So often, the story of sustainability is a grim one, decorated with stark statistics and alarming predictions. Understanding the scope of the problem is certainly important, but what’s often lost is the creativity and fun underpinning this movement in the apparel world. Whether it’s upcycling deadstock into an exuberantly colorblocked ensemble or giving secondhand clothes new life with a custom dye job, circular fashion is tapping into deep reservoirs of originality.
This year, we’re highlighting the inventiveness inherent to sustainable fashion – putting together outfits made from recycled, upcycled or repurposed materials using garments from industry companies and cutting-edge designers. To further the theme, rather than defaulting to e-commerce sites like Amazon, the Counselor editorial team hit up local thrift stores and our own closets to supplement each look with unique shoes and accessories.
Our hope is you’ll be inspired by how promo suppliers and apparel designers are reinventing fashion in the age of reuse.
Repair
Transform ordinary denim into a statement piece with an array of colorful patches and emblems.
Emily is wearing a T-shirt (65051) made of 65% recycled cotton and 35% recycled polyester from Royal Apparel (asi/83731), thrifted jeans decorated with patches from Stahls’ (asi/88984), an aviator jacket (3055) made with a 100% recycled polyester shell from Storm Creek (asi/89879) and carrying the Net.Zero mesh bag made from 100% recycled techniluxe fabric derived from ocean plastic and 50% repurposed net from BYBBA (asi/42442).
Tip
Patches can cover holes and threadbare spots, but they’re also an ingenious way to mask obsolete logos – extending the lifespan of promo items.
Reconstruct
With sharp scissors – and sharper design instincts – unsold merch can be a fashion opportunity.
Emily is wearing a bucket hat, cropped tee, miniskirt and scrunchies created by Refried Apparel, a Massachusetts-based company that makes one-of-a-kind upcycled apparel and accessories for pro sports and other markets.
Between 15 billion and 45 billion garments produced each year never get sold.
(WGSN)
Recycle
Seek out sustainable garments – without sacrificing comfort or style.
Emily is wearing the District Re-Fleece hoodie (DT8100) and Re-Fleece jogger (DT8107), both made with 60% recycled cotton and 40% recycled polyester, from SanMar (asi/84863); and a black T-shirt with a bleach treatment design from Circular Fashion LA, a Los Angeles-based company that offers services that include clothing repair and redesign, as well as sustainable fashion subscription boxes.
Tip
Be sure to educate clients about the properties of 100% recycled clothing – which may have slight color variation between pieces due to the production process.
Revive
A colorful dye job can refresh stained or stale duds.
Emily is wearing a neon pink distressed splatter jean jacket from Circular Fashion LA with patches from Stahls’, a 100% recycled T-shirt (65051) from Royal Apparel, and various thrifted garments and accessories. She also has a crossbody bag, made from leftover jacket fabric scraps from Hexa | Custom (asi/60577).
Circular fashion is a $700 billion opportunity, with potential to claim 23% of the global fashion market by 2030.
(Ellen Macarthur Foundation)
Renew
Vintage knits create a cozy look with heart.
Emily is wearing the Sakura top, featuring a heart constructed from upcycled knits, and Coco legwarmers made from upcycled knits, both from Preloved/Redwood Classics (asi/81627), as well as thrifted shorts and accessories.
Tip
Choose simple designs to let the character of your secondhand fabrics shine.
Repurpose
Lean into the uniqueness of recycled and upcycled apparel.
Emily is wearing a button-down shirt (EC650) made from 50% recycled cotton and 50% recycled polyester from Recover Brands, part of NG Labs (asi41325); a micro-rib racer tank (1019) from Bella + Canvas (asi/39590); and thrifted jeans and accessories. She also has the Barley Bag crossbody from Beer to Bags, upcycled from malt bags used by craft breweries.
Clothing and footwear have an estimated recycling rate of 13%.
(EPA)
Reimagine
Make a splash with grocery-store glamour.
Emily is wearing a strapless gown crafted from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester tote bags from ChicoBag (asi/44811), as well as thrifted and borrowed accessories.
Tip
Offer reusable bags – made from recycled materials – to help reduce reliance on single-use plastic.
Reuse
Incorporate tiny textile scraps to create a gown that’s more than the sum of its parts.
Emily is wearing “Terra Firma,” a fit-n-flare evening gown with large bishop sleeves from Bethlehem, PA-based designer Barbara Kavchok. Kavchok used small, seemingly unusable fabric scraps to create an earth-like texture resembling moss and soil.
About 15% of fabric ends up on the cutting room floor as waste.
(AATCC)
Emily is wearing the “Phoenix,” a tent dress in a high-low silhouette created with leftover fabric scraps that were spray painted, using a water-based paint, and shredded to create a faux feather texture. Created by Barbara Kavchok, a gown designer based in Bethlehem, PA.