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5 Designers who Upcycle Clothing

Big and small brands alike have announced collections made from recycled plastics or other synthetic materials, demonstrating that sustainable fashion has gone mainstream. Upcycling is also being included into several brands' annual collections. The fundamental distinction between upcycling and recycling is that upcycled clothing is manufactured from previously used items, whereas recycled clothing is made from materials that have already been broken down.

Here's a list of 5 fashion designers, who are nailing the sustainable fashion game:



1. Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney is the first name that comes to mind when it comes to sustainable and ethical premium apparel. Stella has been a pioneer of eco-friendly, cruelty-free, inclusive, and ethical fashion since the launch of her fashion house in 2001. This designer is always experimenting with new environmentally friendly materials and technology. She prefers organic cotton, ethically produced wool, regenerated cashmere, and recycled materials to fur and leather. Her stores are powered by solar panels and LEDs, and the packaging is made of recyclable materials.


Source: Medium


Stella McCartney's sustainable fashion approach is built on four pillars:

  • Environmental sensitivity: The designer safeguards the environment by using as many sustainable materials as possible, such as cashmere, organic cotton, or forest fibres, such as viscose, which is traceable and derived from renewable sources.

  • People respect: Stella McCartney ensures a good impact on all people involved in the supply chain, from the farmers who grow the crops to the client.

  • Animal respect: Stella McCartney encourages cruelty-free procedures and respects animals and their habitats with respect as a vegetarian brand.

  • Circular Solutions: The business uses regenerative and restorative production processes to stick to the ideals of circular fashion.


2. Katie Jones

Katie Jones is a knitwear eco-friendly designer located in the United Kingdom who combines playful designs with serious values. She embraces her grandmother's goal of creating something beautiful from nothing to practise sustainability.

The ethical designer guarantees that her creations address garbage and overconsumption issues. Furthermore, the company creates experiences that promote social and environmental change.


Source: Honeysuckle Magazine


Jones employs unclaimed fabrics from clothes manufacturers, based on her "Waste Not" approach. The environmentally conscious designer and her crew transform them into wearable handmade creations that are rich in colour, texture, and fun.



3. Maggie Marilyn

Maggie Marilyn, a New Zealander, is one of the most inspiring figures in the fashion industry's efforts to safeguard the environment. All of her creations are made from environmentally friendly, ethically sourced materials. To limit their carbon footprint, the pieces are made locally. The business pays a decent salary to its suppliers, visits them on a regular basis, and tracks the majority of their supply chain. Additionally, when packaging orders, the firm went the extra mile by using cassava root bags.


Source: Vogue


  • Pieces You'll Wear Forever

Maggie Marilyn is a proponent of a cyclic clothing lifespan, which allows fashion products to live indefinitely. Every stage of the process is monitored, from the supplier chain to the end product, to ensure that it is ethical and sustainable. She can return the items after they've been used and recycle them into something new. "Sustainability shouldn't be a luxury, but something everyone can afford," she said. As a result, her collections begin at a relatively low price point, allowing anyone to try out her concept.

The brand's 2022 Sustainability Strategy will address circularity and regeneration challenges, as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.


4. Sandra Sandor

Sandra Sandor is the creative mind of Nanushka, a label based in Budapest, Hungary. She uses recycled leather, wool, and animal hair instead of fur, down, exotic animal skin, or angora. She makes purses, outfits, and shirts for men and women out of vegan leather and repurposed materials. Her unmistakable and uncomplicated style reflects her love of nature, and it's causing a stir in the fashion industry.


Source: Harper's Bazaar


  • Carbon Footprint Reduction is a priority for the company.

Nanushka has launched a number of sustainability initiatives aimed at conserving the environment and improving the working conditions of its employees. While treating and paying its employees decently, the company is constantly searching for and experimenting with new eco-friendly fabrics and reclaimed materials. Despite the brand's growth and expansion, 85 percent of production continues to take place in Hungary, ensuring a minimal carbon impact and a transparent supply chain. Sandra Sandor is also sponsoring a Giving Back programme to help non-profit groups that encourage development in less developed parts of the world.


5. Eileen Fisher

Eileen Fisher had to be included on any list of sustainable fashion designers. This eco - conscious designer is dedicated to upsetting the linear production model in favour of a circular one. She creates elegant and sustainable apparel by using organic fabrics, natural colours, and repurposing existing textiles and outfits.

Fisher took it a step further by establishing a dedicated social consciousness department within her company, which focuses on human rights, sustainability, and other issues.


Source: The Cut


  • Vision of Eileen Fisher

The company had a bold 2020 strategy that included public commitments including a 100 percent sustainable business model, 100 percent organic cotton and linen, and reduction of carbon. The business is on course to reach its goals, and it continues to establish new ones. "Horizon 2030," the organization's current vision, intends to:

  • Extend the company's circular fashion goals

  • Increase the usage of natural fibres, which helps to preserve biodiversity, as well as recyclable fibres.

  • Throughout our supply chain, adopt business approaches to ensure fair salaries, gender equity, and a caring culture.

  • Invest in climate change initiatives, such as lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

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