You’ve Got Bottle: 7 Brands Who Turn Plastic Waste Into Posh Fashion

Forward thinking fashion brands are turning the waves of wasted plastic bottles into clothing, shoes and bags.

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Eight million metric tonnes of plastic is dumped into the ocean each year. There are a growing range of fashion brands who are using recycled plastic waste, ECONYL and other kinds of marine waste in their clothing.

7 Brands Who Turn Plastic Waste Into Posh Fashion

1. Liar the Label

Byron Bay based Liar the Label make sustainable swimwear that’s model ready. Cute crop tops and halter necks come in subtle shades and pretty patterns. The brand uses recycled polyester, which is made from single use ocean plastics, like bottles and fishing nets, and respun into reusable material.

2. Riz

But it’s not just girl’s swimwear that’s at it. Sustainable Mens Swimwear Brands are doing it too.

Riz boardshorts in the UK are inspired by Saville Row but use a material that’s made from recycled ocean plastics. Here bright and colourful patterns are reclaimed for guys who want something more fun for the beach. The company has a social media campaign #bottlestoboardshorts where you can follow its firsthand attempts to use the bottles it collects off beaches in its shorts.

Read our interview with the self-styled tailors of sunshine here.

3. Rothy’s

Granted Rothy’s sustainable shoes look like just another pair, there’s bright stripes, subtle shades of blue, a choice between pointed and rounded toe and they’re comfy to boot.

But Rothy’s go one better – each shoe is made by knitting recycled water bottle plastic. That’s right, this is a plastic knit that produces something comfier than a sneaker. Even the soles are made from recycled water bottles.

For a list of shoe brands who use recycled materials, check out our list of recycled shoes.

4. Hamilton Perkins

It’s not just swimwear that can be made out of plastic bottles, luxurious feeling bags can too. The people over at Hamilton Perkins make gorgeous weekender bags out of plastic bottles.

Their tubular bags come in a range of colours but no matter which one you buy, the company guarantees that people have been paid fairly all through the production process to bring you something authentic, recycled and long-lasting.

Waste not, wear lots: Luxury handbags that don’t come with a side of guilt

5. Ocean Zen

Brightly coloured girly swimwear brand Ocean Zen capture the magic and wonder of the oceans and are working hard to help save it as well.

Its bikinis are made from recycled bottles and fishing nets and are aimed at girls that are just drawn to the ocean. CEO Steph Gabriel is a marine biologist and saving the seas is her passion.

6. Timberland

Cult boot company has quietly been adding recycled plastic bottles to their shoes for years, using them to create soles. It’s now also turning waste bottles collected in Hawaii into thread for its non-leather boots. So far 233 million bottles are now stepping out as part of Timberland’s shoes and boots. The brand wants to make sure 100% of its footwear contains recycled or organic material by 2020.

7. Howies

The clever people at outdoors brand Howies have found a way to use the plastic thread made from waste water bottles and mix it into denim, so you can now buy jeans that are made from waste plastic bottles. There are roughly six bottles in every pair.

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