As sustainable fashion is becoming more popular, designers all over the world are introducing recycled garments into their collections. We have compiled a list of our favourite designers who have used recycled pulp and paper to create incredible pieces that you would never believe were made out of recycled materials.
Sustainable Fashion Materials – Recycled Paper
First, Stella McCartney, one of the biggest fashion designers in the world known for her sustainable luxury fashion.
McCartney’s current fashion line – ‘Forest-Friendly Fabrics’ incorporates pulp into a unique process to make yarn for the garments. First, a tree is cut down from a sustainably managed forest in Sweden, the trees are then put through a pulping process to extract the pulp, and after the pulp is processed into a viscose filament, it is sent to a fabric mill in Italy where yarn is created and woven into a fabric.
This is a dress that was created for the collection from an entirely European and ethical supply chain.
The next designer has made a whole collection out of just paper. Lia Griffith has created, and recycled, more than 20 paper dresses that she showcases in galleries and on runways. The idea behind her designs is to create wearable art whilst also encouraging sustainable fashion through her use of recycled paper.
Check out this amazing gown that has been constructed from 11 recycled Vogue magazines.
Moschino are one of the most recent designers to combine their love of innovative fashion with sustainability and ethical practices.
Just recently at Milan Fashion week, Moschino showcased their new collection ‘Cardboard-couture’. Top designer Jeremy Scott created this full collection inspired by cardboard and packaging. Scott’s message about the importance of recycling was highlighted through his collection which included a paper bag top complete with a handle, cardboard box–inspired outfits and an evening bag resembling a roll of toilet paper.
Finally, Italian artist Ivano Vitali combines his passion for knitting and recycling by creating everything out of old newspaper. The process of weaving recycled newspaper in clothing and scarves is detailed and complex but the end result is beautiful. Each piece he makes is unique as the colours and patterns are determined by the kind of paper he uses whether it is glossy or coloured, thick or heavy.
This dress was made by twisting the paper into strips, making a ball of paper wool then using special needles to create the final garment.