PLANET OF THE GRAPES –UNDER HER VINES

Where

Fashion Revolution Open Studio Showroom, The Lab E20, London

Target audience

Press, influencers, academia, industry professionals (buyers, circular consultants, Future Fabrics organisers)

Format

– Exhibition of prototype bags made from environmentally friendly grape leather material

– Presentation of a video showcasing the process of creating the grape leather material

How did it go?

Approximately 30-40 attendees in the evening, smaller numbers during the day. Positive response from attendees during the evening showcase. Collaboration and partnership opportunities with Under Her Eyes. Interest expressed by press and influencers. Effectively communicated the environmental sustainability of the project through the video showcasing the process of creating grape leather material. Demonstrated the components of grape marc (dried grapeskins, seeds, and stalks) and the resulting material. Samantha’s presence and speaking engagement at the Fashion Revolution event added value and expertise. Increased reach and followers on social media (20% increase) as a result of the showcasing. Resulted in plans for collaboration with Silva from Under Her Eyes for a future range. Through this showcase there was an opportunity for The Sustainable Angle to fully understand the projects and resulted in participation in the Future Fabrics trade show in June 2023.

Learnings

The showcase event was successful in raising awareness about the environmentally friendly grape leather material. It garnered positive feedback, collaboration opportunities, and increased social media engagement. The collaboration with Under Her Eyes and the upcoming participation in the Future Fabrics trade show highlight promising prospects for the brand.

The project

The aim of Planet of the Grapes’ research and development was to create a new material using grape waste or grape marc, which included the grape skins, seeds, and stalks, after they had been pressed for wine, from the local French vineyards near to where founder Samantha Mureau lives. Samantha worked with a University based in Lyon, France, and collaborated with material scientists working on a high content grape waste material. Alongside that, she commenced trials with a new material producer in Milan, Italy, to see if they could use the grape waste in the current industrial machines. Samantha created three different prototypes. One was very natural in colour, while the other two used pigments to colour them pink and purple and gave them a textured surface. The second prototypes were used to see if they could make a small version of partner Under Her Eyes’ signature bag. They wanted to discover if it would sew, glue, if the edges of the bag could be painted, and if the material could be used commercially.

Planet of the Grapes’ material made from grape waste from the wine industry. Founder Samantha Mureau collaborated with Under Her Eyes on a pilot project to create a bag with the material.