RE·WEAR

Overview

Fast fashion is the second most polluting industry on the planet, yet sustainable alternatives remain expensive, unattractive, or both. I designed RE·WEAR from the ground up (identity, collection and runway show) as proof that upcycling can produce something genuinely desirable.

Contribution

• Research
• Project Management
• Design

Tools

• Desk Research
• Benchmark Analysis
• SWOT Framework
• High Fashion Design
• Brand Identity Design
• Pattern Making
• Adobe XD
• Digital Photography

Methods

• Historical analysis of fashion from prehistory to present
• Competitive benchmark across +10 sustainable brands
• SWOT analysis to define brand differentiation
• Concept-led brand design and identity system
• Fashion show production from concept to runway

Pain Points

• Disposable Culture

  Garments are engineered to fail, not to last.

• Invisible Cost

  Environmental damage is absorbed into the price of convenience.

• Worker Exploitation

  Supply chains are built to stay out of the consumer's sight.

• Market Gap

  Sustainable fashion is either unaffordable or visually unambitious.

• Manufactured Urgency

  Marketing bypasses conscious decision-making through engineered desire.

Problem Definition

“Sustainable fashion asks people to choose between their values and their style; until upcycled clothing feels desirable, most will keep choosing style.”

Research

• Process

  History of Fashion

• Identification

  Industry Analysis

• Interview

  Brand Interviews

• Photographs

  Some Photographs

• Users

  Consumer Behaviour Study

• Trajectory

  Competitive Benchmark

Key Insights

• Hidden Footprint

  Environmental Cost

  10%

  The fashion industry is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions (UN Environment Programme).

• Linear Waste

  End of Life

  87%

  Of all the fibre used to make clothing, 87% ends up in landfill or is burned (Ellen MacArthur Foundation).

• Closed-Loop Gap

  Recycling

  <1%

  Less than 1% of the material used to make clothing is recycled into new clothing (Ellen MacArthur Foundation).

RE·WEAR as a Solution

RE·WEAR turns discarded materials into desirable, original garments, making sustainability a creative argument, not a compromise.

Making of

Result of some pieces

• High-Performance Upcycling

  • I repurposed nylon sails to use their vibrant, unique colours.
  • The material gives the garments a technical, durable texture.

• Voluminous Silhouette Construction

  • I designed wide trousers to maximise fabric movement.
  • The loose cut balances visual weight against the top.

• Zero-Waste Material Management

  • I used leftover scraps for the integrated waistband details.
  • The material's sound reinforces its previous life at sea.

• Found Object Jewelry

  • I repurposed shells and driftwood for necklaces and headpieces.
  • These pieces turn environmental refuse into high-fashion statements.

• Narrative Cohesion

  • Each piece visually connects to maritime and ecological themes.
  • Accessories complete the story without using any virgin materials.

• Zero-Waste Philosophy

  • Small offcuts and fragments became the basis for unique jewelry.
  • I ensured full resource use across the entire production.

• Environmental Narrative Power

  • I designed a black skirt representing the Prestige oil spill.
  • Shiny, twisted fabric mimics the texture of toxic fuel.

• Found Object Integration

  • I created the top using bubble wrap discarded on the beach.
  • This highlights how the ocean returns our plastic waste.

• Reflective Cultural Homage

  • I included long braids to symbolise oil-stained marine life.
  • The garment serves as a political statement on responsibility.

Conclusion

RE·WEAR proves that a brand can be built around values without sacrificing the ambition to be genuinely desirable.