Let's imagine the following scenario: A model struts down the catwalk - empty washing-up liquid bottles and egg cartons dangling from her shoulder. She is also wearing a skirt that was a shower curtain in her previous life and sandals made from cut-up bicycle tires. Did the model take a detour to the dump? No. The outfit simply reflects the designer's passion for clothing made from recycled materials, in short: trashion.
Upcycling garbage and waste into jewelry, clothing and accessories is no longer a sensational novelty. A number of brands are focusing on trashion designs and promoting sustainability in the most exciting ways. Let's take a look at how trashion fashion has captured the hearts of the masses.
The word “trashion” has been circulating in English-speaking countries since the turn of the millennium. It is still not clear who was the first to use it. The movement gained momentum in New York at the end of 2004. Exotic fabrics made from recycled materials appeared at underground parties on Manhattan's Lower East Side and garbage couture dominated the dance floor.
A few years later, the concept found a wider audience when it was presented on the American reality TV show Project Runway in 2008. The participants had to conjure up outfits from recycled materials - old car parts. The results were really impressive: Coats and dresses made entirely from seatbelts, vinyl seat covers, rubber mats and other car parts. But these were not parts that could easily be washed in the washing machine. That's what we call upcycling!
The relationship between fashion and car parts has surprisingly evolved. Trashion designers no longer have to scour the junkyard for old rusty parts to turn into a skirt. Instead, they are now invited to work with cutting-edge recycled fabrics that were once designed for use in cars and turn them into cutting-edge fashion designs.
The partnership between Ford Motor Company and Redress, a charity focused on sustainable fashion, at the Redress Forum 2015 and 2016 is a good example: Ford Design Challenge. For two consecutive years, they invited ten up-and-coming designers from around the world to transform sustainable car seat covers into fashionable designs for Hong Kong Fashion Week.
The fabric is made from a mixture of recycled plastic bottles and textile waste. The designers were initially suspicious, as the material is too stiff and heavy to work with easily. But gradually they realized its versatility and the potential for depth of colour and texture. One of the award-winning designs was inspired by local architecture: asymmetrical dresses in shades of gray and copper, reminiscent of the underpass of the picturesque Victoria Peak in Hong Kong.
A sustainability designer shows a fishing net transformed into swimwear
Trashion is no longer a novelty these days. It has long been common practice for material waste or remnants to be reprocessed and given a second life as upcycled clothing. This is neither a shock tactic nor a marketing ploy. Brands are simply offering their customers what they want: smart sustainability.
More and more fashion labels are integrating recycled materials into their collections, such as Volcom's swimwear made from fishing nets or G-Star RAW's denim fashion woven from plastic waste from the oceans. And waste couture doesn't stop at accessories either. More and more bags, wallets and belts are being made from recycled rubber, seatbelts and vinyl. Freitag is the market leader in this field.
None of these upcycled designs are less chic, elegant or stylish than the “usual” bikini, denim jacket or handbag. Quite the opposite! This is because they are high-quality materials that are processed into sustainable designs that offer maximum comfort - whether on the beach, in the urban jungle or on the catwalk.
It would be no problem at all to wrap yourself from head to toe in upgraded garbage designs. Not only would you be promoting sustainability, but you'd also look absolutely stunning.
Image credits:
Header image: Getty Images
Image of model wearing black on runway: Getty Images
Image of woman holding fishing net: Getty Images
At Dylon, we love the idea of a creative approach to waste. We also strive for sustainability. If you want to know more about this, read on here.