by Promotion: a fashion label, a packaging designer and a coffee roastery are three Swiss brands participating in the Swiss Design Accelerator Program in San Francisco, USA.
The three studios, YVY, Paula Cermeño León, and Mikafi, represent innovative design practices coming out of Switzerland.
Recognized at the international event for their pioneering attitude to design, the three brands aim to have sustainability and circular economic values at the forefront of their creative processes.
YVY is a fashion brand founded by designer Yvonne Reichmuth in 2015, which designs and manufactures leather goods in Zurich.
The brand produces ready-to-wear accessories such as handbags, belts, costume jewelery and hats, as well as harnesses and tailored garments, which are mainly made of leather.
The brand has dressed prominent celebrities such as Kristen Stewart, Billie Eilish, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Troye Sivan, Taylor Swift and Camila Cabello, among others.
YVY doesn’t release seasonal collections, but instead creates aftermarket pieces that aim to reduce material waste and allow designs to be continually refined.
The leather comes from by-products of the food industry, and the brand also offers animal-free alternatives on a case-by-case basis to meet all customer requirements.
The leather follows traditional processing techniques and uses vegetable tanning methods to make the material safe for both those who handle it during the manufacturing process and the planet.
Mikafi designs fully automated coffee roasting systems that are comprised of hardware and software that work together to reduce the impact of brewing coffee on the environment.
The brand’s mini tabletop roaster, called the MCR 1, allows coffee beans to be roasted on demand, reducing overproduction and waste, and the fact that it’s electrically powered makes the machine more viable from a coffee standpoint. environmental than traditional gas toasters.
MCR 1 is still in its testing phase and has been designed for use in commercial hospitality environments such as bakeries, cafeterias, and restaurants.
It consists of a chamber that contains coffee beans at the top, with a large circular window below that shows the roasting process that occurs inside.
It consists of a chamber that contains coffee beans at the top, with a large circular window below that shows the roasting process that occurs inside.
Mikafi’s digital platform manages the process of coffee beans from farm to cup and aims to open communication channels between farmers, hospitality venues and consumers.
“The concept is designed to promote fairer and more direct trade between the coffee farmer and the consumer and, above all, to strengthen the taste experience of the latter,” said Mikafi.
Paula Cermeño León is a designer who specializes in creating sustainable packaging and personal care products informed by the importance of circularity and the benefits of working with plants.
He combines his design skills, which he developed during his studies at ECAL in Switzerland, with the expertise of professionals who work closely with plants, including botanists, biologists, artists, and engineers.
Among León’s designs is an alternative proposal to conventional packaging for the Peruvian brand Misha Rastrera, which manufactures Palo Santo incense.
Instead of using conventional plastic film packaging, León opted to use surplus corn husks produced during agriculture to make packaging that is sustainable and compostable.
León’s other eco-friendly products include personal care items, like its Herbier Project face mask set, which is made from plant fibers that can be spread out dry and rehydrated when ready to use.
Its Refined Remedies collection of medicinal products for minor wounds and menstrual cramps also contains plant extracts and presents a contemporary take on herbal remedies.
The Swiss Design Accelerator program is the result of collaboration between the Swiss Art Council, Pro Helvetia, under the Design Switzerland label, and Swissnex in San Francisco, an initiative of the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, which connects ” Switzerland, North America and the world in science, education, innovation and the arts”.
The program aims to create international connections and visibility for emerging Swiss designers and brands in the design industries.
The show ran from November 7 to 13, 2022 and was held at the Swissnex space at Pier 17 in San Francisco.
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This article was written by Dezeen for Swissnex as part of a partnership. Learn more about Dezeen partnership content here.
