NatWest Bring it 2020 has provided £500 of match funding
waYst clothing
London, England, United Kingdom
Aim
WaYst offers a conscious range of clothing and accessories made from quality hemp which is naturally dyed from food, flowers and plant waste
The twist comes from the variety of dyes that are produced from everyday disposable materials including avocado pits, skins and onion skins. During my final year of a Costume Construction degree at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama I created and interpreted a tutu from natural dyes. My inspiration for ethical and sustainable dyeing grew as I discovered the toxic cost of synthetic dyes on the environment and human health.
- Final degree costume interpreted by myself. Tutu flowers, bodice and top skirt naturally dyed using indigo, bay leaves, avocado skins, pits, lac and cochineal).
WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF WAYST?
My name is Jessy. As a Londoner, I live in a hectic and dynamic city which is typically cosmopolitan and exciting. However I long for the peace and green of natural environments and this inspired my vision to produce the waYst range which is a natural and sustainable project within an urban space. This environment keeps me stimulated and highly alert to new trends and ideas which will influence future ranges.
My passions for this method developed into producing a range of fun, practical, casual and easy to wear clothing which is versatile, good quality and durable and can be worn by everyone at any age. I am stimulated by creativity which breaks boundaries and offers exciting and provocative diversity. I attended Camberwell School of Arts for my art foundation year and have worked within the industry since leaving University.
- Dye solution created from locally sourced redwood cone (left image)
- Dye solution in development (middle image)
- Hemp fabric show tones produced using avocado pit and skin (right image)
WHY WAYST?
The concept for waYst derived from the idea that waste has negative connotations and is viewed as a by-product which is discarded as it is no longer of any use. WaYst challenges this concept by using these waste products in a new and innovative way to produce some exciting and exceptional products. For example, flowers, petals, leaves and bark which would usually be discarded if not completely fresh are perfect for dyeing and are in keeping with the waYst ethos as they can be re-used at this point to create beautiful colours and tones with high intensity.
The waYst clothing ethos engages with many current concerns around fast fashion consumerism and will build honest and transparent relationships through its brand identity and consumer loyalty. My current workshop is my kitchen where I boil and develop an intensity of colours on natural hemp fabric to create a unique clothing line. Within this space, I listen to podcasts and music which enhance the colour, tones and flavours of each individual shade. Each item is individually produced thus creating a unique, one-off creation of artisan craftwork.
- Hemp tote bag dyed with white onion skin (left)
- Myself wearing hemp classic t-shirt dyed from white onion skin, handmade and dyed by myself
- Hemp tote bag dyed with avocado pits and eco printed using flowers
WHY HEMP?
All items will be dyed on hemp fabric. The decision for hemp originated from the ethos of lowering the environmental footprint which is an integral aspect of the waYst philosophy. Materials including cotton and silk have very high environmental impacts which contribute to the depletion of natural resources, global warming and water scarcity due to the volume of water required to produce these materials. Hemp is a natural fibre which requires less water, fertilisers and pesticides to produce.
HOW YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH FUNDING WILL SUPPORT WAYST
- New workshop space
- Buy material in bulk to save on costing
- Buy more sophisticated tools and equipment which are larger in size
- Advertising and promotion of products
- Work on brand identity
- Employ other makers who share my vision
Please contact me for future collaborations, ideas and questions. This is an exciting and visionary project which can be expanded in many directions. I would be happy to receive feedback from you and look forward to you experiencing the waYst journey with me!!!
This project successfully funded on 8th April 2020