Mother Earth Day

A matter of will to power, a single piece or a simple gesture is not enough to repair the damage we’ve done; the earth needs tangible, long-lasting efforts to avoid the worst. The new generation of designers, their curiosity and their care for the planet we live in are leading us up to a prolific creative moment where fashion and sustainability can successfully coexist. One of the main ways in which the industry can be of benefit to the world is by using the incredibly wide amount of resources needed for each creation more than once; in other words, upcycling. Now being called a trend but in reality being a practice that should actually be the norm, giving new life to materials that already exist is extremely beneficial for the environment, for the budget and for creativity, expanding the limits of what can be done with what we already have. Here are some brands that are putting words into action.

Probably the standard of an eco-conscious brand, what the French designer has done for the industry is remarkable, proving that strong values, a clear vision of the world and its needs and an unwavering eco-friendly approach don't need to translate into boring or bland clothes but rather into a futuristic proposal that feels ahead of its time but that also fits perfectly the current reality we are living in. Circularity is one of the key words in Serre’s proposal, focusing on creating cyclical ways of working where the end of life of a product can also be the start of a new one, turning waste into new opportunities.

The crescent moon has become a symbol of an almost dystopian narrative that is grounded in making efforts to shift the not-so-promising future into a brighter one. In the collections, 50% of the pieces are made with upcycled and recycled materials, leaving room for exploration in the other half, where the search for new biodegradable and sustainable material is never-ending. Their website exhibits a wide amount of regenerated fabrics by showing the process of how each one of them is made, a level of transparency not so often seen in the industry, probably born from the certainty of doing things the right way. In their own words, “As the moon gracefully eclipses the sun, a moment of celestial alchemy unfolds. In the world of fashion, a similar transformation takes place, where discarded materials are reborn.”

One of the best and most successful examples of this in the industry is given by the British brand Chopova Lowena, where the care for the folklore, the craft and the environment collide in the best way possible. Their signature Carabinier Skirt, perhaps one of the most relevant clothing items in the last years, has become a staple of the newer generations, not only in its punkish yet traditional aesthetics but also in the construction behind it and what it entails. Blending different styles of tartan patterns with pleated fabrics in a kilt-style, attaching the textile to a wide belt through carabiners; all of the skirts are different from one another, and all are made from deadstock fabrics that clearly, from the result, still had a lot to offer. Not only with the use of these materials but also sourcing them from proximity and working with a team where the craftsmanship of it all is the way to go, the sustainability is reflected in the final result as much as in the whole process.

Founded in 2011 by Ksenia and Anton Schnaider, the Kyiv-based independent brand has been praised and acknowledged since their early beginnings for their commitment to upcycling and the use of second-hand denim. The label has managed to carve a space in contemporary fashion by redefining discarded textiles into bold, fun, and iconic denim pieces, such as their jeans, while managing to keep their own production in Ukraine. Their innovative and deconstructed aesthetic, as well as high-profile collaborations with names like Adidas Originals or DL1961, have established them as a cutting-edge brand that reinterprets luxury through innovation and responsibility, speaking to a new generation of conscious consumers.

​The Swedish label Rave Review is redefining high-end fashion through a bold commitment to upcycling and deadstock materials. Founded in 2017 by designers Josephine Bergqvist and Livia Schück, the Stockholm-based brand was conceived through the urge to create something completely sustainable, but still in an interesting and luxurious way. Known for their design sensibility rooted in patchwork, Rave Review’s collections transform forgotten fabrics — think vintage duvets, bed linens, and velvet curtains — into one-of-a-kind garments that merge sustainability with an avant-garde, punky, and fun aesthetic. With women and eco-consciousness as their main focus, the brand has recently taken the next logical step for an ethical-driven label: releasing a limited NFT collection based on handmade panties and fabrics. This will represent Rave Review’s first step into digital fashion, in an attempt to make NFTs and crypto accessible to a wider audience while still striving for a reduced environmental impact in art and fashion.

Born in 2020 from the founder’s own frustration towards the modern fashion industry and consumption, HARAM — the Arabic word for forbidden or sin — was established in Berlin with the intention to create long-lasting pieces with upcycled materials. The Kurdish artist All Amin not only fights this feeling of disconnection from current consumerism but also strives to craft designs that are both innovative and visually appealing, with the aim to expand the conceived idea of what sustainable fashion can truly encapsulate. HARAM's creations, which range from corsets and bodysuits to handbags, are crafted by deconstructing donated or second-hand sneakers and reassembling them into avant-garde designs. Each piece is meticulously constructed through an intuitive and material-driven process that results in practical and wearable pieces of art, strongly influenced by street style and a bold, high-fashion aesthetic.