One of the first steps towards a clean planet was separating the debris and reusing the collected materials. Many companies already make collections from recycled materials and even fully specialize in their use. It’s hard to imagine, but skateboards are made from fishing nets, soles are made from gum, and milk bottles are turned into toys for children. Read about these (and not only) incredible transformations in our selection.
Recycled clothing and bags
The fashion house Globe Hope, founded in 2003 in Finland, uses absolutely all obsolete fabrics to create things: sails, advertising banners, seat belts, army and medical uniforms. Seiya Lukkala, founder of the brand, is against fast fashion and disposables, so the main goal of her company is to use and conserve natural resources responsibly. The first clothing collection, launched in 2003, was aimed at young people who are equally interested in quality clothing and sustainable development. Finding materials is one of the most difficult work processes, so Globe Hope does not accept clothing from individuals, preferring large companies: when creating new things, it is more practical to use a large batch of the same material. These can be rejected consignments of clothing from the mass market, military and work uniforms sent to the scrap due to the expiration date, or seat belts that are bought at car dumps. It is much cheaper to make clothes from new materials than from recycled ones, which is why Globe Hope items are more expensive. The only “new” product of the Finnish company is organic cotton. It is grown without the use of fertilizers polluting the soil, chemical treatment and harvested by hand. This respect for nature resonated with the local government: it donated a banner that covered the 72-meter tower of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium during the renovation. From the material received, the company released a special collection in which each item had its own print.
Chewing gum outsole
Companies from Amsterdam keep the streets of their hometown clean and use the collected materials rationally. For example, they recycle used chewing gum and turn it into Gumshoe sneakers. The outsole of the shoe, which is as good as rubber, is 20% guar gum and 80% recyclable compounds known as Gum-Tec. A new type of rubber is created from the synthetic rubber found in chewing gum by separating the resin from it. The sole is not just a reflex pattern, but a map of Amsterdam. In total, there are three colors of sneakers: pink, black and black and red. The production of one pair takes about 250 g of primary material, which again touches the asphalt in a new form.
Fishing net skateboard
Abandoned fishing nets account for about 10% of all ocean debris and pose a serious threat to marine ecosystems and their inhabitants. Chile is trying to solve this problem. Surfers organized in the country the Net Positiva movement, which is engaged in catching discarded fishing gear, and the Bureo company, which produces things from the collected raw materials. The nets are washed and prepared for mechanical processing: they are crushed, melted and cut into small recycled granules, from which skateboards are then melted. Each board uses 30 square meters of orphan nets, and the skate wheels are 30% vegetable oil, making them recyclable. The design of the skateboard resembles a fish – with a “tail” and a pattern in the form of scales.
Women’s sportswear made from recycled plastic
Body-positive sports brand Girlfriend Collective was created by a couple from the USA in 2016. They carefully approached the choice of materials and business partners. All Girlfriend Collective clothes are made from recycled plastic in a certified factory in Taiwan that is child labor-free and environmentally friendly. All clothes are made of synthetic and soft material, and the seams follow the contour of the body. On average, one leggings takes about 25 bottles, and their main distinguishing feature is the high waist. It provides good compression for muscle recovery after moderate to high impact workouts and soft enough to feel comfortable. Despite the sporty focus, many women wear Girlfriend Collective clothes in a casual style.
Raincoats from bottles
In Wellington, New Zealand, the raincoat is one of the most popular wardrobe items. And all because the city takes one of the first places in the world in terms of precipitation. Inspired by Wellington’s climate, locals in Nevada and Nick launched their own Okewa raincoat. The name of the brand corresponds to the things produced: from the language of the Maori, the indigenous population of New Zealand, it translates as “thick rain cloud”. Nevada and Nick believe that the fashion of the city is not least shaped by climatic conditions. They were prompted to create the Recycling Line by statistics, according to which by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the waters of the oceans. The money for the project was raised on Kickstarter. Okewa raincoats are made from an average of 22–31 recycled bottles and are sealed and have good water resistance. According to Nevada, the design of all Okewa items is based primarily on practicality and simple geometric shapes: this allows the item to be universal and fits into the atmosphere of any city.