Cone and Collaborators Highlight the Mental Health Benefits of Nature
The Great Outdoors as a source of respite served as the inspiration behind Cone Denim’s latest capsule collection called Wander.
The mill teamed with Maria Gunnarsson, founder of Amsterdam-based AMK Atelier, to develop the gorpcore range. Garments made with Cone Community Mental Health Awareness cotton selvedge—identifiable by its neon green ID—highlight the mental health benefits of being immersed in nature. Other sustainable fabrics also feature in the collection.
Citing research from the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, Cone said spending time in nature is therapeutic and has been associated with lower rates of depression and reduced stress. Being outside is second nature to Gunnarsson. “I was born on a farm in the Swedish countryside, and spending time in nature has been a big part of my upbringing. Now that I live in Amsterdam, I value nature even more,” she said.
The 13-piece collection spans utility vests, jackets, oversized cargo jeans and a padded vest dubbed “the human warmer.” Cone showcased the collection in a camping-inspired setup at Kingpins New York, complete with a denim folding chair and other outdoor accoutrements.
“I would be honored if this collection could inspire anyone to take a breath, go for a walk and look outside for what nature has to offer,” Gunnarsson added.
Italian garment technology company Tonello providing the finishing for the garments. The undersides of pocket flaps are laser printed with J.R.R. Tolkien’s quote, “Not all who wander are lost.” Cone tapped videographer Eduard Nijgh to create a documentary-style video to promote the collection.
“The Wander collaboration with Cone Denim and AMK Atelier was a bit like getting lost, only to find yourself again,” said Alice Tonello, Tonello marketing and R&D director, noting the importance of “finding a balance” with nature.
“All of this inspired us in making the washes and dyes, which were very responsible and gentle,” she said.
This is the second project between Cone and AMK Atelier. The first was “The Very Best of Times,” a heritage-inspired sustainable collection made in collaboration with Miles Johnson and Tonello.
With Wander, Pierette Scavuzzo, Cone Denim’s design director, said the opportunity to work with AMK Atelier, Tonello and Nijgh on a cause-oriented collaboration and raise awareness in the denim industry “has been a profound experience.”
The mill donates a portion of sales from the Cone Community Mental Health Awareness selvedge to the Child Mind Institute, a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders.
“We are excited to, once again, bring some of the greats in the industry together to support such an important cause,” Scavuzzo said.
