T
When it comes down to sustainability, green is always the most popular colour, perhaps followed by the blue of the oceans. However, Sónia Lopes and Nídia Campos, founders of Unis Textile Design Studio, are steadfast in proving that environmental protection is far from being monochromatic. In their atelier, located in Guimarães, they teach textile companies to let their imagination run, without overloading the planet.
“There is a lot of talk about sustainability, but the fabrics are always basic and unappealing. Like many recycled fibres, they are not very resistant, so there is a tendency to make simpler productions. Our step is to connect sustainability with something richer”, explains Nídia Campos.
The project took off in 2014, when they realized they had gathered an increasingly rare knowledge in the market. Graduated designers, Nídia and Sónia had a career in different textile companies, where they learned the most technical aspects of weaving, especially in jacquard articles.
Starting with Guimarães’ home textile companies, they began creating a network of partners, from yarn to finishing, going through all the other steps of the industrial process. Knowledge that led them to create the Eco Trend Book, a catalogue with 60 references, all focused on sustainability.
“An example is a fabric in Tencel linen, completely created by us, but we also have hemp items and other biodegradable fibres”, details Nídia.
Now, the next goal is to “present a 100% Portuguese and sustainable fabric. There is so much raw material in our country, and we don’t it to go to waste”, shares Sónia Campos. “Our goal is to inspire companies”, she concludes.