Rewear, reuse, recycle and upcycle are some of the easiest ways to maximise the lifespan of the clothes in your wardrobe. Lendlease is promoting to make a positive change in wasteful fashion habits with an evolution of its You Won’t Believe It’s Trash (Y.W.B.I.T) 2.0 campaign. This initiative supports Singapore’s Zero Waste ambitions and promotes sustainability and zero-waste habits within the community.
Last year, Y.W.B.I.T 1.0 had a vending machine for shoppers to recycle their empty and clean aluminium cans, plastic drink bottles and paper for recycling. Overall, 95,863 units of aluminium cans and plastic bottles and 18.8 tonnes of paper were collected.
In February this year, Y.W.B.I.T 2.0 kicked off with a “From Trash to Couture Fashion Design Contest” where over 100 entries were submitted and the top 10 finalists got to showcase their masterpieces at the fashion runway at 313@somerset in May. Participants’ creations had to be made from at least 80 per cent recycled materials diverted from waste streams i.e. recycled, repurposed or upcycled.
Only 10 finalists (out of 100 applicants) were shortlisted to showcase their creative pieces at the roving exhibitions.
The winning design by fashion technologist Jamela Law is a stunning three-dimensional silver outfit with spikes made from carton packages and recycled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) which was displayed at the roving exhibitions at Lendlease malls – 313@somerset, Parkway Parade, Jem and Paya Lebar Quarter between May 12 and July 2.
Thailand’s innovative upcycling fashion designer Apichet ‘Madaew’ Atirattana was invited by Lendlease for the event and showcased five of her sustainable creations. On the experience, Madaew said: “I believe the lasting beauty in taking care of nature and in the way we use our resources is more valuable than the outfits we wear. And it’s more than that, as upcycling will make us beautiful as well and we can help the world be better.”
The masterpieces were also displayed at the roving exhibitions of four Lendlease malls.
Lendlease Plus Members donated their worn-out clothes and unwanted textiles at Cloop vending machines. For each kg of fabric, they were rewarded with 2000 Lendlease Plus$. A total of 12,000 kg (5,000 kg more than the initial target) of textiles were collected at these recycling bins, then sorted and recirculated depending on the condition. Swap, resell, bless, upcycle or recycle – all of which are part of the Cloop cycle initiative.
Overall, all these efforts will minimise the amount of discarded materials sent to the incinerators or landfills, reduce the need for raw materials and benefit the planet as it reduces water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, a portion of the proceeds from the sales of apparel through swap/resale will be donated to charities. Ahead, a closer look at the top three looks from the From Trash to Couture Fashion Design Contest.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY LENDLEASE
