Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World » recycled fashion

Montreal Artists Transform Post-Consumer Trash Into Beautiful Fashion

Diane Pham — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:30:44 +0000

The Great White North may be steeped in nature that residents fight to preserve, but Canadians still generate a whopping 35 million tons of garbage every year. To draw attention to the excess waste produced by citizens, Environment Canada challenged 16 artists from the fields of fashion, hairstyling, cabinetry, and the visual arts to transform piles of trash into haute-couture creations. Currently on display at the Biosphere Environmental Museum in Montreal, O.N.E. Outfits From a New Era will make you think twice about consuming more than you need.

Made in Forest Hills: Bow Ties Recycled From Trash, Inspired by MoMA

Nicole Abene — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:19:44 +0000

If you’re trying to amp up your wardrobe with a unique flair, we might have just the thing. Made in Forest Hills, founded by recycling connoisseur Nicholas Ruiz, is a collection of some of the most interesting bow ties we’ve ever seen! This “Bow Tie Collection,” is a series of 11 ties inspired by different exhibits at MoMA over the course of 2011 and made from things that might otherwise be trash. Click ahead to check out more of the awesome designs and their inspiration!

Lexus Fashion Workshop Recycles Car Parts Into Environmental Haute Couture

Diane Pham — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:40:25 +0000

Luxury carmaker Lexus is now trying their hand at making luxurious jewelry — but they aren’t dipping into the world’s supply of platinum and diamonds. Instead, the automaker is on a mission to elevate the concept of recycling by re-using 2,000-plus components of a dismantled CT hybrid to make one-of-a-kind haute couture accessories. Click ahead to see all the high-fashion bling that was created!

Kevin Cotter’s 101 Hilarious Ways to Reuse Your Ex-Wife’s Wedding Dress

Nicole Abene — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:00:11 +0000

Kevin Cotter was married for 12 years before his wife decided to pack up and leave. Luckily for him, she left her wedding dress behind. Cotter decided to reuse the dress in tons of innovative, and slightly bitter, ways including a scarecrow (above), a pasta strainer, a wheelbarrow, and even a homemade punching bag. He recounts all of his creative ideas into a blog. and then, a book, 101 Uses for my Ex-Wife’s Wedding Dress. Click ahead to see more of the hilarious reuses for this classically one-time-use gown.

7 Last-Minute Halloween Costumes Hiding in Your Closet

Mark Boyer — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:10:01 +0000

Waiting until the 11th hour to put together this year’s Halloween costume? You are not alone. But instead of panicking and making a mad dash to the costume shop, take a peek in your closet and try assembling a costume from your existing wardrobe. From Where’s Waldo to the Morton Salt girl to the Brawny paper towel man (pictured), we’ve got tips on how to piece together a last-minute costume using clothes and accessories you already own.

Stefanie Nieuwenhuys Makes Snakeskin-Like Couture from Recycled Wood Chips

Nicole Abene — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:03:11 +0000

You may not want to throw out the scraps from your latest home improvement project too quickly – you may find inspiration in the “trash”. Stefanie Nieuwenhuys, inspired by seeing leftover woodchips on a workshop floor at Kingston University in London, went to work on making them into a faux alternative to snakeskin in fashion. Click ahead to learn more and to see photos of the beautiful results.

Artist Billie Achilleos Transforms Louis Vuitton Bags Into Amazing Animal Sculptures (Video)

Nicole Abene — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 17:03:17 +0000

Thinking of interesting ways to spend a milestone birthday? Louis Vuitton had one of the most unique celebrations we can remember for their 100th anniversary. Paris taxidermy store Deyrolle became a showroom for little animals made of the famous leather goods. British artist Billie Achilleos transformed the Louis Vuitton’s signature wallets, coin pouches, belts, and bag hardware into the adorable high fashion critters. Click ahead watch a video and read more about the one of a kind birthday party.

Star Wars Fan Recycles Adidas Sneakers Into a Stormtrooper Helmet

Nicole Abene — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 03:40:50 +0000

Artist Freehand Profit crafted this amazing replica of a Star Wars Stormtrooper helmet entirely out of Adidas sneakers. The helmet looks almost identical to the real thing, and we can’t help but think that it’s bound to be the coolest Halloween costume ever. It’s a perfect gift for any Star Wars fanatic, however it hits at a high price point – it sold on Ebay for $2,125. Click ahead to check out more photos!

Enter to Win Chic Cycling Gear From Nau (Worth $530!)

Diane Pham — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:00:17 +0000

Any good bike enthusiast knows that shoulder bags and suit jackets aren’t conducive to a smooth ride around town. So why not get decked out in some stylish duds meant especially for cycling? This week we’ve teamed up with Nau to give one lucky reader a sweet set of biking apparel and bag from their latest “Pedal” collection, which features chic vintage-inspired pieces fashioned from sustainable materials. So if you’re looking to up your game, pop a wheelie at the jump and enter to win this entire bundle, worth $530!

Win This Recycled Inner-Tube Necklace From My Sister’s Art (Worth $600!)

Yuka Yoneda — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:30:40 +0000

Make a statement with your jewelry next time you walk into a room with this one-of-a-kind necklace made of discarded bicycle inner tubes. EcoFirstArt is giving away this avant garde, handcrafted necklace by My Sister’s Art (worth $600) to one lucky winner and it could be you. Entering is easy so try your hand at winning this gorgeous piece.

ENTER THIS FABULOUS GIVEAWAY >

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Post tags: eco-fashion, Ethical Fashion, green fashion, My Sister’s Art, recycled fashion, recycled jewelry, recycled tires, Sustainable Fashion, sustainable style, upcycled fashion, upcycled jewelry

Stilettos Embellished with Legos – Haute or Not?

Yuka Yoneda — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 16:35:12 +0000

We’ve seen Legos used to revamp kitchens and even repair city walls, but this is the first time we’ve seen them used to make shoes! Don’t worry, it’s not as uncomfortable as it sounds. Artist Finn Stone takes old shoes and embellishes them with the multi-colored building blocks, and the end result is definitely a head-turner. But would you be willing to wear these “stacked” heels or are they a bit too bumpy for your taste?

British Artist Recycles Tampons Into a Halter-Top “Period” Piece

Yuka Yoneda — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:00:00 +0000

While we try our best here at Inhabitat to incorporate clever wording and literary finesse into our posts, there isn’t much we can say about this piece except “Yes, that is a halter top made out of tampons.” [Insert witty period-related joke here]. The brainchild of UK-based artist Walter Raes, the ultra-feminine halter is the result of Walter’s friends challenging his claims that if they gave him any object, he could make them wear it. Bloody interesting, if you ask us!

Stunning Recycled Dress Made of Envirosax Bags Debuts at Sundance

Diane Pham — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:16:08 +0000

Reusable tote bags are holding more than just your groceries these days. Inspired by the carefully constructed couture of Marie Antoinette and the unrelenting gusto of the Mad Hatter, this corseted gown is a form-fitting masterpiece of color that’s been patched together from repurposed Envirosax reusable bags. Debuting at this year’s Sundance Film Festival’s Alive Expo Green Pavilion, the boldly saturated frock garnered accolades for both the bag manufacturer and its emerging designer Amit Ayalon, proving eco-consciousness is nothing to scoff at!

Artist Rachel Mahlke Upcycles Stiletto Heels into Funky, Feminist Planters

Diane Pham — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 15:01:49 +0000

Toe-pinching platforms may not be your bag, but wait until you see what Bay Area artist Rachel Mahlke has done with these sky-high stilettos. Pressed to save a friend’s old heels from dumpster doom, Mahlke was roused to transform the cast off pieces into charming planters with a thought-provoking message. Hand-crafted and then dubbed everything from the “Pinup’s Revenge” to the “50-Foot Woman,” Mahlke’s planters perfectly embody her “femme-feminist” credo. Jump ahead for more details on her inspring process!

Hermès Debuts “Petit h,” a Line of Goods Made from Upcycled Factory Scraps

Diane Pham — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 16:00:39 +0000

‘Luxury labels’ and ‘ethical fashion’ are two phrases that don’t often find harmony in the same sentence , so when we caught wind of Hermès taking a stab at sustainability we had to applaud their efforts. The fashion powerhouse recently launched a new collection dubbed “Petit h”, a series of “unidentified poetic objects” formed from defective inventory and factory-floor leftovers. With inspired ideas and adept hands, the company’s artisans are creating everything from jewelry hangers from teapot spouts, dumbbells from crystal wear, and intricate necklaces from their leather scraps.

Architect Recycles Rubber Bands into Bauhaus-Inspired Dress

Diane Pham — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:59:32 +0000

In this digital age, you’d be hard set to find anyone still using rubber bands. But despite the stretchy stuff’s near extinction, that doesn’t mean the forgotten office supply can’t find an inspired new use. Case in point, New York architect Margarita Mileva has found a brilliant new way to turn more than a handful of discarded rubber bands into incredible accessories and apparel. With her past works already gaining cred in the fashion world, it’s been her recent unveil of the “RB Dress” that’s really blown away both her peers and public. Inspired by painter Paul Klee and the Bauhaus movement, Mileva painstakingly transformed 14,235 rubber bands into a cocktail-ready dress able to rival any piece of designer haute couture.

Road Ready Leather Jackets Made From Reclaimed Car Upholstery

Diane Pham — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 15:00:39 +0000

The leather jacket is certainly a mark of all things cool, rock and retro, and the motorheads at Oakland-based Platinum Dirt have aptly figured out a way to embody this way of being in their new line of road-ready leather jackets. Made from the reclaimed upholstery of vintage Lincolns, Jaguars and Cadilacs, every luxurious piece in the “VIN” collection comes stamped with the seal of the original manufacturer, as well as the vehicle identification number of the auto from which it was sourced.

14 Multifunctional Garments That Can Do More With Less

Diane Pham — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 15:00:48 +0000

If you’re a thoughtful, green fashionista, you know that they key to a stylin’ wardrobe isn’t this season’s one-hit-wonder statement piece, but purchasing items that boast longevity and multifunctionality. So stop crowding your closet with all that cheap, unethically made clothing from those monster chains, and take some inspiration from these 14 multi-tasking garments that can do it all—and then some. From a black-and-silver sheath dress made from upcycled zippers that can run the gamut from classic to sexy, to a rain jacket that converts into a full-on tent, your wardrobe will finally start to reflect how multi-faceted you are.

Recycled Denim Challenge Winner’s Bags are Pure “Jean-ius”

Diane Pham — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 15:00:01 +0000

The competition heated up towards the end of our Recycled Denim Challenge, but it was superstar upcycler Miranda Chance that emerged victorious with her woven saddle bag. Made from castoff jeans and leather jackets, her aptly named Chance bags are an incredible mix of style, versatility and craft, that breathe new life to unwanted items. Jump ahead for the lowdown on this winning designer as well as a look into all the incredible pieces that make up her inspiring collection.

Announcing the Ecouterre Recycled Denim Challenge Winners!

Yuka Yoneda — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 01:30:05 +0000

If you’ve been reading Inhabitat, you know that we’ve been watching the intense battle between the awe-inspiring finalists of the Ecouterre Recycled Denim Challenge. We whittled down the few that we thought were to finest examples of creative DIY jean recycling but in the end you, our readers, had the final say in who took home a $200 Gap gift certificate and bragging rights on Ecouterre, Inhabitat, and the Gap 1969 Stream. Eager to find out who won? Read on to check out a slideshow of the designs that reigned supreme!