They say, ‘waste isnโt called waste until we totally waste it’. If 92 million tons isnโt enough to fall under that category, then we donโt know what is. The fashion industry is producing more than 4% of the entire worldโs waste and the wake of the pandemic โ or the ‘wake up’ call โ induced a big amount of excess inventory from the SS20 collections. And that alone is considered more than double the average of previous years.
It’s about time the fashion industry started taking thick and fast measurements to prove that creativity can also be marvellous โ out of the discarded โ to transforming or reinventing an otherwise disposable item into something of higher quality. It can be a new form of deep fashion and perhaps, the future of an industry.
During the pandemic, one of the sustainability pioneer brands, Stella McCartney, developed an A to Z Manifesto with 26 letters illustrated by artists underlining statistics on the fashion industry and consumption. Today, invention takes a new kind of meaning. To invent in today’s world, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk, and because everything is not about what they are, itโs about what they can become.
We like recycling but we love upcycling and weโd like to shed the light on the brands that are proving upcycling can be the future of a fabulous fashion industry.
1- THE OUTNET teams up with Victoria Beckham for an upcycled capsule
According to Beckham, the brand is always looking for ways in which they can be more responsible with their collections and creatively challenge themselves. The new 24-piece collection is a celebration of the brandโs past with a future-thinking approach. The collection is created using existing fabrics from the archives and transforming them into form-fitting dresses, chunky knitwear, classic shirting, pants and outerwear. THE OUTNET x Victoria Beckham exclusive edit features the finest craftsmanship and materials in a refined colour palette.





2- Remembering Marine Serre’s regenerated silk scarves
The French designer has been known to use recycled materials since she was a student and in 2016, her graduate collection was constructed from her archive of vintage clothing. Earlier this year, Serre teamed up with luxury e-commerce destination MyTheresa on a capsule half of which made from used scarves.
3- Do you know about Nikeโs โMove To Zeroโ journey?
Itโs Nikeโs journey towards Zero Carbon and Zero waste to help protect the future of sport. Besides, as part of its reuse-a-shoe project, Nike upcycles materials from old shoes to create modern footwear, fashion and sports surfacing and their tagline was โMore performance, less waste.โ
4- Salvatore Ferragamoโs Re-purposeful collection
Salvatore Ferragamoโs Pre-Spring ’22 collection repurposed the brandโs heritage and reflects the positive future ahead. The collection combined modern craftsmanship with the future-facing and sustainable values encapsulated in look 17โs upcycled patchwork leather dress.

5- Spotted: sustainable sneakers as part of Valentino Garavani ‘Open for a Change’ sneakers
Valentino Garavani mindfully created sneakers and consciously crafted them with sustainability in mind. Itโs the first item that blends creativity, sustainability and innovation โ and itโs taking over the Rombaut boutique. The official launch is taking place at the end of 2021 and itโs Valentinoโs way in activating its responsible journey and reinforcing its conscious mission.
6- Miu Miu gives new life to pre-loved denim and vintage dresses
Miu Miu is taking vintage menโs 501 jeans and trucker jackets from the ’80s and ’90s to pursue a sustainable ideology. Seen through the brandโs maverick and determinedly playful eye, the re-fashioned staples are worn by Miu Miu muses including actress Emma Corrin and models Lila Moss and Georgia Palmer, all portrayed by Johnny Dufort.
The denim pieces have been customized and personalized by the brand in a play mixing masculinity and femininity, and aimed squarely at an equally free-spirited Miu Miu woman. On another note, the house has also worked on a capsule called โupcycled by Miu Miuโ โ a project with entirely unique vintage pieces from the ’30s and ’70s, re imagined through the Miu Miu lens, re-fashioned and finished with signature Miu Miu embroideries and embellishments available at The Dubai Mall boutique.

Also, read more about Joseph’s waste yarn project capsule collection.