JC Candanedo in conversation with ANCIELA
On behalf of the AOP Sustainability Working Group, JC Candanedo talks with ANCIELA about their approach to sustainabilty as a brand. Proving that you can make a positive environmental impact even at a small scale, they cover topics such as the tools they use and practices they’ve put in place, they share how sustainability influences their production processes and ultimately even their commissioning choices.
ANCIELA is a London-based sustainable luxury womenswear label that celebrates South American folklore and experimental tailoring through the lens of migration and childhood memories. ANCIELA designs with circularity from the beginning of the process, using and applying recycling, upcycling and regenerative techniques delivering beautifully hand-crafted designs that are friendly to our planet. The brand actively supports diverse Latinx creatives by using fashion to showcase Latin/British culture.
We have completed a Low Carbon Transition Programme with the British Fashion Council to be presented to the government in March with the objective of showing how the power of the SME community can contribute to UK net zero goals. We mapped our supply chain and measured our carbon footprint with the Seedling software to develop a holistic carbon transition plan for the next 5 years implementing Circular economy principles.
Echoes of Earth, our latest campaign shot in collaboration with JC Candanedo launched this February. Inspired by the powerful message of the latest UN Biodiversity Conference, COP16, held in Cali, Colombia—”The time has come to make peace with nature”—This campaign reflects on this call to action and explores how we can create harmony within our own urban ecosystems. Every element in the campaign carries a rich history, from the set design to the garments, everything has been reused, recycled and upcycled.—the trees were made from discarded garments from the Traid charity warehouse. Garments use zero waste pattern techniques and are made from vintage and recycled textiles along with upcycled shoes.
Our mission is to create garments that tell stories through their design, materiality, and construction, embodying a holistic approach to making. We prioritize circularity from concept to creation, considering the environmental and supply chain short and long-term impacts of every product.
We work with innovative and traditional organic circular materials that support local industries, using recycled British wool, recycled cotton, Irish hemp, and linen. In-house, we manage organic waste through composting, demonstrating small-scale circularity. Materials are sourced from deadstock, end-of-roll fabrics, and vintage textiles like silk, Tencel, and wool, each with a unique backstory.
Our designs are adaptable, zero-waste patterns that extend garment life. We also upcycle materials for accessories and use corozo and coconut buttons, alongside natural dyes crafted with regenerative techniques by independent dyers. Produced in-house or with London ateliers and seamstresses from POC backgrounds, our garments embody community and care and are delivered via bicycle courier within London.
Images © JC Candanedo
Green Stories: #1 March 2025
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