Taiwan Design Competition Winner: Jia Ying
Meet 23 year old Ong Jia Ying, this year’s gold winner of the student design competition: Garment category.
Think small is where RLSD takes a look at some of the smaller companies around the world that we think are doing the right thing with leather. This is a greenwashing free zone – no matter what they produce, sustainability is at the heart of what they do.
Think small: Cuyana
What makes your company different?
Cuyana is a women-built, heritage-led company offering fewer, better collections that embody timeless design, luxury, quality, and sustainability. The fewer, better lifestyle allows her to live smarter and better so that she has the luxury of time to do what matters most to her. All of our pieces are made and delivered with love.
Why is leather so important to you and what other materials do you use?
Sourced from tanneries in Italy and Argentina, our luxurious leather is naturally supple and resilient. Designed to wear well over time, it is the perfect foundation for products that become your everyday companions.
100% of our tanneries are certified by the Leather Working Group, the world’s leading environmental certification for the leather manufacturing industry.
In 2020, we made the promise that 100% of the materials we use – including silk, cotton, cashmere and even plastic – would be sustainably-certified materials by the end of 2022. We missed that target by 1%! But now, we have hit it.
What is your signature product/what best sums up your philosophy?
Our oversized double loop bag is a modern and unique marriage of the classic shoulder bag and the quotidian shopping bag, with a soft structure, to elegantly accompany you through everyday activities.
Our sustainability practices go beyond responsible production. As you add to your collection, create space and extend product life cycles through our care, donation, and resell services.
What do Cuyana say?
Heritage craftsmanship is at the heart of each piece we create—our relationships with our suppliers, factories, and mills are part of our extended Cuyana family. We are dedicated to doing our part to preserve heritage craft traditions. We have travelled the world—from Ecuador to Peru to Vietnam—to build close-knit ties with our global partners. Each product in our collection reflects a genuine partnership between Cuyana and the individuals who bring our products to life.
What does RLSD say?
Cuyana really pay attention to every detail from sourcing to manufacture and supply and it shows in their products.
They also partner with H.E.A.R.T., a nonprofit organisation dedicated to helping female victims of abuse, by donating apparel and accessories to their mission.
Find out more here.
Meet 23 year old Ong Jia Ying, this year’s gold winner of the student design competition: Garment category.
The facility, in Nigeria’s largest city, will consist of a tannery, shops and a training facility—it is due to open in December this year.
Super-stylist Mike Adler catches up with London-based designers and leather sculpture pioneers Patrick Whitaker and Keir Malem, the men behind Whitaker Malem.
The Japanese label and the French luxury fashion house team up for 57-piece A/W men’s collection
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