A growing list of Australian fashion labels using upcycled materials
IMAGE VIA @NOT.SEW.NEW/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY PARTH RAHATEKAR
Join the reuse revolution.
We’ve all seen the sobering statistics about the environmental impacts of fashion. Yet, Australians are the biggest consumers of fashion in the world, buying 56 clothing items on average each year, and discarding 6,000 kgs of clothing and textile waste every 10 minutes.
The optimistic side to this is the uptick of local designers using upcycled materials and deadstock fabrics to help mitigate this waste. It excites us to see creative solutions to the fashion industry’s biggest problem.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
If, like us, your resolution is to make more mindful wardrobe purchases this year, you’ll want to check out the New Again Runway on March 8 at PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival. The show will highlight local designers including Sabatucci, Chilali and Amy Cotrell who are making sustainable fashion worthy of the spotlight. Below, we take a look a range of Australian labels breathing new life into the old.
Re.Uma
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Driven by the necessity of slow, sustainable fashion, Melbourne-based designer Uma Barnes of Re.Uma reimagines vintage textiles, kimonos and mattress covers in each of her playful pieces. Expect a colourful range of unique corsets, wrap skirts and cute party tops.
Bowe
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Melbourne-based designer Erica Bowe is inspired by transformation and the pursuit of turning the old into something fabulous. We love her patchwork pants made from T-shirts that can be layered under skirts, and she can even tailor them to your size.
Not Sew New
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Crafted to bring the wearers closer to themselves and the planet, Not Sew New exclusively uses surplus, remnant or pre-existing textiles to make its versatile pieces. From cheeky cut-out shirts and T-shirts to bags and tech sleeves, it’s upcycling you’ll want to take for a spin anywhere.
Sabatucci
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Recently in the limelight for dressing Julia Fox at the NGV, Sabatucci goes beyond the obvious with its playful and ethereal designs. The label’s sustainable techniques include turning bedding into garments, and a focus on slow, made-to-order fashion.
Amy Cotrell
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Sculptural meets the playfully floral in Amy Cotrell’s pieces, which are either made to order or produced in limited quantities. Her use of bioplastics and vintage or deadstock fabrics makes for dreamy and 100 per cent unique additions to your wardrobe.
A.BCH
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Made in Melbourne from renewable, organic and recycled materials, A.BCH tells you where each thread, button or label comes from. Its clothing ranges from staple T-shirts to contemporary dresses. You can also learn more about the label’s sustainable practices and on A.BCH’s blog.
Chilali
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Melbourne label Chilali uses recycled plastics, upcycled and deadstock fabrics, and other planet-friendly materials like hemp and cactus leather in its accessories and garments. Experimental and genderless, you’ll find bags, briefcases and tailored pieces to stand out in your wardrobe.
Emiroux
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Designer Aimee le Roux of Emiroux exclusively uses deadstock, secondhand and vintage fabrics in her creations. Some of our favourites include the Reworked Button Up shirts and colourful plaid bags that look generous enough to carry you through a workday.
Lost Hearts
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Plush and romantic designs are the hallmarks of Lost Hearts. We have a soft spot for its bobble bags, bowtie shirts and dresses made from recycled materials.
Gliese 504
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You’ll find voluminous, hand-dyed scrunchies made from deadstock silk organza at Gliese 504, along with a curation of high-quality, upcycled vintage. You’ve may have spotted its pre-loved racks at markets across Melbourne, or browsed its blog for helpful DIY techniques, like creative tie-dying methods.
Virk Bags
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Inspired by their Scandinavian heritage, sisters Ellen and Oliva of Virk Bags set out to make bags that are more than just accessories, but tools to enjoy an organised life. Crafted with recycled T-shirts or denim, each piece is handmade and highly functional. Keep an eye out for their workshops where you can even learn to make your own.
For more on why people are upcycling, head here.
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