As a society, we can no longer pretend that pollution isn’t a serious problem. There are many contributors to that problem in terms of industry, fashion and art among them, and that’s what has prompted many artisans and designers to alter their methods and take a more eco-friendly approach. It is still possible to create beautiful clothing and exquisite works of art while using materials that are recycled/upcycled/sustainable, which means that eco-conscious people can fill their home and wardrobe with items that have a lessened impact on the environment. It’s imperative that we as a whole learn to embrace sustainability and environmentally conscientious ways of thinking, and as a step toward that, here is some information regarding the numerous ways artisans have chosen to “go green” with their work.
Sometimes, waste is not always that. Upcycling is the process of taking material deemed unusable and worn out and making something completely new out of it, and in the world of art, upcycling is steadily gaining traction. There’s an abundance of materials that can be used for upcycling, including wood, plastics, mechanical parts, fabric, textiles, tyres, and even waste taken from nature, such as butterfly chrysalises. In the hands of a skilled artist, these materials take on whole new purposes, becoming sculptures, dioramas, picture frames, toys, and a bevy of other artworks that take on new meaning giving their eco-friendly origins.
Take Lauren from The Weaving Tree as an example, Lauren uses torn clothes and textile scraps to create one-of-a-kind woven wall hangings. Each piece is intricately designed with a variety of techniques.
A Sustainable Approach
Sustainability is something that is gaining more and more attention in numerous industries, but especially in fashion. Being as the fashion industry is one of the leaders in global pollution, the fact that many designers are opting to steer things in a more eco-friendly direction is a welcome one. There are a great deal of materials used in sustainable fashion, including:
- Coconut husk (plastic replacement)
- Sugar cane (plastic replacement)
- Castor bean oil (foam)
- Palm homewares
- Piñatex™, a material made from unneeded pineapple leaves
- FRUMAT™, a material made from apple waste from the apple juice industry
- Vegan suede
- Vegan leather
- Recycled parachutes
- Recycled billboards
- Recycled seatbelts
- Recycled ship sails
- Recycled ocean plastics
- Sustainably sourced textiles
Choosing the right materials can drastically lessen the environmental impact that a company has, and with more and more companies headed in that direction, it’s definitely having a positive impact. Consumers that share the concern about the environment will not have to look very hard to find designers that produce eco-friendly fashion, a sign that it is becoming the new normal.
Tweaking the Process
There’s more to an eco-friendly creative direction than simply choosing to upcycle/recycle or use sustainable materials. Often it is the manufacturing processes that take a huge toll on the environment, but some companies and individuals are working to tweak their methods to lessen their carbon footprint. This includes changing their production to a local location in order to reduce transportation and the related harmful emissions, and ensuring that their wares are handmade to cut down on unnecessary energy usage. Utilizing natural dyes instead of artificial ones can eliminate harmful chemical waste. Additionally, some companies, where feasible, utilize closed-loop recycling, which means that when their product (for example, footwear) reaches the end of its life, it is taken back by the company and recycled to become new footwear.
Small Steps, Huge Impact
Every small, eco-friendly decision that an artisan or designer makes is just part of a larger whole in which their industries are working hard toward the cessation of pollution. It’s long been a belief that recycled or upcycled materials are useless, but these creative individuals are proving otherwise. Whether through artwork or fashion, people are making unique, beautiful objects and in doing so, proving that it is entirely possible to do so every step of the way without harming the environment.