Upcycled Fashion Brands To Watch

Image: Les Fleurs Studio

Upcycling is having a moment. From the catwalks, to your favourite small designer on Instagram, it’s the new hot sustainable fashion moment. Here are the upcycled fashion brands to watch.

It’s amazing what you can do with a pair of old curtains and a degree in Fashion. We can’t help but notice that lately mainstream fashion brands are showing an effort to embrace the much-needed inclusion of upcycled garments into their collections. Brands like Gabriela Hearst have made it look incredibly luxurious (you can have a look at our FW round-up for more). However there are some new brands on the rise that are making it the core of their creative and business identity. It could be a turning point in making sustainable fashion lust worthy.

THE R COLLECTIVE

The R Collective uses mills’ and manufacturers’ excess materials rescued from other luxury brands to create modern, timeless pieces. They’re designed to last by alumni from the Redress Design Award, the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition. The brand recently launched a beautiful exclusive upcycled capsule collection on NET SUSTAIN. We also love that they give 25% of profits to the charity Redress, proving once again that luxury fashion need not be wasteful.

BODE

Bode is the luxury menswear brand that girls won’t stop loving (or wearing). Combining historical techniques, storytelling and using exclusively repurposed antique textiles, it’s one of the most interesting labels in the upcycling space. Taking the name from its founder, Bode is used to paving the way: she was the first ever female designer to show at Men’s NYFW.

LES FLEURS Studio

María Bernad is the brains behind the vintage chic label Les Fleurs Studio. The brand, founded in 2017, started as a vintage shop created on the east coast of Spain. Now mastering the upcycling of vintage fabrics with a sustainable approach, the attention to detail in the garments is exquisite. Buttons and ornaments are repurposed to add the perfect touches. Expect romantic silk, satin and organza, Les Fleurs creates the ultimate sentimental but terribly on trend pieces.

Rave Review

Stockholm based Rave Review are passionate about bringing new life to discarded and deadstock fabrics. Founded in 2017 by Josephine Bergqvist and Livia Schück, they have brought a new elegance to upcycling. Nothing is out of bounds, they regularly turn blankets, bed linen and curtains into incredible coats and dresses that have couture like qualities.

1/OFF

The Paris label 1/OFF creates one-of-a-kind handcrafted garments, starting from rebuilding contemporary designs from classics – literally. Instead of developing collections, they instead drop individual pieces as they are released from their Paris workshop. The gender-neutral pieces are (re)made from vintage garments from around the world. Think cut up trench coats and spliced up mens shirts tied with bows at the back and you get the idea.

STUDIO ALCH

The London based Studio ALCH is a multi-disciplinary, contemporary fashion label. Founded by Australian designer, Alexandra Hackett, the original aim and the core of the creative process is on the focus of the techniques of ‘deconstruction and reconstruction to extend the lifespan of pre-existing products’. This brand to watch demonstrates how upcycling is not a burden, but can be used as a creative tool to blur the boundaries between fashion history and future trends.

DURAN LANTINK 

Duran Lantink is the Enfant terrible of upcycling. Based in Amsterdam but quickly establishing himself as one of the most exciting creatives in the fashion industry, he uses exclusively deadstock fabric for his creations. You might spot a Richard Quinn, Off-White™ and Viktor&Rolf style in the same dress. He uses fabrics as fashion references to generate a unique, signature style. Not for the faint hearted this one.

ANDREA CREWS

Andrea Crews uses couture street style to give life to impeccably upcycled creations. She calls it ‘Extreme fashion for cool kids’. Every piece is unique, unisex, and has a strong personality. You can find a trench coat covered with hand penned illustrations, patchwork knitwear, remodelled vintage leather jackets, and tie-dye hoodies. It’s streetwear meets transformed waste, and it works perfectly. 

HOTEL

This ridiculously cute fashion label creates clothing from one of a kind fabrics, embroideries and old hotel curtains (the Ritz Hôtel in Paris among others). You guessed it, that’s where it got its name. Discarded materials like napkins, tablecloths and velvet curtains, show their versatility when reimagined as shirts, jackets and dresses.

Disclaimer: The people and models in the images featured are not associated with The Vendeur and do not endorse it or the products shown. This post may contain affiliate links. Prices correct at time of publishing.