Australian Sustainable Designer Debuts With The R Collective

Box Hill Institute alumna and award-winning designer, Tess Whitfort has taken her groundbreaking zero-waste collection from the competition catwalk to commercialisation.

Born from an NGO, Redress Upcycling brand The R Collective has launched Tess’ first commercial collection, Avoidance.

The collection was created using rescued textile waste and innovative zero-waste design techniques.

Tess said, “I wanted to incorporate a bit of attitude and punk edge into this collection, whilst keeping it timeless and within The R Collective’s aesthetic

“There are many stereotypes around sustainable fashion and it is often portrayed as natural, feminine, and wholesome.

“Instead, I create grungy streetwear so that badasses can wear ethical clothing too.

“Environmental issues are going to affect us all, so sustainability can’t just be for people who love the environment, it can’t be a niche, it needs to be for everyone,” she said.