Vibrant quirkiness and a smart urban attitude are DUARTE’s mojo. Ana Duarte, founder and head of design of the Portuguese streetwear brand, is excited to roll up her sleeves and team up with C.L.A.S.S ecohub and the prestigious award partners. For one year they will work together, implement, develop and communicate the label’s values and responsible collections with one important mission: raising consumers’ awareness on design-driven sustainable fashion.

The second C.L.A.S.S. ICON AWARD expands its vision embracing fashion streetwear with an attitude and bets on DUARTE, an emerging label committed to sustainability that shows a new way of being cool, yet responsible. “The C.L.A.S.S. ICON AWARD is much more than prize, it’s an open workshop with influential professionals that will support DUARTE in reaching the next level and being able to share my vision for responsible fashion.” Comments Ana Duarte.

Ana Duarte, Founder and Head of Design Duarte

The designer (b. 1991) launched her label DUARTE in 2016 just after graduation. Since then, the fresh, colourful and power-propelling brand has conquered both catwalks and cities’ streets with a responsible message. “Sustainability means durability, fair work practices, recycled materials and zero-waste,” is Ana’s mantra. Indeed, the collection is the result of a virtuous balance between production and locally-sourced, recyclable high-quality materials harnessed from factories’ deadstock. DUARTE also means circularity, the garments can be re-used and upcycled to create new collections.

“DUARTE injects sustainability into streetwear with a bold, energetic, positive and fresh style language and brand-new sustainable values. It perfectly matches our vision for a four-dimensional fashion,” says Giusy Bettoni, CEO and Founder of C.L.A.S.S. ecohub. “We believe that true new generation fashion is the blend of style, innovation and responsibility, but it also requires proper and good communication, the fourth dimension, to deliver positive, authentic and value driven messages to consumers. DUARTE achieves that. It’s time to overcome green washing, it’s time to give voice to brilliant designers like Ana who create exquisite storytelling matching virtuous story-making.”

“Duarte is a great example of a brand that is focused on sustainable issues, while also creating aesthetically trendy and commercial garments.” Says Dio Kurazawa, Founding Partner The Bear Scouts, C.L.A.S.S. Friend and fashion trends expert. “I love all the attention on responsible issues that Duarte covers, but I’m more impressed by their ability to create garments that could sit next to traditionally made brands and hold its own. I truly believe we need more amazing brands that put people and planet first, without compromising aesthetics. As we know, most people still buy clothing for how it looks without questioning of how it’s made. Duarte has been able to achieve both”.

The C.L.A.S.S. ICON AWARD is a project led by C.L.A.S.S. with the special support of IDEE BRAND PLATFORM which assists fashion brands in commercial activity, WHITE Milano, international fair supporting the new generations and independent brands with special projects since its inception and responsible shopping platform Renoon. Together they will all support DUARTE for a full year at 360°, from consultancy to communication (details of the reward below*).

SS21 Maui collection by Duarte captured by Tomás Monteiro at Lisboa FW for Portuguese Soul

“Duarte embodies values in environmental protection, but also human wellbeing in a unique and creative way. It’s not something I’ve seen very often in the street style space. I think Duarte has a great potential of making people wear their love for our oceans and inspiring others to protect them” says Iris Skrami, Co-founder and CEO at Renoon.

“Ana Duarte renews streetwear in an artistic way blending together an outerwear soul and unique and exquisite prints. ‘Reef’, her ultimate collection acts for the Great Barrier Reef, a natural wonder endangered by the ‘whitening phenomenon’, an emergency that the designer intends to put under the spotlight for consumers.” says Federico Poletti, Marketing & Communication Director White.

“Having known Ana and her ethical and moral qualities, we understood how important sustainability was in her collections: she brings the coolness and freshness of streetwear together with responsibility. The brand is characterized by a fresh and innovative design that creates a contemporary lifestyle linked to sustainable streetwear enriched by unique prints, resulting in a cutting-edge brand that stands out on the Portuguese and international market.” says Alex Albini, CEO Idee Brand Platform.

“I was extremely honored to receive the C.L.A.S.S. ICON AWARD. It’s been a great opportunity to further sharpen my focus towards sustainable fashion.” Says Gilberto Calzolari, the first recipient of the award. “I look forward to continuing to collaborate with C.L.A.S.S. and I congratulate with Ana for being this year’s recipient.”

“With DUARTE and Gilberto Calzolari, we have begun to create a community of game changers spanning across the varied spectrum of fashion and embracing creativity a 360°. From the high-end crafted innovation of Gilberto to the urban realm of Duarte. We are building a new generation of networking and we are looking forward to keep synergizing with all our C.L.A.S.S. ICONS in order to multiply the power we can all together generate when it comes to answer new generation of consumer expectations. Contemporary Values are the objective we can get through the C.L.A.S.S. sustainable fashion Formula and Manifesto.” concludes Giusy Bettoni.

A new icon is born under the sustainability star.