For SS19, British designer Matthew Miller teamed up with K-Swiss to produce a collection made from recycled band merchandise, recovered from warehouses where they laid disused. Basically, clothes that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill somewhere.
Titled “REDUX”, the collection consisted of tailored streetwear with high-fashion design details. Gray tracksuits were incorporated with zips running from the ankle up, allowing for a totally different silhouette at the pull of a slider. Sweaters were amended with slightly raised patches on front, adding subtle levels of texture to the understated garments. For SS19, Matthew Miller styled these streetwear items with classic K-Swiss models such as the VN slider and the new ST529, an updated twist of K-Swiss’s chunky model with custom harness detailing.
The pallet was dominated with lots of yellow and black, worn together for contrast. Perhaps the most eye-catching moments were the metallic shirts, coats, pants and suits that gave the appearance of aluminium foil, perhaps a nod to the theme of re-use, upcycling and environmental awareness.
Sustainability continues to be at the forefront of the industry’s collective mind right now, yet solutions seem sadly distant. Matthew Miller, (along with K-Swiss), has set an example of a manufacturing process that can re-use deadstock in an innovative and exciting way. Designers take note.
