The big story of our little scraps!

At Odeyalo we work hard to find new ways to always be more eco-friendly. Since our beginnings in 2016, we used organic cotton, recycled polyester, rayon made of bamboo or linen fabrics that use less water in their making process as much as possible. But, whether we like it or not, fashion has a significant impact on our ecosystems. In fact, the financial and business information site Business Insider (2019) states that "85% of all textiles go to landfill each year.” There's reason to be concerned!

In light of these findings, we have decided to work with a few companies to creatively recover our fabric scraps and develop our own solutions to recycle or reuse our textile waste.

Since 2019, Odeyalo has been collaborating with Le Point Visible. The designer behind this fantastic business is Marilyn B. Armand, who learned to sew 24 years ago and launched her project in October 2018. All quilting is made in her studio located in the Eastern Townships.

Marilyn is a true gem. Thanks to her and her business, we are now collaborating to design unique quilts using fabric scraps from our previous collections. All of these quilts are handmade and allow us to reuse our extra fabric while creating small, durable and ecological masterpieces. So far, we have made together three blanket patterns. For our Fall 2019 collection, Marilyn has even made a special quilt for us with which we have made a stunning coat. We are very proud to have such unique pieces in our collections!

Atelier Retailles is another company that uses our fabric waste, but in this case to create handmade paper. This company's service offer is based on three main pillars: 1) renting a studio for independent artists, 2) offering expertise in fiber transformation and custom papermaking "for companies or individuals in the spirit of reducing their production waste" and 3) teaching (Atelier Retailles, 2020). This company founded by Sophie P-Voyer inspires us a lot and if she inspires you as well, workshops are available to learn how to make your own paper!

The next generation of fashion designers is super important to us and we are always proud when students contact us for help. This is the case for the young Kenza who takes scraps that she uses for projects as part of her design course on a loom that she and her friend have created. We even provided them with garment covers to weave plastic strips. Kenza is also engaged in the CASA Cares 17th Annual Fashion Show. Like us, you can make a donation HERE to help her reach her goal of $600 for sick children. 

We are glad to offer pieces of fabric that we no longer use to students or people who simply want to do creative projects. If you have visited us at the studio before, you know how crowded our studio is. Donating fabric helps us free up our already limited space while allowing people to have free textiles. Contact us if you have a project that require small pieces of fabric.

Alibi is the latest company we have collaborated with to give a second life to our fabric waste. Lisa, the designer behind this business, designs and produces an assortment of products such as undergarments, sports bras, sleepwear as well as prostheses adapted for women during or after their breast cancer treatments. Using only a few scraps from our previous collections, we have managed to co-create the cutest bralette. You've probably noticed it this Fall on our website photoshoot, worn under our Miel blazer.  You can buy it on our "online exclusive" page or if you contact Alibi directly.  She is also a great studio neighbour at Collectif Montréal and we hope to collaborate again on other projects.  

Finally, as you saw last Fall with the BEBA tote bag (made from the remains of the PUMPUI coat), making new out of the old is part of our business's identity. Of course, these kinda-second-hand products are only available for a limited time. Nevertheless, keep an eye out, as there is a good chance that we will do it again this year with the fabrics from the spring 2020 collection ;)

Write us a comment if you have any other suggestions on how we could reuse our fabrics!

Source

Atelier Retailles, https://www.atelierretailles.com/about. Viewed February 21, 2020.

MCFALL-JONHSEN, Morgan. 2019, The fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Here are the biggest ways it impacts the planet. Online, 21 October, https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-fashion-environmental-impact-pollution-emissions-waste-water-2019-10. Viewed February 18, 2020.