CPHFW - AW25
Their minimalist style, in my opinion, is connected with the elimination of trends and the overwhelming demand to spend continuously and senselessly, which is why I believe Copenhagen Fashion Week is encouraging the entire industry to be more transparent and authentic.
Where the artistry of fashion meets values.
In my opinion, Copenhagen Fashion Week is the most sustainable Fashion Week I have ever experienced. From the three pillars they follow, based on: education, reduction, acceleration.
But let’s understand what each of these pillars means:
EDUCATION
They are committed to sharing relevant information with their community and external stakeholders, not only to educate about fashion and sustainability, but also to inspire, and this is exactly what we saw with London Fashion Week who followed in their footsteps and set their copied minimum requirements on the designers who will participate in the Fashion Week.
REDUCTION
They support companies that focus on reducing, reusing, repurposing, repairing, renting and reselling as part of their circular economy, thus reducing consumption.
I also noticed that all invitations to the show were digital and there was a dedicated bus for all CPHFW press and guests to travel from show to show, reducing CO2 emissions. I've never seen anything like that in another fashion week!
ACCELERATION
As a founder of Koua Studio, I know it represents the economic challenge of the fashion week for small companies. CPHFW supports Monor by guided companies and stands out and gives a free closure every season to be presented in the fashion week.
They are dedicated to making a quick progress, in order to add a new minimum standard every year to increase the standard and reach those brands/designers that do not really focus on sustainability.
CPHFW serves as evidence that the art of fashion is only beautiful when it considers both aesthetics and values.
This statement reminded me on the "Fashion and Sustainability" panel I attended in November last year at the University of Cambridge led by Isabella Rose Davey, the COO at Copenhagen Fashion Week, Emily Chan, Senior Sustainability & Features Editor of British Vogue and Olya Kuryshuk, Founder 1 Granary. Three women with a deep understanding on where fashion should go in terms of sustainability.
A very interesting panel talk, where we discussed some of the challenges the industry is facing today specially for entrepreneurs like me.
Here are some remarkable learnings I got:
The anxiety I had of making my business a huge entrerprise and it doesn’t neccesarily has to be like that. If you are a fashion designer dealing with the same here are three key points to consider:
You’re not for everyone, your art shouldn’t be for everyone, you are for the people who really understand what’s behind it and therefore appreciate the price.
Let’s think out of the box, I’ve attended too many fashion shows and realised that we are keeping our ideas in the same box. The designers are not innovating in the way they present their collections. We don’t necessarily have to do an expensive catwalk (which probably will not last more than 10 minutes) and will reach less people. There are other ways to present your art while distinguishing from the crowd. Let’s innovate! this is a declaration supported by Isabella Rose Davey.
Their minimalist style, in my opinion, is connected with the elimination of trends and the overwhelming demand to spend continuously and senselessly, which is why I believe Copenhagen Fashion Week is encouraging the entire industry to be more transparent and authentic.
Let me know your thoughts!
With love,
Eri x
2025 - A strong beginning
It’s not even one month, and we have seen enough to reflect not only about how fragile is life but how humanity is more focused on its EGO and own interests rather than a collective change.
A post on instagram wasn’t enough to portray all my feelings about some situations that made me reflect on the resposability I have as a human, fashion leader and as a Mexican.
My climate change deep reflections.
It’s not even one month, and we have seen enough to reflect not only about how fragile is life but how humanity is more focused on its EGO and own interests rather than a collective change.
A post on instagram wasn’t enough to portray all my feelings about some situations that made me reflect on the resposability I have as a human, fashion leader and as a Mexican. This post is accompanied by this images carrousel that you can see here ____ In order to fully understand it.
Kantamanto
The biggest secondhand clothing market in the world has been destroyed by the fire on the 2nd of January, affecting 30,000 people who used to work at the market in Kantamanto, Ghana. I still don’t understand how people that contribute to a more sustainable world, repurposing discarded textiles into new products , have lost their livelihoods and now are without an income. The effects on these local communities in Africa is HUGE, people working in this market were pillars on their communities and it will take ages to recover. I think all those big monsters of Fast Fashion (like H&M, Levis, Shein, etc) which are feeding this broken system should first of all stop the over production and pay fairly to their workers and second pay to rebuild a formal economy market where Kantamanto people are working in the righ conditions, selling their own products and crafts. That’s the dream!
2. Los Angeles
I still can’t believe that the capital of entreteinment, digital media and innovation, is experiencing the worst terror movie in history.
First of all my condolenses to all those affected suffering huge losses of family, beloved ones, homes and other physical possesions . I can’t image the devastation they are facing. This situation left people experiencing anxiety, depression and some will take the double of effort to recover, you are not alone, the whole world is with you. Don’t take anything from granted, how vulnerable are and we need to focused more in the spiritual part of life cause our spirt will never be burned. “New begginings are often disguished as painful endings” a quote from Lao Tzu.
3. Tibet
There are not a lot of press talking about this terrible disaster, but more than 126 people have been killed after a powerful 7.1 earthquake on January 7 in Shigatse, region of Tibet hit. Houses in that area are made of dirt so imagine how easy is to fall down! Similar than some vulnerable areas in Mexico where goverment don’t really focus on developing strong infrastructure and alarm systems and create awareness of safety protocols when an earthquake happens. This is a call to action to goverment in China and other goverments stealing the money of the communities instead of investing in what matters.
4. Nevado de toluca
While I’m in Mexico city I was admiring from the uber’s window how beautiful “The Nevado de Toluca” which is the 4th higuest peak in Mexico looked dressed in icy white and I wondered if I could go to the National Park but its access has been restricted as a preventive measure until further notice due to up to six extreme weather phenomena recorded in the area. This was just a reminder that wherever I looked around there is always a reminder of what we are doing with this planet.
5. Mexican Firefighters in LA
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best” a famous quote from Trump in June 2015. And if we were full of anger and trying to take revenge, we wouldn’t even think to help them in these difficult times when in less than one week he will be taking once again position of the US presidency. We’re not looking for problems, instead we believe in collaborative work, we are friends with everyone, our spirt and our soul is communitarian.
6. Golfo de Mexico
The picture says more than thousands words. Starting from we Mexicans didn’t crossed the border, the border crossed us and since 16th century the “Gulf of Mexico” has been named like that for obvious reasons but it’s clear that his Ego and is pushing him to do actions that are ridiculos! Honestly, he needs to go to a spiritual journey to heal his ego, maybe in a beautiful resort in the Gulf of Mexico lol.
7. Fashion and Sustainability panel talk.
Fashion has significant enviromental impact and there is a need to re-think and make consious on how we are consuming fashion and in my case (and other designers and people involved in the industry) how we are creating fashion. In November, last year I attended a panel talk in the university of Cambrige, led by Isabella Rose Davey, COO at Copenhagen Fashion Week, Olya Kuryshchuk, founder and Editor-in-Chief of 1 Granary and Emily Chan, Senior Sustainability & Features Editor at British Vogue where they discussed the role of fashion weeks in promoting eco-conscious design and the future of fashion and sustainability. A full blog post is coming in the following days with all the learning keys I got from this amazing women leading the industry, so please stay tuned!
Last but not least, here are some links on how to help, donate or contribute to all the victims of this heartbroken disasters:
Vetted by nbcnews:
California Community Foundation
L.A. Fire Department Foundation
Ventura County Community Foundation
American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles
Center for Disaster Philanthropy
I hope you liked it! What’s are your thoughts?
Rember I’m on IG @erialvarezz or you can always write me at erika@kouastudio.com.
With love,
Eri x
Make it Perpetual
A perpetual wardrobe that will last longer. The first excuse to invest on it is money but if you make a calculation on how much you're spending in those cheap garments is even more than investing in 10 high quality garments a year that will last much longer without sacrificing necessarily your style.
I’ve always thought that your are what you eat, think and what you wear. Yes! Red flag for those who are just eating McDonalds, feeding the impostor syndrome thoughts and wearing Shein.
The first thing that people respond towards this statement is “I don’t have money to buy those expensive brands” but if you make a calculation on how much they’re spending in those ‘cheap’ garments (which are not cheap because someone else is paying the price for producing them) is even more than investing in 3 high quality garments a year that will last much longer, yeah it won’t be new but will be more environmental conscious and fair paid not sacrificing necessarily your style.
The big issue and the challenge is to change our mindset towards the right way to consume fashion. My wardrobe nowadays is based:
In buying less, but smart.
Investing in classic pieces.
Renting some others for certain events (like weddings, parties, etc).
Restyling some garments with my textiles (Koua Studio).
Resell those that I think I can give a second chance and recover the investment (specially from luxury brands).
Swap with friends <3
Loan some others to support fashion brands that I love.
Let’s stop wasting natural resources and money! Let use more our creativity to mix and match accessories with classic pieces to make outstanding outfits and invest in clothes for a real connection with a brand for their values, their social commitment I bet will make you feel more better is exactly the same feeling like when you eat a protein poke bowl and boost yourself with positive thoughts!
I hope this article was useful to start changing your mindset and let’s keep the discussion on instagram!
Lots of love
Eri x
Here are some of my favourite outfits with some classic pieces.
Here are 10 pieces which are key to a perpetual wardrobe.
Chloè driven by purpose.
I attended yesterday such an inspiring talk of Riccardo Bellini currently the CEO of Chloé. It took place at Jesus College at the University of Cambridge on a Tuesday lovely evening. Me and my friend we decided to make a tour around trinity college before the event. It wasn’t my first time there but is always good to come back!
Yesterday I attended such an inspiring talk of Riccardo Bellini currently the CEO of Chloé. It took place at Jesus College at the University of Cambridge on a Tuesday lovely evening. Me and my friend we decided to make a tour around trinity college before the event. It wasn’t my first time there but is always good to come back!
Riccardo is a great leader who bets for a more responsible and purposeful fashion, he talked about Chloé’s path towards a transformation of the brand into a purpose driven model and I honestly went out of that conference feeling very inspired and more sure than ever that direction that my business is taking is the right one.
Luxury brands are now betting more for handmade materials that supports social causes and are driven by purpose, inspiring designers and fashion labels to make a positive impact like Chloé is doing. Riccardo explained that Patagonia was an inspiration for them and they spent time studied their business model in order to become Bcorp and to be the Patagonia of luxury brands.
Chloè got the BCorp in one year and a half but the most interesting thing is the the way Riccardo perceived the Bcorp certification, as a great achievement yes but more as a cultural transformation within the company and himself taking in consideration that the way you create social change in fashion is by leading to inspire .
There was couple of questions from the audience which Riccardo answered in a way that made me philosophize regarding some topics the fashion industry is facing right now. He mentioned that in such a position that he is he needs to take very difficult decisions where it seems to be sometimes a little bit of incongruent like for example cutting all the cotton production at once will affect many families in local towns which depend economically from those jobs but at the same time you are harming the environment and it’s true! it’s finding a balance to take actions within big companies like Chloé to make a real positive impact.
I did made him a question but I will share it with you in my upcoming podcast …
I hope you find it useful
Eri x
“We live on an assumption of infinite growth model in a very finite type of world that’s why circularity plays a fundamental role.”
Bottega Veneta to last forever.
On my search to look for sustainable and luxurious trendy bags , I found the candy cassette leather shoulder bag from Bottega Veneta which ended up to be one the best purchases of my life. Not because of the beautiful design but because of the values of the brand. Bottega Veneta is now offering lifetime warranty with its new Certificate of Craft program, a new service that “offers unlimited refresh and repair" for any Bottega Veneta handbag this program has just convert my bag in a very good investment. Why? Because I can either resell it when I get bored of it and pass the lifetime warranty to someone else or I can inherit it. It takes days, not hours, to make their products. According to Leo Rongone, CEO of Bottega Veneta they are designed to last forever. The brand’s new commitment to craftsmanship brings me back to the concept of intrecciato a technique that was developed in the 60s by this Luxury house as a result of the Veneto region in the north east of Italy where Bottega Venetta headquarters were located. Intrecciato means braided in Italian is a technique to weave this thin leather together into thicker to build more durable pieces and it has become an iconic technique for the brand. This bag is very useful for night outs where you just need to carry your phone, and essential make up but not more. Have a look on the different colours available clicking this link : Bottega Venetta Mini Cassette bag.
Vivienne Westwood: Leaving a legacy.
Vivienne Westwood
Vivianne Westwood (1941-2022).
We need more people like Vivienne Westwood to change the industry. She was a truly inspiration for me and for many people for sure.
With her mantra “buy less, choose well, make it last” she was one of the first women who encouraged me to change my consumer behaviour through fashion but also to raise my voice to fight against many injustices that are happening in the world, specially when it comes to the role that women play in the society. and the unfair wages paid to people making our clothes. She also taught me how to be sexy, rebel and how to be myself without apologising.
Vivianne Westwood is a legacy and her impact over the last 60 years has been enormous and will continue into the future with her family announcing the launch of ‘Vivienne Foundation’ next year which will be focused to solve issues related to climate change, war, human rights and capitalism to honour her life, design and activism.
Below find some pictures of me wearing an outfit from her last SS22 collection and if you want to see her collection highlights at the V&A museum please follow this link https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/vivienne-westwood .
Eri x
Vivienne Westwood Photograph by Juergen Teller, 1993.
Circulating my wardrobe
RENT & BUY MY WARDROBE
I need to confess that I was a fast fashion victim. But what does fast fashion mean? According to goodonyou.eco is defined as “cheap, trendy clothing that samples ideas from the catwalk or celebrity culture and turns them into garments in high street stores at breakneck speed to meet consumer demand.” In my point of view it also falls into the idea of create desire and make consumers to dispose clothes as fast as possible so brands can sell more and more while accelerating their supply chain they get cheap labour and cheap materials. That is the dirty game of fast-fashion consumption.
As I have said before the pandemic was a wake up call for most of us to rethink our purpose but mainly for climate change, that was the moment when I started Koua Studio and I changed drastically my consumer behaviour towards fashion. I’m particularly fan of wearing luxury brands because of its brand heritage, creative art and the power they give me when I wear them. But what is really behind a luxury brand? It’s not just its longevity that makes it sustainable is the value that can be added now if you know how to consume them.
The following diagram shows one of the ways I consume fashion nowadays.
Apart from the added value they give me, I can recover the investment , help to stop the fast fashion wave and give the chance to someone else to wear it too!
Before sending the items to the new owner. I always make sure they are sent to the dry clean and in its best version possible. Visit my shop https://www.erika-alvarez.com/shop . There are always new items coming in depending on the season. Those that I decide to set in circulation and I give a second life and make my ROI back.
Contact me if any question.
Eri x