Student Fashion from Recycled Materials Contemporary fashion increasingly follows the fast fashion trend—rapid production and consumption of clothing—which leads to overproduction and a decline in real value. Under my supervision, students from Włókno created a clothing collection from recycled denim: a material that's hugely popular on one hand, yet highly environmentally burdensome during production on the other. The project relied on recovering fabrics from unused clothing and then creatively repurposing them. Thus, the collection not only served a practical purpose but also addressed ecological and social issues tied to the fashion industry.
Circular Fashion on an Industrial Scale The creators of the latest Renewed project installment started from similar premises. The partnership between Answear.com, INTU Circularity, and Caruma produced an upcycled collection transforming worn garments into items like vests, shopper bags, summer tops, and viscose dresses. What sets this initiative apart from other commercial efforts is the implementation of Digital Product Passports (DPP)—an innovative technology based on QR codes and NFC that documents the origin and transformation process of each garment. Through the Go2NFT app, consumers gain access not just to the product's history but also to discounts and bonuses—ushering in a new model of transparent, responsible consumption.
Academic Creativity While the SKN Włókno student projects and Renewed differ in scale, budget, and target audience, they share one conviction: fashion can and should be sustainable. The Lodz University of Technology students' initiative exemplifies how education and scientific activity can inspire mindset shifts. Meanwhile, Renewed demonstrates that these same ideas can be successfully implemented in e-commerce, gearing up for upcoming European Union regulations.
The Future of Fashion Is Responsibility Both Włókno's activities and the efforts of INTU and Answear teams show that fashion can be a space for experimentation, education, and environmental accountability. These initiatives prove that a conscious transformation of the textile industry is possible today. Lodz University of Technology students are becoming active participants in this change, aligning with global sustainable development trends.
