“I’ve been interested in sustainability since I was a student, but I haven’t had the chance to be part of the movement,” the modest designer, who works with craftsmen, tanners and metalsmiths in the capital to keep the brand’s carbon foot print down, tells Vogue. “Since launching Danse Lente in 2015, I’ve found so many bags that can’t find a ‘home’ due to the smallest imperfections, such as a tiny dot on leather. Some brands consider these as defects, and the product gets destroyed, but I wanted to think of a better way to treat them.”
Kim is realistic about how far she has to go to achieve transparency within her company. “To be honest, this is not a perfect sustainable project, but as a small brand we're starting to make steps towards traceability,” she shares. Rather, the rehome event will build on the recent Covent Garden pop-up, which was Danse Lente’s first bricks-and-mortar presence, and give customers a better understanding of the brand identity. “Making profit wasn’t our purpose,” she enthuses. “We are just really excited for our bags to find a new home!”
To give the E2 space a special flourish – this is the young designer inspired by the archives of Picasso, Brancusi, Memphis Group and Bauhaus after all – Kim has created displays of hot water bottles with covers crafted from leftover fabric sourced from UK factory floors. After the event is over, the winter warmers will be given away to customers via a raffle and donated to charities.
Waste not want not shouldn't be an abstract brand missive, but, sadly, as fashion currently stands, it is. Find Kim breaking down wasteful industry standards at 6c Calvert Avenue, E2 7JP, from August 31-September 2nd.
Waste not want not shouldn't be an abstract brand missive, but, sadly, as fashion currently stands, it is. Find Kim breaking down wasteful industry standards at 6c Calvert Avenue, E2 7JP, from August 31-September 2nd.
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