Love waste-free fashion? These zero waste fashion designers are just killing it!
By Katy Caric
By now, we all know the fashion industry creates massive amounts of waste.
For example, when considering which fabric to purchase from a supplier, brands often get several swatch samples, which are discarded after a collection is completed.
Pattern cutting also usually involves a lot of waste. When fabric patterns are cut, this can result in several offcuts. These are bits of textiles that are often just thrown out. In fact, an average factory can leave up to 40% of their materials as rubbish. And that’s not even considering wastage that comes from unsold garments.
From textile scraps and leftover fabric to excess thread and paper, there’s a whole lot that could be reduced, reused and recycled when creating garments. Or better yet, this type of waste could simply be avoided altogether!
Luckily, there are some fashion labels that are realising that wasted fabric = wasted money and a wasted planet. So they’re doing their best to reduce the amount of garbage created in their production cycles by cutting patterns more cleverly, making garments on an order-only basis, and/or recycling whatever scraps they may end up having into small accessories.
The result? Innovative designs by zero waste fashion brands that will blow your mind!
How do we define zero waste fashion brands?
There are basically two approaches zero waste fashion brands take towards their work.
The first is pre-consumer zero waste, where brands use:
- deadstock
- recycled materials
- 3D printing
- pattern cutting techniques that results in no textile waste before a collection is completed
- using scraps to make items like scarves or scrunchies
- zero waste fashion brands might also only make garments on demand
And as you probably guessed, the second is post-consumer zero waste. This is all about upcycling existing textiles, clothing and accessories into something fresh and new. It could also involve a brand accepting their worn clothing from their customers and transforming it into something desirable again.
Not just the clothing
Zero waste fashion brands need to go beyond their designs alone, though. Another important element of their work should be their packaging. For example, they should be using recycled paper boxes, recycled or compostable polybag mailers, and cloth bags made from upcycled fabric.
Finally, a truly zero waste fashion brand will also consider using renewable energy throughout its supply chain.
Ready to see some of the best zero waste fashion brands around the world? Read on!
Zero Waste Fashion Brands We Love
1. Rothy’s
They started with vegan shoes, and now Rothy’s has expanded their wares to include some absolutely fabulous handbags, too. No matter what kind of accessory you’re after here, it will have been created from recycled ocean plastic.
But that’s not all! Rothy’s also uses 3D printing, which ensures there’s no waste material whatsoever when they make each item.
Zero waste fashion because: They use recycled materials and on-demand 3D printing.
2. RE/DONE
We love how RE/DONE takes existing Levi’s jeans and transforms them into fresh designs. Think: new finishes on denim, or increasing the height of low-rider jeans with addedTheir mission is to reduce the amount of clothing going into landfill, and we love the unique results they come up with!
RE/DONE encourages other brands to use zero waste techniques, and has even partnered with the likes of Hanes and Champion to create a capsule collections from their vintage archives. In addition, Net A Porter has included them as part of their Net Sustain brand collection.
Zero waste fashion because: They upcycle old jeans into new, stylish creations.
3. Eco Alf
Ecoalf is a well-loved sustainable fashion fashion label. And with good reason: they make all of their clothing, shoes and other accessories from fully recycled materials. For example, they use recycled plastic, nylon, cotton, wool – and even waste tires! Moreover, their packaging is comprised of 100% recycled paper. But it goes on! The company is also working to reduce their carbon emissions. They claim to have saved 13% on emissions overall by manufacturing locally in Spain.
Zero waste fashion because: They use 100% recycled materials for everything, even their packaging.
4. Vivaia
Much like Rothy’s Vivaia makes all their shoes, boots and bags from a zero-waste 3D printing process that generates nothing excess. The materials they use are also recycled plastics, as well as recycled faux fur. The main difference? Vivaia also makes 100% cotton casual wear, too.
Zero waste fashion because: The brand uses zero waste, on-demand 3D printing, and recycled materials.
5. Eileen Fisher Renew
Looking for zero waste fashion brands with minimalist vibes? Eileen Fisher Renew is the one for you! This fashion house creates each piece from luxe, sustainable fabrics. And when their customers no longer want their purchase, they can resell it back to the brand.
Eileen Fisher Renew claims to have collected nearly 2 million unwanted garments from their customers over the past 14 years. Those items are then upcycled into new designs, including home decor pieces, resold at a discount, or donated to worthy causes.
Zero waste fashion because: They upcycle the (highly sustainable) garments their customers no longer want.
6. Swedish Stockings
This Swedish brand takes innovation to a new level with their nylon stockings that are made from pre and post-consumer waste. Along with recycled and upcycled materials, their factories are also zero-waste, reusing the waste and recycling the waste they create.
But that’s not all! Through their recycling program, they collect old, discarded tights and turn them into designer tables and collectible art. The life span of these new items add a considerable number of years to the total life cycle of the hosiery. Wow, right?
Zero waste fashion because: Their stockings are all made from waste products, they recycle their old products, and their factories are fully zero-waste too.
7. AIAYU
Basics brand Aiayu takes a positive approach to the waste they create. They have a specific zero waste program for all their cotton products and use the leftover fabric and cuttings for their accessories.
But that’s not all – a percentage of all their profits is donated to schools in Agra, India, that work with challenged children.
Zero waste fashion because: Not a scrap of fabric is ever wasted!
8. Whimsy + Row
If you’re looking for zero waste fashion brands that provide unique pieces, Whimsy + Row is for you! They make very limited edition garments, which are all handmade in Los Angeles. Don’t want to miss out on a new creation? There’s a waiting list on their website where you can place your order. That way, the company knows exactly much clothing it has to create. The brand only uses locally sourced and eco-friendly materials, and recycles every scrap of deadstock fabric to turn it into new garments or accessories.
Whimsy + Row is also carbon-neutral, and get this: they even use recycled water to make their garments!
Zero waste fashion because: They recycle all their materials – even their water – and create items on demand.
9. DEMOBAZA
DEMOBAZA is a ‘casual couture brand’ that explores reconstruction, minimalism, and futurism. They use their designs to explore a ‘deconstructive uniform,’ achieved by transforming unlikely discarded materials and old fabrics into revived pieces.
Recycling and repurposing is core to the DEMOBAZA brand, not only for its ethos and commitment to responsibility, but also for its aesthetic purposes. We’d describe this as being one of the most ‘apocalyptic chic’ zero waste fashion brands!
Zero waste fashion because: They use only discarded and upcycled materials.
10. Oh Seven Days
OhSevenDays creates sustainable capsule wardrobe pieces from deadstock fabrics. And the brand came from a zero waste mentality from day one! Founder Megan Mummery was thrilled to find a neighbourhood in Istanbul that sells off-cut fabric leftovers from larger garment manufacturers. When she learned those lush materials were on their way to landfill, she had the idea of creating a zero waste fashion brand. Today, OhSevenDays actively promotes the ideas of ‘slow fashion’ and circularity.
Zero waste fashion because: They use only discarded materials for their chic garments.
11. Charlotte Bialas
Paris based designer Charlotte Bialas not only uses vintage textiles from top French maisons, but also employs zero-waste geometrical cutting schemes that drastically reduce fabric waste. Any scraps she does generate are woven into accessories such as necklaces, bags or sashes.
We love her choices of patterns from the most whimsical of decades. Her floral details that evoke the boisterous liveliness of spring also stand out. But it’s her vintage materials that attest the preservation of previous prestigious couturiers that really define Charlotte Bialas’ magnificent collections.
Zero waste fashion designer because: Charlotte uses vintage textiles and geometric cuts to ensure there’s minimal waste. Then she uses craps for accessories.
12. Malaika
Malaika New York is a Zero Waste clothing brand combining Scandinavian minimalism with exquisite techniques making their garments both versatile & unique. Their clothes are made from squares, triangles and rectangles to optimise their fabric use up to 98%. This leaves their customers with unique pieces they can’t find elsewhere.
They also upcycle bike tubes destined for the landfills from local bike shops, and use sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, Tencel, linen. Finally, they use regenerative nylons made from old fishing nets and other nylon waste, too. Their clothing is made locally in New York to ensure fair labor practices, low C02 & high-quality garments.
Zero waste fashion designers because: Their everyday casual wear is made from geometric shapes that cause no waste. They also upcycle old materials, too.
13. Dr Mark Liu
It’s pretty unusual for a fashion designer to have ‘Dr.’ in front of his name, but Dr. Mark Liu actually gained a PhD research at the University of Technology Sydney by applying modern mathematics to traditional fashion pattern making.
Through this technique, he has developed what he calls ‘Non-Euclidean Fashion Pattern Making,’ a unique jigsaw manufacturing procedure that has made him a recognised pioneer in the sustainable fashion movement. This scientific approach applied to couture has brought Liu’s creations to exhibitions everywhere from Asia to the America, and has helped designers to rethink how materials that would have normally gone to waste can indeed be transformed into sculptural pieces of couture.
A zero waste fashion designer because: Cutting edge, high tech, mathematical cutting techniques that lead to no waste.
14. Farrah Floyd
Based in Berlin, this Euro-chic fashion label is led by designer Bojana Draca. Farrah Floyd uses certified sustainable fabrics mainly produced by companies in Italy and Turkey.
Draca’s zero-waste pattern drafting was developed over many years, and is applied to all of her collections. The main concept around this system is to cut textiles into rectangles of different sizes, which all piece together into a grid-like manner across the entire width of the garment. The result? No waste is leftover.
The ultimate garment boasts a unique, somewhat artistic silhouette. It can be easily customised with accessories and creative styling.
A zero waste fashion designers because: Zero waste cutting techniques are used.
15. Karen Glass
The use of upcycled clothing and fabric scraps forms the basis of the innovative zero-waste fashion collections by American based designer Karen Glass.
Her unique aesthetic took years to develop, and to create her collections, she’s always on the hunt for new textiles. Treasures from the Clignancourt flea market in Paris. Old, beloved clothing that’s derived from individual clients. Scraps from textile art houses, factory samples rooms or cutting room end cuts. These are just a few samples of how this designer sources her zero-waste fabrics.
Glass certainly has a unique talent. By stitching bits and pieces together, she creates seasonless, high-fashion clothing that can be worn for a lifetime.
A zero waste fashion designers because: She uses fabric scraps for her creations.
16. Daniel Silverstein
Daniel Silverstein has long been an Eluxe favourite, ever since we met him in New York and later fell in love with The Piece Project. He has mastered the art of large and small scale production without textile by-products being sent to incinerators. His process has now caught the attention of several designers from the Big Apple, such as Study NY and Eileen Fisher.
Silverstein’s ‘Re-roll’ technique applies the art of sewing together the scraps that overflow in the fashion industry. He uses this upcycling technique to create unique and imaginative patterns that can result in anything from patchworks to pop culture pastiches.
A zero waste fashion designers because: He uses fashion scraps, and never has any leftover materials himself.
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It is wonderful to know that there are brands who are prioritising sustainability in as many ways as possible. Often as consumers we are unaware or we forget that there is wastage in terms of leftover fabrics and materials, and like you mentioned, eliminating fast-fashion from your consumption habits and wearing organic cotton t-shirts is in fact counterbalanced when you still purchase from brands that emit large amounts of wastage. That’s why at Designer Friday we upcycle leftover recycled polyester, cotton and nylon into dresses, scrunchies, cloth face masks and more to minimise wastage. If you’d like to check us out here you’ll find our products that might be of interest. Thank you for this blog article!