Star Fades International (SFI) continues to deliver the denim industry time-saving tools.
Last week, the Commerce, Calif.-based design, development and innovation hub specializing in premium denim and apparel unveiled the SFI Vintage Denim Archive.
As a laundry and denim design studio, SFI has long relied on this internal resource for creative inspiration. Now clients working with SFI or sourcing fabrics through sister companies Cone Denim and Artistic Milliners can have access.
Featuring hundreds of vintage garments collected from cities including London, Austin, Amsterdam, New York City and Los Angeles, the SFI Vintage Denim Archive aims to fill those creative gaps by providing clients with vintage references to inform their wash innovation, silhouette development and fabric research. New pieces are continuously added throughout the year.
Darin Dormeyer
The archive was created to address the challenges brands face as they develop collections. Designers are under pressure to create with limited time, tighter budgets, accelerated development calendars and fewer opportunities to travel and source new inspirations.
“We’re in the business of time—we give our clients industry-leading timesaving tools so that they have the bandwidth and runway to be creative,” said Melanie Balasa-Flottman, SFI’s vice president of global design and full package. “The Vintage Denim Archive joins SFI’s growing toolkit, which includes seasonal concepts and mood boards, wash standards, trend forecasting and wash trips—all designed to give brands the infrastructure, inspiration and access they need to scale at speed.”
Darin Dormeyer
SFI celebrated the official launch of the SFI Vintage Denim Archive last week at its headquarters. The event welcomed denim designers, product and wash developers as well as brand executives for a first look at the vintage garments. As part of the event, SFI’s designers curated an immersive installation featuring a selection of pieces spanning eras, categories and design influences.
The company will bring the installation to Preface trade show in Los Angeles on July 29-30.
