Junky Styling

It is rare to find a fashion label that is entirely sustainable and eco-friendly, even though many claim to be so. A visit to Brick Lane and to the fashion brand Junky Styling was truly inspiring and evoked thoughts about the practice of fashion and how it can be made so much less environmentally harmful if the right ideas are considered.

Junky Styling garments are all made from second-hand clothing of the highest standard that is deconstructed and designed into a new, innovative, one off piece. The garments are completely transformed and go from second-hand clothing to couture fashion and this process is something that should be followed by so many more figures in the fashion world. Not only this, the company have a part of their business called 'wardrobe surgery', whereby anyone can bring in a piece of theirs to be transformed. This itself is single-handedly tackling environmental issues within fashion, as instead of going out and purchasing something new, adding to the issue of over-consumption, a person can bring in something old and have it used to create something entirely new, giving the same sense of satisfaction that comes with a new piece, without the environmental impact.

Following the example that Junky Styling gives, and exploring ideas of recycling within design is a really interesting concept and can really make a statement about changing the way of the fashion world. Within knitwear, it is interesting to consider what could be deconstructed and knitted together to create some fascinating textures and fabrics. During this current project, ideas about shredding swimwear and knitting it together to create stretchy fabrics that hold their shape have been considered, and also even knitted old sailing rope together to create chunky, structured knits. Accepting a new philosophy about fashion consumption is what is needed, and although companies such as Junky Styling are working in the right direction, more attention still needs to be paid to the adverse effects that fashion is having on the world. Kate Fletcher states that as while reducing what you buy or choosing second-hand, recycled or organic is extremely positive and tackles the impacts related to the scale of conspicuous fashion consumption, it does little to influence its root causes. Society as a whole needs to become more aware that fashion is one of the main contributors to environmental issues through its production, transportation and disposal and that if it continues in the current way, we will be drowning in our own discarded clothes.