Our favourite Australian labels for upcycled fashion
IMAGE VIA @sabatucci___/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY PARTH RAHATEKAR
An upcycled wardrobe never looked so good.
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 in local designers who are upcycling old 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, you resolve to make more mindful wardrobe purchases, we’ve rounded up our favourite local designers and labels breathing new life into the old.
Hydra Opia
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Model Olympia Cristou is the brains behind Hydra Opia, an emerging Melbourne-based label focused on upcycled techniques. Whether she’s turning vintage belt into a handbag, or piecing together old T-shirts to make one-of-one tops, Olypia’s designs are already being worn by superstars like Tyla and Bar Italia’s Nina Cristante.
Uma Cristabel
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Driven by her passion for slow, sustainable fashion, Melbourne-based designer Uma Barnes reimagines men’s shirts, vintage textiles, kimonos and mattress covers in each of her playful pieces. Expect a colourful range of reworked shirts, unique corsets, wrap skirts and cute party tops.
Bowe
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Also based in Melbourne, designer Erica Bowe thrives on the challenge 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. Each piece is made from 100 per cent upcycled materials – DM her to order.
Not Sew New
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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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After capturing our attention at Melbourne Fashion Week (and famously dressing Julia Fox at the NGV), Sabatucci continues to make upcycled fashion feel exciting. The label goes beyond the obvious with its playful, feminine designs, often turning bedding into garments, or using vintage and deadstock fabric for its made-to-order pieces.
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, unique additions to your wardrobe. Recently, she even made a cocktail dress out of a shattered car windscreen and remnant lace – impressive to say the least.
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.
Gliese 504
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Gliese 504 is best known for its voluminous, hand-dyed scrunchies made from deadstock silk organza, along with a curation of upcycled vintage. You 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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