Sometimes sustainable style has nothing at do with organic cotton, hemp, or vegetable-dyed leather. Case in point: Preloved, the aptly-named Canadian clothier, takes a novel approach to eco-fashion by collecting orphaned vintage garments and whipping them into one-of-a-kind pieces that are more than just the sum of their parts. From structured skirts made out of vintage blazers to breezy tanks fashioned out of sweater scraps, Preloved’s Spring ’09 collection is no exception. With pieces so obviously born out of creativity and eco-resourcefulness, we knew it was love at first sight.
We first met Preloved at the Designers & Agents Green Room in NY last year, and wrote about them last year on Inhabitat here. This year we were lucky enough to bump into them again in February at D&A in NYC. The eclectic collection was unmistakable – colorful stripes paired with delicate fair isle and brocade. Fabrics with old-school written all over them rebuilt into modern, wearable shapes.
Preloved was founded by entrepreneur and former model, Julia Grieve in 1995, and focuses on making clothes that feel good and fit well. In 2008 alone, Preloved’s fabric frankensteins saved 60,000 wool sweaters, 12,000 t-shirts, 5,000 dress shirts and 6,000 trench coats from the trash! Under creative director, Peter Friesen‘s guide, the company’s design ethos and distinctive pieces are sure to make anyone a devotee.
Preloved is currently only sold in Canada, Australia, Europe, and Japan. Which is why we hope they will open an online shop soon! What will we see next from this ever-growing company? A home collection, accessories line, and new clothing lines including a recently launched children’s line, me*me, are in the works.
+ Preloved
+ Preloved on Inhabitat in 2008
