Cone Denim® will launch The Cone Collective, a virtual hub for cross-collaborations with designers and students, at the end of June. The Cone Collective is a creative initiative designed to support and showcase designers, brands, and students who tell Cone’s story by creating unique works of art using Cone’s denim fabric.
“The Cone Collective is a true passion project for the Cone Denim team,” said Caitlyn Holt, Director of Sustainable Product Innovation and Marketing at Cone. “We’ve watched on social media over the years as people do truly unbelievable things with denim. We hope The Cone Collective becomes a space where these voices are amplified and where everyone can come for inspiration and community.”
Education as a Core Pillar
Education is one of the key foundations of The Cone Collective. Building community through education has been at the heart of Cone’s identity for over 130 years. In 1896, when Cone’s first denim mill began production, the company also established the Proximity school in Greensboro, North Carolina, for its workers and their children.
More than a century later, the company continues to support education through its Denim 101 classes for customers and universities like FIT, NC State University, and Donghua University. Through The Cone Collective, Cone hopes to broaden its university collaborations and expand its global reach.
“It’s always a highlight to meet people in the industry who remember their Denim 101 with Cone,” added Holt. “We repeatedly hear how impactful those classes have been on careers across the world. Our goal is to build on that and offer Denim 101s and fabric sponsorships to a broader audience.”
Supporting Emerging Designers
In addition to its educational efforts, The Cone Collective will support upcoming brands and designers through sponsorship and promotion. To achieve this, Cone is launching a brand ambassador program. Selected ambassadors whose values align with Cone Denim will have access to Cone fabrics to develop new products.
“Cone has maintained a strong connection with its audience on social media, especially Instagram,” said Adriana Tuttle, Marketing Manager at Cone Denim. “We wanted to deepen this connection by encouraging creatives to upcycle our inventory and garments to create new pieces that still reflect the Cone brand.”
The initiative expands on Cone’s larger designer collaborations, such as recent projects by Amsterdam-based Maria Gunnarsson of AMK Atelier and Guatemalan designer Juan Carlos Gordillo. Each ambassador will be given Cone fabrics and upcycled materials to create new products centered around Cone’s founding values: sustainability, innovation, and heritage. Their process and final products will be featured on Cone Denim’s Instagram page.
Through this program, Cone hopes to inspire designers and entrepreneurs to explore innovative uses of denim. Additional information about The Cone Collective, including student and ambassador showcases and program applications, is available at conedenim.com/collaborations.
“The Cone Collective is a true passion project for the Cone Denim team. We have watched on social media over the years as people do truly unbelievable things with denim. We hope The Cone Collective is a space where these voices are amplified and everyone can come for inspiration and community.”
— Caitlyn Holt, Director of Sustainable Product Innovation and Marketing, Cone Denim
