not only is the new bag line a major step for Prada’s image as an ethical brand, but the project will also be charitable as a percentage of the sales of the bags will be donated to a UNESCO project focused on sustainability.
In a statement, Prada Group’s Head of Marketing and Communication said of the new sustainable bag range, "This project highlights our continued efforts towards promoting a responsible business. This collection will allow us to make our contribution and create products without using new resources."
With their Re-Nylon Project, Prada hopes to replace all of their original nylon products with Econyl by 2021, and are looking to go fur-free by next year. The internationally renowned luxury brand isn’t the first to be taking a stride towards ethical fashion, as Stella McCartney, Adidas and Gucci have also been using Econyl to meet the market’s demands for sustainable fashion.
