Last weekend marked the launch of a new collaboration between LCF and Vin + Omi – BIN 2 BODY; a collaborative project to turn single-use plastic bottles collected during London Fashion Week Men’s, into fashion which will be showcased at the next VIN + OMI show in September.
VIN + OMI joined by Caroline Rush CEO of the BFC and Dilys Williams Director of Centre for Sustainable Fashion. Image by @chrisdawphoto
The focus in London, highlighted by the recent Mayor of London’s campaign, is to encourage consumers to use much less single-use plastic and ideally to use a reusable bottle for water. London currently has the worst recycling rate in the UK, 32% compared to a national average of 43% and while single-use plastic is still in circulation we need to look at other ways in which we can recycle and use existing waste plastic.
We have placed beautiful bespoke collection bins designed by LCF students studying fashion bags & accessories, illustration and 3D production for fashion and performance, at London Fashion Week Men’s. They are being used to collect used plastic water bottles that are collected daily and sent to be processed into plastic flake and pellets and further processed into new rPET textiles with a low microfiber release.
Image by: @chrisdawphoto
The project is supported by leading art suppliers Daler Rowney who are supporting the making of the student-designed plastic bottle collection bins. Paper Round, the capital’s leading recycling service, will also be supporting the project.
Once the textile has been processed from the waste plastic, VIN + OMI will be working with LCF students to develop the new textiles into fashion and accessories to act as an adjunct to the VIN + OMI fashion show in September which will be held at an iconic London landmark. VIN + OMI will also be holding workshops and mentoring the students throughout the process.
Head of LCF Professor Frances Corner said:
We are delighted to be working with Vin + Omi on a project which highlights the need to drastically reduce the prevalence of single-use plastic. Through this project we hope to raise awareness about this urgent issue and demonstrate that fashion can be a powerful tool in helping to drive change and build a sustainable future, and in turn improve all of our lives and safeguard our industry for future generations.
VIN + OMI said:
The future of fashion lies in the hands of this new generation of designers who are asking some hard questions: who makes their clothes, how is it made, and what is it made of. Consumers are becoming much more aware of where and how their clothing is produced. They are also conscious of how decisions they make can impact on the planet. The fashion industry needs to respond quickly. Everyone needs to do their bit to help change the way we use and recycle plastic.