Design Challenge and Design Ideas

Each piece is made from repurposed fabrics – pre and post consumer and recycled cottons. Reclaiming discarded sail cloth, wetsuits, car seat belts and off cuts. Obtaining natural dyes from a sustainable and natural resource such as buckthorn, hibiscus, woad, Indigo, pomegranate and Logwood. The aim of this collection is to support a circular system and re-use discarded materials sourced locally before it goes to landfill and prolong the materials usage.
Committed to avoiding any chemical processes for dyeing by replacing the synthetic dyes that are currently applied in the textile industry with natural inks. My process uses zero chemicals and fewer carbon emissions then chemical dyes and very low water usage.
The ethos of the collection ensures all products are made and sold with minimal environmental impact and sourced locally.
Continuing to strive for net zero carbon by ensuring sustainability is at the forefront while ensuring the highest quality.

How the brief was fulfilled

Fully reclaimed and recycled collection that is made to order to support and contribute to a circular economy and support the material revolution. Discarded materials such as sail cloth and wetsuits are used to prevent them going straight to landfill. As these materials are made from plastic they do not biodegrade- reusing them gives that material another lease of life. Every piece is designed, dyed and made by myself.
I use recycled cotton fabric which is hand dyed using the purest plant extracts and natural mordants to fix the fabric before dyeing. Plant extract uses less water, salt and heavy metals than normal industry fabric dyes. Natural dyes are renewable because they are obtained from renewable sources so therefore less harmful to the environment and promote a circular system.
I created a non-seasonal working towards a circular system.
Re-using fabric contributes to a circular system and avoids more waste going to landfill. The process of making textiles is both energy-demanding and pollutant-intensive, involving huge amounts of water, energy, chemicals, pesticides and herbicides.
Adhering to an ethos of zero waste, the material used has low impact on the environment. I collaborated with my local yacht club (Crosshaven Yacht club) who supplied me with discarded sail cloth, local outdoor adventure centres (Funky town and Oysterhaven) and a nearby car demolition company who cut the seat belts from the cars before they were being demolished. I also use off-cuts from McWilliam bags that are being discarded during their production process for my own bags. Their studio as well as all the other companies I source my reclaimed material from are located within a 15 mins radius from my studio to ensure the lowest carbon footprint. Any other fabric used in my collection are GOTS certified recycled cotton that I source from a small fabric manufacturer in England. I incorporate recycled cotton fabrics to reduce my water footprint.
This collection is limited stock but all products can be made to order. I make to the demand of the customer so there never is excess stock or in turn dead stock, working in a way to counter act over production.

Sustainable Design

My collection (Salvage) consists of limited edition, handmade and hand dyed pieces. Each piece is made from repurposed materials using reclaimed discarded sail cloth, wetsuits and car seat belts or recycled and organic cottons. Obtaining natural dyes from a sustainable and natural resource such as Woad, Indigo plant, pomegranate, buckthorn and Logwood. The aim of this collection is to support a circular system and re use discarded fabric before it goes to landfill to give the fabric a longer life.
Committed to avoiding any chemical processes for dyeing by replacing the synthetic dyes that are currently applied in the textile industry which are pollutant and harmful for the environment with plant dyes. My dyeing process uses zero chemicals and fewer carbon emissions then chemical dyes as well as very low water usage.
Ultimately nothing can stack up to simply not making and consuming clothes, I can only be responsible and conscious in my approach. Committed to creating the best quality garments for this collection with the highest possible ethical standards and the lowest possible impact to the environment.
Cotton fabric is hand dyed using the purest plant extracts from logwood sourced in England. Using natural mordants to fix the fabric before dyeing. Plant extract uses less water, salt and heavy metals than normal industry fabric dyes. Natural dyes are renewable because they are obtained from renewable sources so therefore less harmful to the environment and promote a circular system.