MATERIALS

All materials offer different specifications. Beginning with the supreme discipline of Cradle to Cradle certification, bluesign, Ecotex 100 or recycled cashmere yarn. Species-appropriate husbandry is taken into account as is the use of pre- and post-consumer waste. Materials' natural fibres allow composting of almost every garment of my collection. Due to unknown manufacturing details of some of the used production leftovers, some items can only be up- or recycled as a safe return into ecological systems can't be guaranteed.

 

The following overview shows materials that are used:

 

Merino wool

GOTS, bluesign, IVN, Ecotex 100, KBT and EXP certified. The yarn is also made species-appropriate, which means that sheep are not exposed to torturous muelsing processes.

Supplier: Schöller (Austria), quality Supreme GOTS KBT EXP

Cashmere wool

The cashmere yarn is made from 95% recycled fibres and 5% virgin merino wool. The use of predominantly recycled fibres means that less virgin resources are required. Some chemical recycling processes demand a lot of energy and chemicals to dissolve old materials into pulp. As opposed to this the textile waste for this yarn, sourced in Italy and other selected European countries, is mechanically transformed into new fibres without the need for chemical processes and a lower use of energy.

Supplier: Filpucci (Italy), quality Ninetyfive

 

British wool

Woven fabric made from 100% British wool and dyed with natural indigo. This fabric is woven at small scale in the former London textile mill (now based in Wales).

Supplier: London Cloth Company (UK), quality Sloane

 

Cotton
This raw denim comes from the production of Belgian brand letsbehonest.eu. Its components comprise 56% urbanfibres (post-consumer waste), 23% cotton and 21% Tencel. For dyeing, an ecofriendly technique is used (
www.smartindigo.com), no chemicals are required in this process.

Supplier: Let's be honest (Belgium)

Shirting cotton fabric

With a mix of 36% post-consumer waste denim and 64% cotton, respectively 34% post-consumer waste and 66% cotton, both fabrics relate to the principle of using textile waste for the production of new materials.        

Supplier: Enschede Textielstad (Netherlands), quality 37.17 Panama and 100.17 Chambray

 

Linen

With its natural qualities, organic linen usually has a great compatibility to composting and can quickly recirculate to a 100%. This pre-consumer waste is sourced from other productions, hence I do not have detailed information about its origin. Therefore, only up- and recycling processes can be considered for possible end of life solutions.

Supplier: Hamburg State Opera (Germany), pre-consumer waste

 

Tencel

In contrast to conventional cellulose production, tencel requires no chemicals to dissolve from its base wood into pulp. Furthermore it can be composted depending on its processing. Sewing threads are Cradle to Cradle certified and are made of 100% tencel.
Supplier: denim letsbehonest.eu (Belgium), 21% tencel; sewing thread Johann Mueller AG (Switzerland),
quality tencel

 

Ramie

On basis of cellulose production, ramie is made from nettle plants. To transform nettles into textile fibres biological enzymes are added. This leads to corrosion of harder plant components, boiling the pulp makes it processible to its further production into yarn. Necessary water is recycled and used multiple times. Nettles grow quickly and do not need special treatment from seed to harvest.

Supplier: Anthyia (China)

 

Trims

The use of buttons and zippers is mainly avoided through special pattern cutting. Mixing different materials makes composting and recycling difficult, as every non biodegradable component has to be removed from garments before they can be recirculated. Buttons are made of 96% casein and are certified to be biodegradable.

Supplier: Courtney & Co. (UK), quality Codelite Tewkesbury 17

 

 

 

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

All designs are timeless, not trend related and combinable with different styles.

 

This enables a longer lifecycle and flexibility in choosing diverse outfits. Our collection is not defined by seasons, which would make them become obsolete. Furthermore, new designs can be added as needed without taking older garments their concept compability. Visible mending due to usage damages leads to beautiful utility design and develops its own character. We would like to encourage our customers to repair and care for what they already have.

 

otherways[project] develops hand knits as well as machine knits. In their production only a very small amount of waste in terms of thread off-cuts exists. Other garments relate to zero waste techniques and also leave only a small amount of leftovers. Sides have bigger seam allowences to enable adjustments to different body shapes through lifetime. At the same time less seams means less production time and less use of yarn. Less resources are needed due to a smaller energy consumption within production. Zero waste pattern making reduces fabric waste due to its specific design process where every single part of a cloth is used.

An imprinted QR-Code makes collecting information on materials, the garment's background and care instructions possible. Furthermore it helps in the recycling process, helpful material information can be gathered easily.

 

 

 

REPAIRS

From apparel to art and the longest possible lifecycle in between. One of the easiest forms of extending the usability of garments is to repair damages. Using visible mending techniques relating to Japanese craftsmenship single garments are not only longer available for customers. They also develop their own unique character, which intensifies with time and only exists through wearing (down). This process of design through use is called "Craft of Use" (Kate Fletcher).

 

The more intense and the more diverse mending evolves, the more artificial garments become - a transformation into storytelling artwork.