MILAN, ITALY — Denim brand G-Star RAW recently partnered with creative agency The Family Amsterdam and designer Maarten Baas to create a series of thought-provoking design and art pieces made from denim waste. The works were unveiled at Milan Design Week at a public exhibition called “More or Less.” The show explored one of the fundamental predicaments of our time: the tension and duality between the desire for more, and the need for less. The exhibition showcased a triptych of cabinets in the shape of jeans, and a fifteen- meter long private jet, all made using recycled G-Star jeans.
The art of (denim) waste
Maarten Baas is regarded as one of the most important designers of the 21st century, with a track record for surprising and intriguing the public. He was the obvious choice as a creative partner for a project exploring the boundaries of denim design. G-Star and The Family Amsterdam approached Baas with a brief to create a series of art and design pieces from a new textile board material derived from recycled denim.
The result is a triptych of cabinets that are both playful and functional. As well as being made from denim, and resembling a pair of jeans, the furniture can also be used to store pairs of jeans (and other denim items). All three cabinets are made of textile board material created from recycled G-Star jeans, specially developed by Danish textile innovators Really / Kvadrat. The jeans were collected from G-Star stores across Europe via the ‘Return your Denim’ program which allows customers to return their old jeans for recycling. During the exhibition, visitors can also bring their worn garments to screenprint with the signature message ‘More or Less’.
“At G-Star, we believe that there is no limit to what denim can do. In this case, we’re spotlighting what our denim waste can become, and how we can change waste material into something meaningful that stands out, and that makes you wonder and think. Because we all want more, but our planet needs less. That uncomfortable reality we all deal with. Yes, we are constantly aiming to improve our impact on people and the planet, but at the same time, we realize we encourage consumption as well. That symbolizes the balancing act of being both a responsible and a successful brand at the same time,” said Gwenda van Vliet, CMO, G-Star RAW.
More or Less?
The “More or Less” exhibition was housed in the 17th-century church of San Paolo Converso, which provided a stunning and unexpected backdrop to the provocative designs. The show demonstrated new and creative possibilities in recycling which sparked contemplation and discussion around the duality of the desire for more in these current times.
While designing the initial idea of the cabinets earlier this year, a second design concept arose in Maarten’s mind: an imposing 15-meter jet that, like the cabinets, was built using waste denim – and which is likely to provoke reactions. Not only for its massive scale but for the bold statement it makes about the duality of sustainability issues.
“Every year in Milan, I witness the tragicomic dialogue between green design and mass consumption. When G-Star approached me to collaborate, it was the perfect opportunity to focus on this relevant dilemma. After all, we are all part of the same puzzle: we enjoy our prosecco next to this private jet made from recycled materials. We are not saving the world, but are we contributing to an improvement? More or less…,” said Maarten.
CREDITS:
Creative Agency: The Family Amsterdam
Production company: Ministry of Frames
Director: Bas Goossens
DOP: Bob Alkemade
Producer: Lieve Claessens
Offline edit: Bas Goossens
Grading/online: de Grot
Photographer Cabinets + Portrait: Mylan Rosendaal | BTS: Mart Goossens
Audiomix: FC Walvisch
