Valentino Garavani Open For A Change, In The Spirit Of Open Innovation
Maison Valentino introduced its Open For A Change project. Two of the iconic Valentino sneakers — Open and Rockstud Untitled– are re-designed and re-dedicated in a spirit of open innovation with a more conscious-driven ethos. Created from the Maison’s desire to explore innovative materials and techniques for the future, the latest footwear versions of the Open and Rockstud Untitled for the first time partially involve recycled and bio-based materials while continuing to reflect the aesthetic and trademark motifs of the Maison, representing a conscious, firm step on the path to a sustainable ethos.
Available in a variety of different colourways, these models lay on a foundation of bio-based materials, employed as an alternative to leather produced from viscose and polyurethane of corn-derived polyols. These materials partially make the upper of both models and part of the Open’s side band; the strings are completely made of recycled polyester, while the Valentino trademark studs on the Rockstud Untitled are also made of recycled nylon. The environment-centric approach is reflected in the shoe case and the packaging too, which are made of fully recycled cotton and paper, the latter sourced from sustainably- managed forests.
The sneakers, part of Valentino’s SS22 collection, are the first in line for the Maison’s new project, Valentino Garavani Open for a Change, whose symbol is a digitally printed green logo.
The venture aims to merge the brand’s inherent creativity with its environmental priorities, culminating into two models of cruelty-free footwear with a fully traceable European supply chain, guaranteeing the highest standards of artisanal craftsmanship. Suppliers of the bio-based materials boast of the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), an analytic method that quantifies the consequences of a product on the environment throughout its whole life cycle. As far as the Open and Rockstud Untitled are concerned, the analysis has demonstrated a lesser impact of bio-based materials than similar products made with traditional fossil fuels.
The path undertaken by Valentino Garavani Open for a Change is marked by the desire to change gears while sticking to the brand’s artisanal tradition. The quest is to immerse in the here and now, answering today’s questions employing timeless artifacts through seasons and trends: a reflection born with the pondered calm required by creativity, which rejects shortcuts while looking into the future. The conscious approach will act as a compass in Valentino’s transformative journey, not just as a Maison but also as a Community, throughout the various Open for a Change iterations.
The sneakers have debuted during Paris Fashion week from 1-5 October as part of a temporary installation in the Rombaut boutique, a store in the proximity of the Tour Eiffel renowned for championing projects with sustainability at its core aligned with the values of our time. Valentino Garavani Open for a Change is available in Valentino boutiques worldwide and e-commerce, officially inaugurating a new era, far from the transience of the seasons, but perfectly in line with the spirit of the times. A new age characterized, of course, by Valentino’s classic aesthetic vision.
