Upcycling and the benefits for beyond 2021

Upcycling remnant materials are at the core of Daines Atelier. Using vintage, dead-stock or factory off-cuts to create one-of-a-kind garments.

We face a crisis of wrong ethics, poor quality and unmet standards within the fashion industry, particularly the fast fashion sector. So but changing our mindset on how we produce new fashion, how we buy clothing and who makes; is the future for the fashion industry.

By using the resources which are already available to us. Every year around 92 million tonnes of textile waste is produced by over 100 billion garments being made. But what is we could take small steps to reduce the waste which is generated every year by the garments are being made?

I present to you circular fashion.

The term circular fashion only emerged in 2014. Kinda terrifying to think that the realisation that the fashion industry need change it’s sustainability direction only came about then.

A circular fashion industry is one in which waste and pollution are designed out, products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible, including through reusing and recycling, and where natural systems are regenerated.

Common Objective

Here at Daines Atelier we ‘consider how other waste in the supply chain from garment off cuts to packaging can be captured then reused or recycled through internal processes or working with partner organisations’ (Common Objective.) Hence, by using cutting floor waste or vintage remnants which are likely to end up in landfill, we then transform them into garments.

The garments are designed with longevity as they have an oversized fit. This means that they’ll remain part of your wardrobe through fluctuating weight, can be transitional for multiple times in your daily life and ooze in comforr.

Their Genderless silhouettes mean that the garments are suitable for a variety if different body types (including height) and are not opposed to stereotypical trends. Aiding to a more capsule wardrobe.

The off cuts and remnants we source are then upcycled into new garments.

So what is upcycling?

Upcycling is the art of repurposing discared materials to create something of a higher quality. This could mean longevity and function.

Materials typically used in upcycling includes end-of-bolt materials, dead stock fabrics, garment of cuts and remnants; or repurposing second-hand clothing.

Upcycling, sounds easy right? But there’s actually a certain level of skill and understanding towards garment construction that is needed to upcycled a garment beautifully.

Pattern Cutting.

A crucial skill for being able to create patterns which don’t waste any more material than necessary. It also can be extremely beneficial when working with smaler lengths of fabrics.

Understanding fabric quality.

Using a material which has a cotton or wool base (avoiding plastic based materials as much as possible). allowing a construction with more ease as these materials are: more malleable because they do not have random areas of stretch; a higher appreciation from your sewing machine (they can tell what a poor quality material is before you will) and kinder the environment post production as when washed they won’t emit micro plastics into the water stream.

The properties of materials.

Knowing if something has stretch, how it will drape or it’s shrinkage qualities will make a huge difference to the final product of an upcycled garment.

Sewing Construction.

Knowing different ways to finish off different types of materials can aid it’s durability. It also means decisions on what fabrics will work best together become more straightforward.

The negative impact of producing new materials.

There’s a lot of environmental benefits to using fabrics remnants which are likely to be ending up in landfill. It minimises the amount of materials going to landfill and saves our natural resources.

For example, ‘Textiles production (including cotton farming) uses around 93 billion cubic meters of water annually, representing 4% of global freshwater withdrawal.’ ‘ which is insane. Creating so many new materials to meet up with clothing production demand, it’s detrimental to our future.

A 2017 report found that, in 2015 alone, the fashion industry consumed 79 billion cubic meters of water — enough to fill 32 million Olympic-size swimming pools. That figure is expected to increase by 50% by 2030. It’s a staggering amount since Earth’s water resources are running low.

The Conscious Challenge

The Industry needs to change now. There needs to be more care and thought into how we use our natural resources. Hence using materials, which we cannot turn back the clock on, means less wastage.

Here at Daines Atelier we believe that upcycling is the future.

We are transparent with our process. We source our materials from second-hand locations or through deadstock. Upcycling materials into one-off garments conscious of sizing. Also, aware of the negativities of the industry and what we can do in order to change it.

Take a look on our shop to browse through our one-off a kind pieces.

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