Karl Lagerfeld creates eco-conscious accessory line with Amber Valletta

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Nov 26, 2020

The house of Karl Lagerfeld has announced plans for a new eco-friendly accessories collection made in collaboration with iconic model and actress Amber Valletta.

The collab, named Karl Lagerfeld x  Amber Valletta, will be focused on green-conscious designs – including a special edition K/Kushion bag – and made in innovative, socially sustainable materials – such as vegan cactus leather – sourced with minimal ecological impact.

Fans of the brand and the activist model will be able to acquire the collection starting in March 2021 at Karl Lagerfeld stores worldwide, and on Karl.com and Zalando.

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 “More than five years ago, Amber and I started discussing the possibility to jointly develop a sustainable project. We were not ready back then, but continuously kept this objective on the radar. I’m so excited to now bring Amber on board as a sustainability collaborator, to work on such a project and be able to benefit from her great insights and our shared passion for environmental sustainability. Amber and Karl worked together for many years, and she is a true member of the Karl Lagerfeld family,” said Karl Lagerfeld CEO Pier Paolo Righi in a release.

“Karl and I had so much history together, and I’m excited to be partnering with his namesake brand for a project that’s so meaningful to us both. When I received the first proposals for the co-branding and saw our names together, I was very touched and even emotional,”  added Valletta.

The K/Kushion bag was inspired by a tailor-made cushion that Karl Lagerfeld carried on his worldly travels. A cushion that he kept since his childhood, over time it became weathered and torn. Mimicking this silhouette, the K/Kushion bag has a voluminous effect and is pillowy soft to touch.

The new bag will be available in either vegan cactus leather, which is engineered by Desserto in Mexico, and has a plant-based, organic carbon content that’s made with huge water savings as no irrigation is required. This leather is also cultivated with no herbicides or pesticides. The bags are colored with organic pigments; the green option has a pleated finish, while the black option has a sleek, seamless exterior. The second K/Kushion style is made of 90% recycled cotton; a fabric certified by the Global Recycle Standard.

Valletta has also selected a range of her small accessories including a reusable water bottle, zip wallet, card holder, face mask, and washbag. Profits generated from the sale of the Karl Lagerfeld x  Amber Valletta K/Kushion will be donated to a charity that supports the goals of the Fashion Pact, which the house signed last year as part of the fashion industry’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact. The Pact has since been signed by more than 60 global fashion brands.

Besides being a legendary catwalk model, Valletta appeared on the cover of American Vogue 13 times in the 1990s. Later moving to Los Angeles, she developed a successful film career
with credits in such films as Hitch, What Lies Beneath, and the hit TV show Revenge.

Valletta founded Master & Muse, the lifestyle platform for responsibly made, cutting-edge fashion, and serves as an advisor to One x One, The Conscious Design Initiative in partnership with the UN. She is the FIT Sustainability Education Ambassador and FIT Foundation board member. Valletta was also named the first ever Sustainability Contributing Editor for British Vogue.