Sustainability is so much more than just a buzz word: it’s a way of life. Given the growing climate change movement, more of us than ever are trying to move away from fast fashion, buy less, and reuse more. And because consumers are becoming more and more aware of the carbon footprint of their fashion purchases, luxury brands are finally catching up. More brands than ever are creating new pieces out of old materials whilst sticking to the rule that most steadfast upcyclers have always known: Upcycling should never compromise quality or style!
With that in mind, here are four luxury fashion brands that will be embracing upcycling this season to inspire you:
JW Anderson
The shift towards sustainability and upcycling for 2021 hasn’t just be driven by a desire to save the planet, but also from necessity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than ship in new fabric, at a time when this was very difficult, JW Anderson started using what was already in the studio. ‘Made in Britain’ is the result: a capsule collection of 6 pieces that have been created solely using leftover fabrics and trims from previous seasons collections. Not only is the collection upcycled, sustainable, and locally sourced, it also makes sense from the business point of view: minimizing waste is a great way to cut business costs.
Miu Miu
In October Miu Miu announced that they will be releasing a fully upcycled collection, albeit a small one. The exclusive capsule drop of 80 dresses will all be created using antique pieces that have been carefully sourced from vintage stores and markets around the world.
Reformation
One of the early brands to embrace sustainability, hip L.A-based brand Reformation repurposes vintage clothing, rescues deadstock fabric and where necessary also uses eco-friendly fabrics to create their timeless collections. The brand has even launched an app to let you know just how much water and energy you’ll be saving when you buy from them. Whilst not at the most expensive end of the luxury market, Reformation is worthy of note because of the quality and scale of the sustainable pieces they create.
Cecilie Bahnsen
In June 2020, Cecilie Bahnsen released an ‘Encore’ collection of limited pieces designed to make use of ‘deadstock’ from other brands, and working on the basis that every scrap of fabric is just too precious to throw away. Each piece features intricate detailing, showing that deadstock doesn’t have to be the dirty word it was ten years ago, and it has the ability to be transformed into something truly beautiful. If sustainability is the future (and we believe it is) then Cecilie Bahnsen is a designer for the future!
