Fashion is fleeting; and the fact that we say this casually, fully aware that this love for capitalizing on short-lived trends is also the root cause of excessive production, excess inventory, dead inventory and a truly unsustainable business practice , is a problem that needs to be solved. To prevent their products from entering the gray market, brands then often go on a discount spree, fostering the unhealthy habit of overbuying. Or if it’s a luxury brand, they remorselessly burn the excess to ashes rather than sell it at discounted prices. One way or another, these non-biodegradable objects of desire then end up in landfills.
But a few notable new-age designers have found a way to turn this excess – which would otherwise end up in the trash – into sartorial treasure. And one designer leading this movement is Cierra Boyd, who upcycles discarded shoes into retro-futuristic clothing with her brand, Frisk Me Good. Do you think the idea is too outrageous? Just look to Cardi B for inspiration.
Picture: Instagram/@friskmegood.inc
Cardi B, who is always on the lookout for experiments with her wardrobe, turned to a custom Frisk Me Good corset for hubby Offset’s sneaker-themed birthday party. According to his stylist Kollin Carter, Boyd created the green and white corset by deconstructing and assembling 10 Balenciaga sneakers, while designer Rey Ortiz used a few more to create a matching bra. Cardi B wore the ensemble with black high-waisted pants and a pair of Femme heels.
Picture: Instagram/@friskmegood.inc
Of course, sports giants like Nike and Adidas use yarn made from recycled plastic to make their clothes. Back home, Abraham & Thakore also teamed up with R|Elan to make clothes entirely from recycled PET. Rajesh Pratap Singh got straight to the point of unsustainable fashion in his role as Creative Director of Satya Paul by collaborating with TENCEL™ and using their carbon-free fibers to create stylish, body-positive clothing. But it’s Frisk Me Good and other new-age designers, and more importantly, their Gen Z-loving whimsical designs and stylistic sensibilities that hold the key to all of fashion’s sustainability issues.
Picture: Instagram/@friskmegood.inc
Picture: Instagram/@friskmegood.inc
Picture: Instagram/@friskmegood.inc
Whether or not these styles liberate us from our plastic problems, they certainly shake up the predictability of our wardrobes!
Also read: Would you wear a dress made out of water bottles? Maria Sharapova just did