Invista’s durable Cordura brand brought its Fashion X Function campaign to Paris with a Work’N Mode contest for the students of the L’Atelier Chardon Savard in Paris.

The contest inspired students to reinterpret and re-imagine work clothing for men and women using a broad range of performance fabrics from the Cordura fabric collection.

The goal of the contest was to encourage future designers to integrate functionality and fashion into work clothing and to freely and creatively rethink technical design features.

Workwear of the future

Today many brands are combining technical requirements with stylish features to differentiate themselves and to meet the increasing demand for fashionable, functional clothing for work, the company reports.

Six student designers from the final year fashion creation course at L’Atelier Chardon Savard were shortlisted to participate in the Work’N Mode contest organised by Invista’s Cordura brand fabrics. 

Their inspirational garment interpretations will be showcased at the Expoprotection trade exhibition in Paris this week. Students were provided with a broad range of durable, technical Cordura fabrics including high-visibility fabrics, which are on-trend with the current luminescent colour palette; rugged yet soft Cordura NYCO fabrics, and Cordura fabrics made from an intimate blend of cotton and nylon.

Winners selected by a jury

The final designs have been reviewed and judged by a jury of industry professionals from the world of workwear and fashion.  Judging took place on 23 October and the final garments will be exhibited in November at the Cordura brand stand at Expoprotection 2014.

First place was awarded to Axel Miraton for his coat and trouser ensemble inspired by the classic duffle-coat and true to the spirit of his original collection combining fashion with functionality. Miraton was given a prize of EUR 2,000 by Cordura brand.

Second place was awarded to Louise de Testa. The jury was impressed by the creative connectivity of this entry, which consisted of a short outdoor inspired jacket equipped with an integral LED feature in the hood of the jacket and a reflective gilet/vest. Louise de Testa was given a prize of EUR 750.

Finally, third place was awarded to Victoria Dahan for her exploration of the contrast between graphic design and functionality of fabrics in her work inspired jumpsuit and jacket ensemble in black with hi-vis yellow accents. Victoria Dahan was given EUR 350 from Invista’s Cordura brand.  All winners will also receive a selection of Cordura fabrics to the value of EUR 250 to use in their fashion collections.

Specific requirements of workwear

In addition, the Cordura brand team worked with third year students at L’Atelier Chardon Savard to encourage young designers to look at the specific requirements of workwear garments and to use their fashion skills to explore the design possibilities of functional fabrics in fashionable workwear applications. 

These students, within the framework of their design course at L’Atelier Chardon Savard, focused on the integration of their creative thinking with technical performance fabrics used in the manufacture of protective work clothing.  Their design work will also be showcased from 4-6 November at the Work ’N Mode display at the Expoprotection trade exhibition.

www.cordura.com