Sara's Sustainable Fashion Project

How can fashion clean up waste, create unique style and provide a sustainable alternative to high street clothing? The answer is through UK made upcycling collection Trashed Couture. 

Around 2.35 million tonnes of clothing and textiles are disposed of in the UK each year, most of which ends up in landfill sites, as waste and pollution.

Upcycling could offer an alternative to this, diverting end-of-life garments and textiles away from landfill and other waste streams, by turning them into useful things such as clothes, shoes and bags.

Trashed Couture is my ethically produced eco fashion collection, specialising in upcycled denim pieces, uniquely designed with couture inspired styling. Second hand garments are carefully sourced for the collection, before each design is lovingly crafted by me in my Manchester studio.

As a designer I am fully committed to ethical trade and sustainable production. This is ensured by sourcing only second hand garments as my raw material. The garments are sourced from charity shops and often utilise stock that could otherwise not be sold. This stock would have then been diverted to polluting landfill sites or to rag merchants, who would have sold it on the 3rd world second hand garment market, adding to economic problems in these countries and stunting the growth of their own garment industries. Upcycling these garments diverts away from these outcomes and has economic, social and environmental benefits.

Ethical production, labour standards and a carbon neutral output are ensured as all the entire collection is designed and made by myself at my studio in Manchester. Finished garments are cleaned and finished using sustainable products and services and good practice.

As we all strive to reverse the damage done to the planet by mankind, it is really important that we consider alternatives to the fast fashion of recent years, and look to ethical produced clothing like this, providing high quality, locally made garments that will last more than a few seasons and weather even the most outrageous trends.

I am looking for an investment of £500, to raise the profile of my collection, and thereby raise awareness about the environmental issues associated with the fashion industry. I hope to do this by showing at The Good Fashion Show, a new initiative set up to show case ethical and sustainable fashion. They will be exhibiting during The Clothes Show Live and off schedule at London Fashion Week.

If I can raise over the £500 target, the extra funds will enable me to invest in environmentally friendly promotional materials for the collection, such as business cards, flyers and look books, all printed on recycled card with soya based inks.

As well as having the knowledge that they have helped fund an environmentally sound project, and have thereby helped and educated the global community by providing carbon neutral consumption choices that illustrate a sustainable lifestyle, funders will also receive rewards for their investment.

All funders will be sent promotional material and look books, and a beautiful hand-made recycled tote bag, crafted by me, to say thanks for your support.

All funders will also be offered a 25% discount on all items from the Trashed Couture Collection, and a 50% discount on the next bespoke upcycling service they wish to purchase. I am keen for funders to remain a big part of the project too and will also offer them to opportunity to participate in free garment trials and customer focus groups, in order to incorporate their thoughts, opinions and advice into my project.

http://www.saralichouhan.com
http://www.trashedcouture.com
http://www.thegoodfashionshow.org