Fashion that doesn’t cost the Earth – students devise sustainable clothing collection

Environmentally conscious students from the University of Northampton have devised a fashion range that’s better for the planet.

Mindful of the issues facing the industry, five Fashion undergraduates decided to create a range of sustainable pieces, made from recycled materials, for a live industry project.

One of the major materials they used were old pairs of denim jeans, which were cut up and dyed, with recycled denim, cardboard and reused laces being key components for the footwear.

Meanwhile, Textiles for Fashion student, Jazmin Hadhazi-losif, dyed and printed a jersey dress from unpicking her toile (test garment), then dyeing and printing it and making it up again.

Scroll down for more photos

Joining Jazmin on the team were Fashion students Amy White and Elizabeth Duyilemi, plus Ynes Patat and Charlie Irwin (top photo), who are studying Footwear and Accessories.

Charlie said: “Sustainability is starting to become more and more important to the industry, as many consumers are now become more conscious of how their clothes are made. There’s an increasing number of brands and designers who are making positive changes to the way they work and source material.”

Ynes added: “The days of people buying something and only wearing it a few times before discarding it for something else are hopefully coming to an end. I think we are starting to see the younger generation become more clued up about environmental issues, and the value in keeping clothes for years and years. Plenty of people I know buy some clothes from vintage and charity shops and customise them. The way people consume fashion is hopefully changing for the better.”

Jane Mills, said: “We embed social, moral and ethical awareness in our various Fashion courses, which is incredibly important, as there is pressure from consumers for the industry to adapt to more sustainable practices.

“I was delighted to see the team of students have such a passion for sustainability and demonstrate that it is possible to create something stylish and imaginative using recycled materials.”

The live industry project saw leading global brand Schwarzkopf and award-winning Midlands hair salon chain Hensmans team up to challenge second year Fashion, Textiles and Footwear & Accessory students to put together a series of collections.

Read more about the project.

Hadhazi-losif explains the concept

From left: Elizabeth Duyilemi, Ynes Patat, model, Charlie Irwin, Jazmin Hadhazi-losif and Amy White

Charlie Irwin’s baseball boot

Ynes Patat’s loafer

Charlie Irwin’s baseball boot