Fashion and electronics unite for an eco-conscious cause
In an unlikely but exciting collaboration, we’ve teamed up with LG Electronics and three designers to create our first entirely machine-washable capsule collection for NET SUSTAIN, in a bid to help protect our planet. First up, heritage Parisian label Le Kasha…
Founded in 1918, Parisian fashion label Le Kasha has been at the forefront of the industry for more than 100 years, working alongside the world’s premier designers, including Jeanne Lanvin, Jean Patou and bona fide legend Coco Chanel to create world-class knitwear. A family-run business to this day, its creative director Mali Marciano is now masterfully leading the label in a new direction – extending Le Kasha’s mastery of knitwear to include linen and silk pieces, and debuting timeless designs that have fashion insiders enthralled.
Marciano grew up immersed in the business, traveling around the world with her family to visit their myriad factories, meaning her understanding of Le Kasha, and the fashion industry in general, is innate. Studying business may sound like an unlikely path for a designer to take, but Marciano wanted to understand and modernize every facet of the house. “Growing up, I always wanted to breathe new life into Le Kasha; I wanted to imbue this beautiful heritage with my own vision.” Despite extending the label’s range to include linens and silks and creating an effortlessly elegant new aesthetic, it could be argued that it is in her efforts to make the brand more sustainable that Marciano has had the most impact.
“Choosing to only buy clothes you know you’ll love and wear for years to come is one of the most effective ways to be sustainable, which is why we make a point of only using the most refined and durable fabrics
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“I may have started a completely new chapter for Le Kasha, but I wanted to keep the core value of the label, which has always been authenticity and quality. It has always been quite a sustainable brand, but in a quiet way. I wanted to build on that by only using natural materials in my collections.” In many ways, linen was the natural choice for Marciano when it came to selecting a suitable fabric for the capsule. “Linen is 100 percent natural and grows easily without the need for aggressive insecticides.” Better yet, the collection was created in a conscious way that generated zero waste. However, Marciano’s approach to sustainability doesn’t stop there – it also extends to her design philosophy. “We create versatile pieces that you can wear for any occasion. Choosing to only buy clothes you know you’ll love and wear for years to come is one of the most effective ways to be sustainable, which is why we make a point of only using the most refined and durable fabrics.”
Of course, a huge part of keeping clothes relies on caring for them properly, which is where technology titan LG Electronics comes in with its LG AI DD™ washing machine. The intuitive Artificial Intelligence Direct Drive technology automatically senses the weight and fabric softness of your load to determine the optimal wash pattern that will maximize both the cleansing performance and protection of your clothes – extending the life of your clothing by 18 percent on average. Moreover, the TurboWash360 setting also saves energy – cutting your laundry time down to as little as 39 minutes – while the machine’s steam technology reduces creases caused by washing, removing 99.9 percent of allergens in the process.
Inspired by this game-changing piece of machinery, NET-A-PORTER and LG Electronics have teamed up with three labels, including Le Kasha, to produce their first ever entirely machine-washable capsule collection, a project close to Marciano’s heart. “Le Kasha is based on the idea that you keep your clothes for a lifetime; they are not pieces that you want to replace each season. It’s a value that LG shares, which is why I was very excited to do this collaboration.”
“I may have started a completely new chapter for Le Kasha, but I wanted to keep the core value of the label, which has always been authenticity and quality
”
Living between Paris and London, Marciano has finessed the art of packing, and so it’s no surprise that her winter-sun capsule is laid-back, luxe and endlessly wearable. Travel is a constant source of inspiration for the brand, and this special linen collection has its roots in ancient Egypt. “I think head-to-toe linen makes for the most elegant vacation ensemble; it’s chic and adapts to your body temperature. I wanted to create a feminine collection of forever pieces that women could wear season after season. You can mix and match all the pieces really easily so you don’t have to pack too much in your suitcase, and the quality of the linen means it doesn’t crease. You can unpack it and wear it right away.”
It’s this shared emphasis on both style and substance that makes Le Kasha and LG Electronics unlikely but complementary partners. Washing your clothes might not sound like the most revolutionary act, but if we were all to do it in the most eco-conscious way possible, it would have a positive impact on the environment. “I think even the smallest efforts can create a big difference in the long term,” says Marciano. This sentiment is echoed by LG, who launched their #CareForWhatYouWear campaign in an effort to spread the message that by reducing our clothing waste by correctly caring for the pieces already hanging in our closets, we can build a better, and crucially sustainable, future.