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This dress has been created using three dresses and some jewelry. |
Since I began my studies in 2006, I became more aware of the detrimental effects the fashion industry is having on the planet. Teenage girls are some of the highest consumers and as a result the clothing industry is churning out disposable fashion. Seasons and trends are turning over faster than ever and if you go into any of the low budget fashion outlet stores, you will find mountains of discarded clothing which will never be worn.
What a waste! What happens to this clothing? It doesn't break down and disintegrate so where does it go? If you think about the process of creating these wasteful garments, there are an astounding amount of negatives which effects our mother Earth.
Think about:
- The effects on the over farmed land and the surrounding environment.
- The industrial effects on the planet when producing synthetic materials.
- The human labor. Do we really know if these clothes were made ethically?
- And of course the disposal of waste products, unsold stock and unwanted clothes.
Now I'm no expert in this area but these are some of the ethical issues which caused the light bulb in my head to switch on and say "Hey! Enough is enough!"
Since 2006 I've been very keen on the idea of recycling pre-loved and vintage fashion, to create new, wearable, original garments! It occurred to me one day that there is so much beautiful fabric out there, just waiting to be transformed into something that can be worn again!
Many of my theatre shows have been created from recycled materials and clothing.
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Mina's dress from 'Dracula' was created from a shower curtain, bridal scraps and garden hose. |
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The leather used in Polly's corset (Right) and Kat's skirt (centre) came from a furniture factory's off-cuts. Polly's skirt is made from lace curtains. Kat's skirt is made from fabric scraps and various pieces of clothing. |
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The entire cast of 'Macbeth' were dressed in costumes created from recycled items. |
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Miranda's dress from 'The Tempest' was created in less than two hours and involved three dresses. I enjoy creating with recycled garments as it's often a much faster process. When recycling I start with a base garment and then structure the features around that, so it eliminates most of the pattern making, which is good when my client is working on a tight budget! If you would like your very own piece of 'Angela White - Ethical Couture' then please contact me! Send me an email and let's get started! Give our dear planet some LOVE! She sure needs it! Angie xx |
