Anna Foster launched E.L.V. Denim in 2018, aiming to tackle the enormous amount of waste and pollution created by the denim industry by creating jeans that are 100 per cent upcycled. Now, the designer is determined to take on other areas of our wardrobe – starting with shirts.
In a recent interview with Vogue, Foster stated that she was inspired by her visit to one of her wholesalers. “I couldn’t quite believe it really,” she said. “So I came back with an armful of shirts and went, ‘Right, we’re doing this now.’”
The brand’s signature approach to upcycling has been applied to its new collection of shirts. The second-hand garments have been cut in half, with the salvageable parts stitched together to create a unique piece featuring contrasting stripes. Available in four colour ways – black, blue, pink and green – it’s the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe.
Patchwork skirt created by brand
In addition to the shirt, which is made from leftover scraps of the fabric, the brand created a patchwork skirt made from leftover shirt scraps, in keeping with its zero-waste policy. “It’s a real labour of love,” Foster says. The skirt is made up of 56 pieces of fabric cut individually and placed together.
Upcycling has always been at the core of E.L.V. Denim’s brand ethos, with founder and designer Elizabeth Velez explaining that the concept was born from a desire to use materials in an innovative way. “I see the waste and I envision what it’s going to be – it just comes naturally to me,” she says.
Foster hopes to expand the brand’s range to include shirting, which is just the beginning of her desire to become a one-stop destination for customers. She also plans to release other product categories in the pipeline. “I want people to have a whole wardrobe that is upcycled; [to know] that for a sustainable wardrobe you can just come to us,” she concludes.