fashion

How Copenhagen Brand OpéraSPORT Is Redefining The Image Of Sustainable Fashion

18/07/24

Author: Ingrid Kesa

DOCUMENTED BY: STEPHANIE GUNDELACH

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OpéraSPORT epitomises the Scandi-cool-girl aesthetic that we covet on our social media feeds. These ready-to-wear collections bring together stylistic references from sportswear and streetwear with Parisian touches and a concern for the environment. The Copenhagen-based label was launched in 2019 by Awa Malina Stelter and Stephanie Gundelach. We sat down with Stephanie to find out more.

Stephanie first got into the fashion industry when she was just 17 years old after she won a modelling contest. While she soon realised that a life in front of the lens was not for her, she felt inherently drawn to the creative side of fashion. This led her to study design technology before interning at various fashion houses and magazines, ultimately working as a stylist and consultant for many years before starting OpéraSPORT.

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Bay Jeans

OpéraSPORT

Documented By: Stephanie Gundelach

Stephanie first got into the fashion industry when she was just 17 years old after she won a modelling contest. While she soon realised that a life in front of the lens was not for her, she felt inherently drawn to the creative side of fashion. This led her to study design technology before interning at various fashion houses and magazines, ultimately working as a stylist and consultant for many years before starting OpéraSPORT.

"We felt like sustainable clothing always had been very brown and boring and we wanted our brand to look everything besides that. We want customers to buy our clothing because they love the quality and the designs. The responsible part is simply a matter of course."

Viola Top

OpéraSPORT

Willow Skirt

OpéraSPORT

Leanor Seamless Top

OpéraSPORT

Bay Jeans

OpéraSPORT

Viola Top

OpéraSPORT

Willow Skirt

OpéraSPORT

Leanor Seamless Top

OpéraSPORT

Bay Jeans

OpéraSPORT

“I’d always dreamt about creating my own brand, but I knew I had to pair up with someone who mastered all the skills I didn’t have,” she tells RIISE. As fate would have it, Stephanie was introduced to Awa through Awa’s boyfriend Jens. The two “randomly talked” about starting a responsible brand and realised that they shared the same dream. They did not mess around: three months later, their first collection had arrived. 

Sustainability has always been a guiding force. Copenhagen has a global reputation as leading best practice in sustainable fashion. Many brands born from this city focus on environmentally-friendly fabrics and ethical design practices. Copenhagen Fashion Week  is also the most sustainable fashion week in the world: designers must show collections made up of at least 50% certified, upcycled or recycled materials; each show’s carbon footprint is offset; and there is a ban on single-use plastic, among other initiatives.

A deep understanding of branding and an appreciation for how clothes should be presented to tell a story played in Stephanie’s favour. “We needed to build up a recognisable universe that would work both digitally and physically, and make timeless and responsible clothing with a twist that people want to wear,” she explains. 

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Documented By: Stephanie Gundelach

Working as a stylist revealed to Stephanie how polluting the fashion industry is and inspired her to do it in a more responsible way. From their first collection, all fabrics besides cotton have been created from industrial waste. This includes silk, wool and polyester. If the cotton isn’t also recycled, it’s organic and GOTS certified.

As you may gather from the name OpéraSPORT, the label is one characterised by contrasts. Directional design meets sustainability; fashion-forward aesthetics meet timelessness. “When things are not too perfect, but have a little twist or edge, that is when it becomes interesting,” Stephanie explains. “We feel like the raw hems and visible stitching is a cool and sporty contrast to our more elegant designs.”

Yet, OpéraSPORT is anchored in wearability. Each garment is constructed to be functional and useful for years to come. “Being a mother has definitely made me dress more practically and transitionally. I need to be able to bike, play and go to work in my clothes and they need to feel comfortable,” she says, noting that her current favourite piece is the Claire Seamless Cardigan for this very reason. “I have it in every colour and use it for work, dinners, parties. It’s so flattering on the body and the recycled silk feels so soft on the skin.”

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Claire Seamless Cardigan

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Eve Seamless Top Cotton

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Rosette Seamless Tube Top

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Rose Seamless Dress

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Rosette Seamless Tube Top

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Claire Seamless Cardigan

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Eve Seamless Top Cotton

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Willow Skirt

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Eve Seamless Top Silk

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Viola Top

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Bay Jeans

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Vago Unisex Shirt

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Lisbona Seamless Top

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Leanor Seamless Top

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Alice Shirt

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Claire Seamless Cardigan

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