Upcycling in fashion will not only make you save a lot of money, but will also save the planet.
Last May 13, Duran Lantink debuted his first digital catwalk show that paraded his upcycled spring-summer-fall-winter collection. Lantink dismantled old-season designer clothes and repurposed them into a completely new fashion pieces. His style earned him a nomination for the LVMH Prize that gave him the key to the Browns’ warehouse to upcycle unsold inventory for special capsules. Aside from that, he also helped brands such as Ellery. Lantink also created custom upcycled pieces for the likes of Billie Eilish and Janelle Monáe.
Although, Lantink is not the first to do this. Even before the start of the pandemic, upcycling was already around. Another brand that promotes this trend is design label ADIFF. The brand published a new book, “The Open Source Fashion Cookbook,” which offers recipes and tips for DIY sustainable designs. ADIFF co-founder Angela Luna believes that fashion should be socially responsible.
Upcycling in clothing industry means taking old, worn out or damaged materials and transforming them into brand new pieces. Aside from waste reduction, here are the more reasons why it’s important for both fashion brands and consumers to support and promote this trend.
Helps our planet
Many of the large clothing chains produce as many as a half a billion garments a year. In fact, there were about 14.3 million tons of textiles and discarded clothes sent to the landfill in 2012 according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and it’s only in the United States.
So upcycling helps in reducing the need for production of new or raw materials. Aside from preserving natural resources, it could also help in reducing air pollution, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Less cost
Since businesses need to have new materials made for them, their production costs will never cease to increase.
Upcycling or repurposing materials can help a business to save money on supply costs, and can lower consumer costs in return.
Using creativity for a cause
Upcycling encourages creativity and problem solving. Repurposing clothes provide the meaningful idea of taking the unwanted and giving it another life. Aside from that, it encourages time, patience, and a journey of discovering sources of fashion waste that can be used.
Through the intelligent use of creativity and skills, materials are ‘saved’ and reintroduced into the industry.
The next in fashion
According to Orsola de Castro, creative director of Fashion Revolution, young fashion designers should be taught how to disassemble garments and transform them into something else to sustain the practice of upcycling in fashion. Designers should know which types of waste are reusable and how to incorporate it in their collections.
The reality is resources will become more scarce as well as expensive, and textile waste will still continue to drown the planet until upcycling become the norm in clothing production.
Nowadays, different industries all over the world are creating ways to move towards more eco-friendly solutions. So upcycling in the fashion is good news. It proves that fashion industry isn’t far behind as it becomes more aware of the massive waste it produce as the industry grows. Upcycled fashion is more than a trend or marketing strategy, it’s here to stay for the long run and for a good cause.
Related:
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