Page 50 - S Summer 2024

50
SMAGAZINEOFFICIAL.COM FUTURE IS NOW
D rawn to denim for its complexity and versatility, Alexandra Armata
shares that there are nearly no limitations behind the fabric. “In
my new collection, I made a suit that looks like it’s wool, but it’s actually
made of brushed denim,” she says.
Thinking back to her Polish parents’ storytelling, she grew up hearing
about people saving up for American denim. It was complicated to find,
expensive, and a political statement (as trade embargoes essentially made
it illegal).
This background and history behind the fabric stuck with her,
especially the strict political tensions surrounding a single garment. For
her final collection at Central Saint Martins, Armata vowed to make
it personal and explored her heritage by unpacking family photos and
archival material. “The most original story is your personal story,”
Armata says.
Fast-forward to post-grad, she was in the midst of the pandemic,
which pushed her to start 30 Jeans/30 Days. This crafty project involved
Armata purchasing used jeans from eBay and making a pair of jeans
daily for a month in lockdown. Each pair pushed her to design and
attempt a new technique that tested her skill. Exploring both wearable
and experimental pieces, she demonstrated the reality of what’s possible
with upcycling.
After 30 Jeans/30 Days, Armata desired another creative outlet that
used denim. This time, she wanted to branch out from strictly creating
jeans, and had ideas for dresses and hats. Instead of individual pieces, she
had complete outfits in her head. “Sometimes an outfit communicates
much more strongly than just individual pieces,” she says.
With this new project, she researched old couture techniques and
aimed to challenge the stereotypes of upcycling and stretch what could
be achieved. The results demonstrate the possibilities of upcycling
outside of the predictability of combining light- and dark-wash jeans.
Collectively, these projects had a purpose. Armata wanted to design
denim without feeling guilty about the environmental waste and
pollution caused by the material. This passion still lingers in her work,
where, today, she aims to make sustainable jeans accessible.
“I know there are people that want to shop more consciously, and I
want to be the designer that provides that denim to everybody,” she says.
“I’m producing collections that are a lot more approachable, but still
have a conceptual narrative that backs them.”
Beyond Denim Alexandra Armata vows to make sustainable
jeans accessible.
By Caelan McMichael
Photo courtesy of Alexandra Armata.