Sustainability is a topic of high importance in the textile industry since worldwide it constantly produces many harmful substances. In search of an exemplary circular production process for the Graphi-Tee t-shirt, the design was inspired by a traditional technique. The idea for this textile goes back to a process, already common in ancient Roman times and from the 15th to the 19th century in southern Italy, to dye fabrics with graphite. However, the graphite powder used for the Graphi-Tee (up to ten grams per t-shirt) is a waste product from today’s technology industry. It is recovered for processing, creating a closed and sustainable cycle. The special processing lends the textile expressive aesthetics and a highly pleasant feel. Since graphite is also a lubricant, the bio-cotton jersey of the Graphi-Tee is very soft and smoothly fits to the body. Consistent with the pursuit of sustainable processes in the fashion industry, the Graphi-Tees are made with a GOTS-certified (Global Organic Textile Standard) organic cotton in Italy and furthermore use a cutting technique that reduces fabric waste. The use of the non-toxic graphite powder presents a meaningful alternative to the use of harmful chemical substances in the fashion industry. With its pioneering design, the Graphi-Tee inspires people to think – and the wearer of this stylish piece of clothing becomes an ambassador for more sustainability.
Statement by the Jury
With its distinctive processing, the Graphi-Tee stands as an example of a way of thinking that looks beyond the field of the textile industry, since this beautiful fashion product emphatically draws attention to the necessity of sustainable processes. The graphite material lends it its very unique character and a fascinatingly sensuous feel. This t-shirt demonstrates that design points with new ideas at ways into the future.
