Soorty and Decode Dressed Kingpins Staff in Zero-Waste Denim Jumpsuits

Alexandra Harrell
·2 min read

Soorty teamed with Decode, the zero-waste label founded by Danielle Elsener: a modern reinterpretation of the jumpsuit by the late Italian futurist artist Ernesto Michahelles, known as Thayaht.

Drawing inspiration from the original jumpsuit—the Tuta—the duo outfitted the Kingpins Amsterdam staff last week in these zero-waste uniforms.

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“When we decided to sponsor the staff uniforms for the April 2024 edition of Kingpins, we were committed to aligning with the zero-waste design philosophy which is integral to our approach in designing products and processes,” Eda Dikmen, Soorty’s senior marketing and communications manager, said. “We prioritize weaving denim fabrics that repurpose what was once considered waste, employing minimally designed processes for dyeing and finishing—this helps us reduce our reliance on natural resources and raw materials.”

In 1920, Thayaht “revolutionized” the fashion landscape with the Tuta ( Italian for “overalls”). The pattern for the jumpsuit was published by the newspaper La Nazione, aiming to make it accessible to the masses and not just the elite—directly countering the oligopoly of the major French fashion houses at the time. In honor of this, Soorty and Decode have shared the zero-waste pattern of the TwoTa with the public as an open-source tool.

Soorty announced its collaboration with Decode to present TwoTa: a modern reinterpretation of the iconic jumpsuit, inspired by the work of Italian futurist artist Ernesto Michahelles, known as Thayaht.
Soorty announced its collaboration with Decode to present TwoTa: a modern reinterpretation of the iconic jumpsuit, inspired by the work of Italian futurist artist Ernesto Michahelles, known as Thayaht.

The vertically integrated denim manufacturer and designer drew inspiration from this legacy when crafting the TwoTa, injecting it with a “contemporary ethos” of sustainability.

“In 1920, Thayaht revolutionized the fashion landscape with his jumpsuit The Tuta which was born out of necessity and creativity,” Dikmen said. “Building upon his visionary legacy, our design The TwoTa aims to be a contemporary reinterpretation rooted in innovation and sustainability, ensuring that the spirit of timeless design lives on.”

For the project, Decode engineered a zero-waste pattern for garment production. The TwoTa is constructed with Soorty’s Splash ZWW Classic Blue, a rigid fabric that blends organic cotton grown by Soorty’s Organic Cotton Initiative (SOCI) and Second Life, the mill’s recycled cotton system.

Utilizing the Zero Waste Water technology for dyeing and finishing, water usage is reduced by 90 percent compared to traditional methods. The result is a breathable and airy garment that offers easy wear while showcasing a bright blue hue, representing Thayaht’s “vision” of color choice.

“Zero Waste Water represents Soorty’s vertical sustainability process design, enhanced by innovative dyeing and finishing technology engineered for conscientious water usage,” Dikmen said. “This technology eliminates the need for pre-washer and post-washer tanks, utilizing solely green chemicals that adhere to the standards of REACH, Oeko-Tex, ZDHC, and Bluesign.”