At a time when sustainability is gradually becoming part of our daily practices and language, fashion is perhaps the one among all the industries that most needs a radical change of direction towards an environment-friendly solution that, however, also aims to safeguard the well-being of the body and mind. This is how sustainability and the world of sports come into contact, promoting a message that expands the concept of sustainable practices also to physical and mental well-being.

In this scenario, according to Vogue Italia, there are three leading international brands.

• NorbaPIN IT
• NorbaPIN IT

Among these, Norba promotes products created by women for women, functional for both sports and daily practices. The brand was born in 2018 in Ukraine, from the creative minds of ​​two sisters Olha and Helen Norba. The products are made of econyl, (recycled nylon from waste and plastic collected from the oceans) and range from leggings to tops, ideal for practicing pilates or yoga, but also for more intense activities.

The two creatives told Vogue that: “We created Norba about two years ago wanting to create a perfect and minimal type of clothing for training. The idea of ​​athleisure has been around for some time, but we noticed that it was still impossible to find sportswear that perfectly suited the women’s wardrobe. Developing a brand responsibly in this particular historical moment is not optional, it is the only option we have and it is exactly what everyone in the fashion world should do now. […] “

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• Beatrice Gilbo _ Inhala Soulwear PIN IT
• Beatrice Gilbo _ Inhala Soulwear PIN IT

Inhala Soulwear was created by three Peruvian yogins. Promoting a lifestyle dedicated to the well-being of mind and body is the mission of the brand. The term Inhala, deriving from the English “inhale” (to breathe) reminds us that breathing is at the basis of the connection between mind and body, and therefore perfectly in line with the message they want to convey. Inhala also promotes “slow-fashion” production, creating small capsule collections in certified laboratories and in collaboration with international designers and artists.

The products are colorful and simple and created with organic materials including packaging, in which there is also a basil seed that the customer can plant.

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• The minuPIN IT
• The minuPIN IT

The Minu is the brand born in 2019 and created by Alessandra Albertini. The brand’s intentions are clear and resonate with the slogan: activewear that cares. In addition to sustainability, the fundamental concepts that are at the core of the brand are femininity, performance and style. After an experience in India in which she approached the world of yoga, Alessandra reflected on the combination of comfort and femininity in sports practices. 

The main material is econyl here too, combined with imaginative and colorful prints that manage to make the workout a little less heavy and more creative and livelier. Leggings and tops adapt to any type of shape and sporting need. The peculiarity of the brand is that each top bears the name of a famous woman, sporty and not; the top Steffi Graf is in fact dedicated to the famous tennis player who won the Grand Slam, the top Hypatia instead, is dedicated to the brilliant Greek astronomer and philosopher. “[…] The Minu is a brand that focuses on inner well-being as well as physical well-being, because playing sports is good for the mind even before the body. Alessandra told Vogue Italia “I have never been an ad-hoc sportswoman but through the practice of yoga I understood that being sporty could have many facets.”

Vogue Italia Reduced Its Carbon Footprint by Hiring Artists to Illustrate Its January Issue Instead of Staging Photo Shoots

Vanessa Beecroft and David Salle are among the artists contributing to the issue.

In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, Vogue Italia won’t publish any glossy photo shoots in its January issue. Instead, it is commissioning artists to illustrate its pages. 

The environmental toll that the production of Vogue photo shoots takes is substantial, says Emanuele Farneti, the magazine’s editor in chief, in a note to readers.

“One hundred and fifty people involved. About twenty flights and a dozen or so train journeys. Forty cars on standby. Sixty international deliveries. Lights switched on for at least ten hours nonstop, partly powered by gasoline-fueled generators. Food waste from the catering services. Plastic to wrap the garments. Electricity to recharge phones, cameras,” Farneti writes.

The move marks the first time that any of Vogue‘s international magazines have published an issue without a photographic cover. Among the artists tapped to create one of the issue’s eight custom covers are Vanessa Beecroft, David Salle, Cassi Namoda, and Milo Manara. Though mixed in their aesthetic styles, each cover depicts a model wearing Gucci clothing and bears the phrase, “No photoshoot production was required in the making of this issue.”

“Change is difficult, but how can we ask others to change if we are not prepared to call ourselves into question?” Farneti writes. “Accordingly, this month we wanted to launch a message: that creativity—which has been a cornerstone of Vogue for nearly 130 years—can, and must, prompt us to explore different paths.”

The money saved on the January issue will be donated to the Fondazione Querini Stampalia, a cultural center in Venice damaged by last November’s flood.