reduce, reuse and recycle

We are constantly being reminded to ‘be green’, ‘go green’ or ‘think green’; but ‘wear green’? 

As we have seen, the fashion industry is among the most damaging of all, so to be ‘wearing green’ could be more important than we at first might think.

Consider this simple slogan: ‘Reduce, reuse and recycle’.

While addressing the Environmental Industries Commission Conference of 2006 in London, then Secretary of State for the Environment, David Milliband, explained that ‘turning every business into an environmental industry will involve applying new principles...’

’...we need to design out waste...'

Reduce.

Zero-waste garments are of the most thoughtful, considered and technical displays in fashion design.

'Jigsaw puzzle fashion design' is complex in its methodology and of a challenging practise, but of a simple suggestion; to utilise the entire length of fabric, no material spared.

Mark Liu 'Zero-waste Dress'

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Mark Liu is able to eliminate the creation of fabric waste completely with the unconventional use of seam allowance on the outside of the garment, creating also, a visual element and a pleasing aesthetic.

 

Timo Rissanen, Assistant Professor for Fashion Design and Sustainability at Parson’s School of Design in New York City, has been exploring zero-waste fashion and is currently working towards a PhD in this area. His blog, although no longer updated, is definitely worth viewing and gives great insight into the zero-waste debate.

Timo Rissanen 'Zero-waste Hoodie' with pattern

 ‘...and we need to make more with less.’

Reuse and recycle.  

This might be better explained, though not as catchy, as upcycling and recycling.

Where the definition of recycling is : to pass again through a series of changes or treatments in order to regain material for human use; upcycling would be: to pass through a series of changes or treatments in order to regain material for human use with added value.

The best example of upcycling might come from ‘The Queen of Upcycling’, Orsola del Castro and her company From Somewhere.

Upcycled dresses by From Somewhere for Tesco

This is an example of the Tesco and From Somewhere collaboration where del Castro upcycled Tesco’s end-of-roll, and otherwise redundant fabrics, into a line of sustainable fashion clothing.

Junky Styling are another company specialising in upcycling. Founders Annika Saunders and Kerry Seager began trawling the charity shops of East London more than 10 years ago for sad, worn-out clothes that they could breathe life into. Junky’s signature is the pinstripe suit, but maybe not quite conventional...

Junky Styling 'Pinstripe Suit'

Recycling then, is as we know it. We can recycle fabric just as we would glass, plastics and paper in the home.

In fact, we can even recycle these into fabric.

Patagonia are an outdoor sportswear company, estimated to have diverted around 86 million plastic bottles on route to landfill by recycling said bottles into polyester fleeces. Becoming known as 'environmental pioneers', Patagonia are constantly pushing the boundaries of sustainable design, and are currently recycling classroom chairs and car dashboards into weatherproof jackets.

And if you happen to out-grow your Patagonia waterproof, do not despair; with their fibre-to-fibre recycling system, your old jacket will be made new once again!

So then, it would seem then that the fashion industry is applying new principles; we are designing out waste and we are making less with more.

We are reducing, reusing and recycling and we are becoming an environmental industry.