At A&F Co., we are committed to implementing strategies and processes that advance our social, environmental and product sustainability goals. In honor of Earth Month, associates were given numerous opportunities to participate in activations to support these efforts through volunteer work, clothing swaps and upcycling.
Throughout the year, A&F Co. works with ReVive Fiber and Blue Jeans Go Green to ensure any unused fabrics are recycled and repurposed as a part of our ongoing sustainability initiatives. For our second annual Upcycling Challenge, associates gathered some of these unused and unwearable scrap fabrics to turn them into ready-to-wear, upcycled garments in just four weeks.
When the challenge was over, associates voted on their favorite pieces and three designers were deemed the winners of this year’s challenge. Keep reading below to hear from the winners – their process, their passion and their final product!
Most Creative Award: The Contest Design with the most creative use of fabric scraps and upcycled materials.
Winner: Millie P., abercrombie kids Tech Design Team
Most Avante Garde Award: The Contest Design with the most innovative and “wearable art” design.
Winner: Sara B., A&F Tech Design Team
Most Ready to Wear Award: The Contest Design most able to wear right off the dress form and in day-to-day life.
Winner: Izzy A., A&F Tech Design Team
Tell us why you wanted to participate in the Upcycling Challenge.
- Sara B.
I have always been a big advocate for protecting our national parks and our protected lands. With that being said, the decision to participate was easy – I want to do anything I can to bring awareness to the destruction of our lands as well as how we can work towards creating a more sustainable future. On the creative side, I love working with my hands; I learned to sew at a young age and making clothes has been a great outlet for me. I often make my own garments and recently worked in upholstery during grad school learning soft goods and furniture sewing.
2. Izzy A.
This challenge is a great way to push myself creatively, while also supporting a cause that truly matters – sustainable fashion is a simple step we can take to reduce waste and rethink how we create.
What was the inspiration for your design?
- Millie P.
The source of inspiration for the garment I made really came from the inspiration for the challenge itself – Earth Day! My vision for the garment was a basket, full of garden flowers. The woven bottom of the garment is meant to be the “basket” while the woven straps of the dress are meant to look like the “handles” of the basket. Then, found throughout the body of the garment, is a variety of various flowers that could be found in a garden.
- Sara B.
When I collected the fabrics for my design, I grabbed a little bit of everything because I did not yet have a clear idea of what I wanted to execute. When I got home to look through my scraps, the blue and light washes of denim looked like the colors of the snowy mountains in my hometown, Colorado Springs. From there, it was a no-brainer; I wanted to create a look inspired by and as an ode to the mountains I grew up nearby. I wanted to make a look that would grab peoples’ attention, make them curious, and drive them to learn more about sustainable initiatives like protecting our parks and mountains.
Take us through your design process!
- Izzy A.
I gathered various printed fabrics that ultimately led to my patchwork print design. For the lining, I used a button-down shirt and the shirt placket to cinch the hem of the bubble dress. I have a wedding in France this summer and wanted something I could wear in Paris…I tailored the dress to fit both the store form and my own measurements! Before I made the final garment, I made two muslins – one for the top and one for the bottom, to perfect the fit before finishing the garment. I also had to pivot a time or two; for example, I originally planned to make a midi-length dress, but the scraps I picked worked better for a mini – so my final design became a mini dress! By working with what I had and changing my final product from the original drafted pattern, I was happy with the outcome and final product.
- Millie P.
Before picking out my scraps, I had a design in mind. I collected mostly denim and knit swatches – I was excited to see the variety of fabrics to choose from this year. The variety allowed me to incorporate different colors and textures alongside the denim. I knew I wanted the base of the garment to be denim with flowers made of different fabrics and colors. When I saw the knit swatches, I knew they would be perfect for making my vision of the flowers come to life and add an interesting texture to the garment. I made my own patterns for this garment. I used draping and flat patterning techniques to make the pattern pieces. I drew my flowers in Adobe Illustrator and then separated out all of the petals, stems and leaves into individual pattern pieces. One of the flowers had 52 individual pieces.
