Boss is gearing up to bring an eco-friendly outerwear collection to Milan Fashion Week.
Presenting its unisex autumn 2023 collection in Milan next week, Boss is also expected to present items with a sustainable twist in a limited edition capsule collection named “The Change”. The capsule incorporates outerwear fashioned from HeiQ’s recognized HeiQ AeoniQ fabric.
Boss announced its partnership with HeiQ last year. That partnership saw a $5 million equity investment from Boss, the first of its kind as part of its Claim 5 growth strategy. It’s a move Boss says aligns with its sustainability commitments and pledge to introduce more eco-friendly collections in the coming years. The label is aiming for climate neutrality by 2030 within its own operations and by 2045 for its entire value chain.
HeiQ AeoniQ is a biodegradable, high-performance, cellulosic textile yarn developed by HeiQ, a Swiss chemical company that specializes in material innovations. The first garment made with HeiQ AeoniQ — The Boss X HeiQ AeoniQ Polo Shirt — won the ISPO Award 2023.
Carlo Centonze, HeiQ CEO, said of the collaboration that it “makes the dream of replacing polyester for a more sustainable alternative tangible while keeping all the features that made synthetic fibers so widespread. Until today we called HeiQ AeoniQ™ a project. From now on it is a brand that delivers the promise of sustainability and true circularity for the benefit of the Planet.”
Eschewing the reliance on oil-derived threads like polyester and nylon, the innovative material merges with organic waterproof layers and Swiss Pima cotton. The triple-layered fabric has been artfully crafted into a structured double-breasted trench coat, complemented by a removable belt. Adding to the collection, a universal bomber jacket with a relaxed fit integrates the HeiQ AeoniQ fabric paired with primarily upcycled silk for its padding.
Each article is accompanied by a unique serial number and a QR code, which reveals insights into Boss’ “The Change” campaign and the establishment’s alliance with HeiQ AeoniQ.
This alliance marks a segment of an enduring collaboration between the German brand and the fabric supplier, setting the pace towards achieving climate neutrality by the decade’s end, in alignment with Boss’ commitment to the environment.
“In light of the natural limitation of resources, we have to fundamentally rethink and reconsider the way we source materials,” Daniel Grieder, Boss CEO said last year when the company first partnered with HeiQ.
“Because if humankind continues on its current path, by 2050 there will be more microplastic in the oceans than fish,” he said. “At Hugo Boss we are committed to contributing to a greener planet and we want to be at the forefront when it comes to driving positive change within the fashion industry.”
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