Monsoon launches dazzling capsule collection made from recycled sequins
Fashion retailer Monsoon ushers in the party season with a stand-out collection of occasionwear pieces inspired by 90s catwalk looks and crafted from recycled sequins.
The five head-turning pieces, inspired by the era of the supermodel, are made from recycled PET sequins; the most sustainable, commercially-available option at this point in time.
Not only is this a high-fashion story, with directional pieces, small buys and a higher price point (pieces from the collection have already been worn on stage, by Iraina Mancini at Secret Garden Party and Edith Bowman at the Frieze 20th anniversary party at Koko) but it is Monsoon’s first step towards lower impact sequins too.
The retailer worked with the Centre of Sustainable Fashion (CSF), part of the London College of Fashion, UAL, to interrogate every step of the brand’s sequin supply chain. Adena Brands (owner of Monsoon, Accessorize and East) has also recruited Anneli Hallik, its first sustainability innovation manager, to lead to lead the project in-house. Together with the CSF, they performed extensive research into the challenges and opportunities at every step of the sequin supply chain, and identified collaboration partners for the development of innovative sustainable sequins.
Monsoon’s Design Director Caroline Jackson says: “We view this collection as a statement of intent. We have used recycled PET sequins; and although after doing research with our partners we think that this is the most sustainable, commercially available sequin on the market, we know that this doesn’t go far enough. We know our customer loves sparkle and sequins. We know sequins are not currently an eco-conscious option. But rather than stop using them, we want to invest time and money into finding solutions.
“This fashion-forward collection goes some way towards showing what you can with using lower impact sequins.”
Anneli Hallik says: “It has been such an exciting deep dive into the world of sequins; exploring how sequins are made, what they are made of, who makes them and where are they made. This recycled PET sequin collection is the first step on our sequin journey, where we will keep on working with both our existing sequin suppliers as well as with new collaboration partners to develop innovative materials and processes.
It is complex, with no easy answers. But in collaboration with various partners, we aim to bridge the gap between industry and academia and create solutions.”
The recycled sequin capsule collection will be available as a web exclusive on monsoon.co.uk from Saturday, 4 November.
