More hip than hippie

Remember when Molly Ringwald transformed an old prom dress into a custom-made gown in Pretty in Pink? Or when Julie Andrews turned curtains into playclothes in The Sound of Music? Turns out they were early green fashionistas. Repurposing old textiles isn’t just for the thrifty: it can help save the planet. With 15 pounds of fabric waste per person filling Canadian landfills, something’s got to give.

Enter preloved, a clothing label wholly designed and manufactured in Canada. Preloved’s one-of-a-kind fashions are made using vintage materials. This season’s collection includes dresses made from recycled dress shirts, skirts made from recycled trench coats, and jackets made from recycled men’s cotton pants.

Preloved (doesn’t the name say it all?) has recycled more fabric in this season’s collection than ever before. Over 60 000 wool sweaters, 12 000 t-shirts, 5 000 cotton dress shirts and 6 000 trench coats were re-used in the manufacturing of the innovative line, clothing that otherwise would have been dumped into landfills.

What began as a vintage shop on Queen West in 1995 has blossomed into an international design house with three distinct lines. Preloved’s signature line blends snippets of vintage tees, sweaters, and jeans with new fabrics to create affordable pieces for men and women. Every item in the handcut line is hand-constructed from 100% vintage materials. The pieces in bloved, which are fabricated using all new materials, often incorporate eco-friendly fabrics.

“Though design always comes first for us, I am extremely proud of the positive impact that our company has had on the environment,” said Julia Grieve, founder and CEO. “We truly believe that ethical doesn’t have to mean unfashionable.”

You can find preloved retail locations in Toronto at 613 Queen St. West and in Montreal at 4832 St-Laurent Blvd. The preloved line is also carried in chic boutiques across Canada and in Urban Outfitters across the U.S. and online.