Sustainability is a buzzword that has been so totally co-opted that we no longer trust it when we hear it. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t seriously important as a reality. Which is where the Redress Design Competition comes in.
Now in it’s 10th year, Redress gets submissions from all over the world from emerging designers. Each competition cycle takes participants on a journey about the future of fashion and how to make it more environmentally friendly. They discuss fashion’s negative environmental impacts and how to approach it with core sustainable design techniques like zero-waste, up-cycling and reconstruction. Then the designers flex their creative genius and prove that they have the ingenuity and conviction to transform textile waste into stunning, scalable and commercially viable collections that will inspire and redress the world. No small task!
Here are the winners from the 2020 cycle
Womenswear: Juliana Garcia Bello
How she did it: For her Redress Design Award collection, HERENCIA, Juliana works with concepts of heritage, being and existence and believes that every object makes a story possible. From the valued to the everyday, using garments donated by neighbors and friends, Juliana creates a collection of timeless, wearable and easily adaptable pieces with minimalist characteristics.
Her Prize: She will be working with award-winning up-cycled fashion brand The R Collective @thercollective in Hong Kong and London to design, manufacture and market her own 10-piece womenswear capsule collection.
“I have serious concerns with the fashion industry and the quantities of products that are being generated collection after collection. I want to show the public that it is possible to create ethical, circular designs with an emphasis on simplicity.”
Menswear: Ngoc Ha Thu Le
How she did it: Titled Slow Boy Archive, Ngoc employed elements of Japanese-style Americana, using zero-waste patterns and recycled fabrics in subverted menswear classics. She presented a collection that encourages consumers to take a mindful, slow-living approach to life – for their own well-being and the environment.
Her Prize: She will be working with Kevin Bailey of the sports- and street-fashion conglomerate VF, and Christopher Raeburn (founder of his own sustainable label, and global creative director of Timberland), on a capsule collection for the Chinese New Year 2022.
“ As one of the largest textile producers and exporters now looking to move into manufacturing, it is crucial that my home country of Vietnam does not make the same mistakes others have in the past for the sake of both our citizens and the environment and to prove that a sustainable apparel industry is entirely possible. I hope to actively take part in this reformation of the local fashion industry.”
Runner Up Ruth Weerasinghe runner-up prize with Orsola de Castro
How she did it: For her Redress Design Award 2020 collection, SO4 OUTLAST, Ruth was inspired by the imminent risks of climate change and pollution and creates protective, durable garments. The pieces are made to be investments, designed as versatile through detachable parts for a variety of uses and easy repair or replacement.
She will receive an exclusive mentorship with Fashion Revolution Founder Orsola de Castro
“Through my work I am driven and inspired to make an impact, to correct our mistakes and to find solutions through products, processes and innovations. Sustainability is my canvas as a designer and I am always exploring, learning and discovering new possibilities. I believe recyclable, end-to-end processes and biodegradability are the focal areas of interest for the future.”
Hong Kong Best Winner: Grace Lant
How she did it: For her Redress Design Award collection, Amalgamation, Grace draws inspiration from the resilience and resourcefulness of minority groups that are often disregarded by the mainstream, creating a timeless collection that can last a lifetime. Her zero-waste collection is created from a wide range of unwanted textiles sourced from some of the best Italian and Hong Kong mills, including deadstock, sampling yardage and end-of-rolls.
“To me, sustainable fashion is a means of maintaining creation and expression through the form of textiles and garments, without creating a negative impact on the world. The designer must think beyond the final garment design, through its life and how it will eventually give back. It requires imagination and knowledge, and I hope to pioneer in this movement.”
