Fashion Revolution Week – #WhatsInMyClothes
Every garment tells a story. Behind the seams and stitches lie choices: about materials, about the planet, and about the people who did all the work!
This Fashion Revolution Week, we asked six of our BAFTS members to answer the question ‘What’s In My Clothes’ to prove that fashion can look great and do good. From Bangladeshi riverbanks to the busy streets of Mumbai, these are the materials, makers, and missions driving a BAFTS fashion revolution.
Turtle Bags — The Power of Natural Fibres
When ecologist Beth saw images of turtles drowning in plastic, she didn’t just feel outrage, along with the rest of us, she founded Turtle Bags . These bright, practical bags go far beyond swapping plastic for tote. They’re handwoven by women in Bangladesh involved in a Women’s Empowerment Programme, using jute and seagrass.
Jute needs no fertiliser, no pesticides and relies on natural rainfall. Meanwhile, seagrass, is one of the ocean’s great carbon absorbers. These materials weave such fascinating stories into these practical and pretty pieces (excuse the pun!).
From Beth’s most recent trip to Bangladesh. She captured some of the women weaving, dying and teasing the jute to make Turtle Bags.
Aura Que — Zero Waste from Field to Fabric
Aura Que‘s stunning scarves begin as something most would throw away: the waste foliage of the banana plant, harvested from the flat Terai farming region of southern Nepal.
After the fruit is picked, the plant must be cut back. So turning that material into beautiful banana yarn creates extra income for farmers and zero additional environmental cost. Dyed with azo-free dyes and finished by hand, each piece carries a naturalyet elegant rustic character. Proof that one crop’s offcut can become one of our treasures!
The transformation from banana fibre to beautiful scarves makes Aura Que’s approach to sustainable fashion a revolutionary masterpiece!
Rainbow Life — Fashion That Gives Back
Lisa founded Rainbow Life during the pandemic, sending out care packages of sustainable, ethically made goods to give people a lift. That spirit of generosity never left. Rainbow Life champions the circular economy through upcycled and zero-waste products.
Highlights include handmade, reversible kimonos crafted from repurposed vintage sari silk by Genki Designs. The fight against fast fashion is exemplified by the important partnership between Genki and Rainbow Life, proving that that brands that mean (good) business are stronger together!
Pri Pri — Saris, Stories and Skills
For founder Priya, sewing is personal. Taught to stitch by her grandmother in Mumbai, she discovered the joy of making by hand and built Pri Pri around that same idea. The brand creates upcycled homewares from saris, giving these richly coloured, storied textiles a second life instead of a landfill fate.
Jenerous — Ancient Craft, Organic Cotton
Jenerous proves that what’s in your clothes is inseparable from who made them.
Their garments are crafted from organic cotton and hand-printed using intricate wooden blocks and eco dyes that have been carved and passed down through generations of artisan craftspeople. Organic cotton is grown using far less water and none of the harsh chemicals of conventional farming. They also rescue surplus cotton fabric from suppliers to build on the circular economy and make beautiful new items out of what would otherwise be waste.
Lost in Samsara — Giving Rubber a Second Life
Over 44,000 tonnes of inner tubes and tyres end up in landfill every year, breaking down slowly into toxic microplastics. Lost in Samsara saw a different future for this tough, versatile material. They began transforming truck tyre inner tubes into stylish, long-lasting bags, backpacks, wallets and accessories. No two pieces are identical. Each one carries the story of the road it came from, diverted from waste into something worth keeping.
These are just some of the many BAFTS members that are fighting for a fashion revolution. With innovative, sustainable and all-round winning ways to make beautiful clothes and accessories…
Is this for BAFTS members info only?