The couple Anbasja Blanken – ITV Denim
Curtains fall on the third edition of the Global Denim Awards. Few weeks ago Denim Freaks revealed the 11 couples chosen for this year, and now we are ready to announce the winner, the couple designer-mill that created the winning collection that will be exhibited at Kingpins Shows in New York City and Hong Kong, before returning to the Netherlands for Amsterdam Denim Days 2017.
The jury of international denim experts selected Dutch designer Anbasja Blanken and Italian mill ITV Denim as the winning collaboration for this year’s Best Collection Award. “My concept was about the deep sea, and more specifically coral. Some coral’s colors alternate when the light changes. It can even be luminescent. What if my denim pieces produced light themselves?” said Blanken. To honor her inspiration, ITV created glow in the dark denim fabric especially for the designer.
A special mention must be given to Indian denim mill Arvind that won the honorary Best Fabric Award in recognition for its innovative yet traditional fabrics. The Khadi fabrics, which were used by Roosmarijn Koster for her capsule collection, are traditionally handwoven and as authentically Indian as can be. “Arvind supports villages and inhabitants to continue creating this traditional denim. Economically that does not make sense. But from a sustainability point of view, it’s invaluable. That’s why the Fabric Award also goes to the mill’s community, not to Arvind alone” Jury member Amy Leverton said.
With 11 mills and designers involved this year, the Global Denim Awards has almost doubled its number of participants since debuting in 2014. Maybe that’s the reason why we are waiting for the fourth edition of 2017. See you in Amsterdam!
Julie Parfaits
Pictures by Team Peter Stigter
