H&M GREATER CHINA EXPLORES CIRCULAR FASHION WITH DESIGN STUDENTS
At H&M we are constantly on the lookout for innovative materials and processes that can help make the fashion industry more sustainable. Our team in China therefore teamed up with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to create a collection exploring sustainable design using deadstock fabrics and H&M t-shirts. The result is 23 fashion-forward pieces soon on display at our Hong Kong flagship store.
The PolyU for H&M collection evolves around sustainability, innovation and functionality with circular design principles – such as longevity, versatility and zero waste cutting – at the centre. 23 masters in fashion and textile students reinterpreted and redefined sustainable fashion by using deadstock fabric and spare staff t-shirts to create transformational, unisex, ageless and trans-seasonal fashion pieces. This fashion-forward collection breaks down conventional boundaries and is limitless of age, season, gender and occasion. Silhouettes are loose with a twist of sportswear influence while the style is edgy and contemporary.
“It all started with the idea of asking students to re-define sustainable design. The team took this concept to the skies, and created innovative, edgy and authentic pieces, challenging both the way fashion is made and enjoyed today. To give local young designers an opportunity and tap Hong Kong onto a circular fashion mindset, selected pieces will be displayed at our Causeway Bay flagship store this summer,”
says Hanna Hallin, Sustainability Manager of H&M Greater China.
“Throughout the creative process, we have been playful and innovative with our approach to sustainability - zero waste, transformation, practicality and a timeless quality add to the mix. Our working title of ‘Clothes we live in’ translates into a 365+1 collection with trans-seasonal, functional and modern pieces, wearable beyond 365 days a year. Selected pieces from the collection will be displayed at H&M’s flagship store, where the talent of our Masters students can be brought to a broader audience,”
says Basia Szkutnicka, Professor of Practice, Programme Director of the Masters in Fashion and Textile Design at Hong Kong PolyU.
Although the collection is unavailable for sale, selected pieces from the collection will be exhibited at the window display of the H&M Causeway Bay flagship store in Hong Kong from June 5 to June 11. At H&M we want to encourage and inspire emerging talents to spur the development towards a sustainable fashion future. Innovation is key to our sustainability work and essential for us to reach our goal of 100% circularity. And the PolyU for H&M collection shows that it is indeed possible to create great fashion using circular design principles.
To download the image, please visit the conscious gallery.