Kingston School of Art graduates create capsule collections from repurposed uniforms

Graduate fashion students from Kingston School of Art, Kristina Vyzaite and Lili Sipek, have presented the capsule collections they made for their final year project made from repurposed school uniforms and plant-dyed clothing.

Sipek reconstructed second-hand clothing donated from schools in the Kingston area by using patchwork techniques and quilting, her collection is entitled ‘REuniFORM’.

She wanted to make her designs customisable, multi-functional, but zero-waste as well, she said in a statement: “I didn’t want to use any added hardware like zips or buttons, so it’s easier to recycle afterwards and instead reuses all the material from the unwanted uniforms.”

Vyzaite entitled her collection ‘Banga’ and it was made completely from deadstock fabrics and crocheted textiles including tablecloths and placemats, it was inspired by the high fashion culture from Lithuania.

Additionally, she hand-dyed all the materials she used from homegrown vegetable plants, she commented: “I used beetroot, blueberries and blue cabbage, and boiled these with turmeric and vinegar to create the different shades you see.”

Associate Professor Richard Sorger, course leader of the Fashion MA at Kingston School of Art, added: “Both Lili and Kristina have produced beautifully crafted collections that tackle and transform textile waste, which is something we emphasise at Kingston School of Art as part of a responsible design context.

“Both collections take on their own personal narratives, with Lili taking inspiration from the children in her family and Kristina drawing on her own family memories. Their collections are bought to life even more through the storytelling.”

View the collections below:

Designer: Kristina Vyzaite, Banga

Designer: Lili Sipek, REuniFORM

Photo credit: Kingston School of Art