Coreprêt: slow fashion guided by low-impact design principles

Published: 30 November 2022
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The ‘Monday’ shirt and ‘Wednesday’ dress, designed to be biodegradable by using fabric, thread and elastic made from natural components.

Coreprêt is a woman-owned Melbourne business founded 4 years ago by Nessie Croft, an innovator in the slow fashion space. Coreprêt consciously designs and creates garments using low-impact principles with the entire garment life cycle in mind – with a goal to closing the loop.

All products are made from renewable, recycled, upcycled or organic materials. Fabrics, thread, waistband, lining and buttons are constructed with materials that enable recycling or decomposition. Clothing not made from upcycled or recycled cloth uses 100% organic cotton, natural fibers (from deadstock) or a sustainably verified hemp and silk blend (a rapidly renewable, low-impact fibre). In some garments, clothing dyes are extracted from food waste or natural plant extracts. Fabrics are screen printed with solvent-free, eco-friendly inks. Labels are 100% recycled polyester: a singular composition to support ease of recycling.

Coreprêt have introduced a ‘Weekly Essentials’ range: a handful of garments akin to a capsule wardrobe, designed to be inter-coordinated thus reducing the need for multiple items for a weekly wardrobe. Garments include adjustable features such as:

  • elasticated sections, which allow the garment to grow and retract
  • generous hem and seam allowances, to enable future alterations
  • garment ties, for wearer to style garments as per preference.

These initiatives contribute to fewer clothes needed by individuals, therefore fewer resources used in the manufacturing of textiles.

Coreprêt garments are luxurious, but durable. They are made to last to reduce landfill contributions in their name. Mending matters to Coreprêt and is strongly encouraged for further extending the life of their garments. Coreprêt welcomes items back in store for hand repair free of charge to assist customers who have yet to master that craft. Then when items are no longer wanted, Coreprêt receives garments back to the studio to continue their useful life. This can include repair and resale, or garment deconstruction and part harvesting for a new product.

Coreprêt partners with local, ethically aligned factories to produce limited run units – meeting demand whilst maintaining agency over the production line to ensure no waste or overproduction.

Challenges faced

Accessing quality second hand items as well as affordable, verifiable materials is an ongoing challenge for Coreprêt, as is scaling their business and finding partners that are willing to take a risk – either through capital investment or as wholesalers.

They have also found that accessing grants and award programs is challenging, least of all because awards still often cater to the status quo of exponential growth business models.

The financial challenge of sourcing a suitable and affordable studio rental is ever-present. And there is still a gap in both domestic supply chain components and skilled workers presenting a barrier for onshore manufacturing.

Insights and tips for other businesses

Coreprêt have recognised the importance of creating a business model where there are multiple avenues for creativity and income, and one where the scale of your business matches your capacity and materials.

Coreprêt recommend that businesses striving for sustainable production and operations should stay true to their values. They encourage collaboration, particularly if working as a sole trader, and nimbleness. And they emphasise the importance of failure as a stimulant for increasing creativity and innovation.

Recommended actions

Coreprêt have the following recommendations for industry and governments:

  • Boost consumer education around linear fashion processes to encourage informed and conscious purchasing decisions.
  • Increase skilled garment worker visas.
  • Invest in onshore diverse fibre production (such as hemp and linen), and manufacturing that uses circular principles.
  • Introduce certification regulation to ensure consistency in principles and practice.
  • Consider grants to subsidise studio space for subject matter experts (SME).
  • Consider additional grants specific to the circular fashion space to boost maker activity and encourage innovation.
  • Design processes that enable retail partnership with SME businesses.

Gallery

  • Biodegradable thread, made from 100% GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) cotton sourced through Sew for Good, and 100% Tencel thread sourced through Circular Sourcing.

    Biodegradable thread, made from 100% GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) cotton sourced through Sew for Good, and 100% Tencel thread sourced through Circular Sourcing.

  • Biodegradable elastic, made from 65% GOTS-certified cotton and 35% natural latex tree rubber. The elastic is certified Oeko-Tex 100 and supplied by Charle Haberdashery, Germany.

    Biodegradable elastic, made from 65% GOTS-certified cotton and 35% natural latex tree rubber. The elastic is certified Oeko-Tex 100 and supplied by Charle Haberdashery, Germany.

  • Garment care label for ‘Nothing is Forever’ naturally dyed t-shirts, made from fully compostable, 100% recycled cardboard printed with soy-based ink.

    Garment care label for ‘Nothing is Forever’ naturally dyed t-shirts, made from fully compostable, 100% recycled cardboard printed with soy-based ink.

  • To create this upcycled vest, Coreprêt deconstructed multiple damaged woollen jumpers and, to stablise the garment, re-knitted it with locally-produced yarn. Coreprêt frames this practice as “embellished repair”.

    To create this upcycled vest, Coreprêt deconstructed multiple damaged woollen jumpers and, to stablise the garment, re-knitted it with locally-produced yarn. Coreprêt frames this practice as “embellished repair”.

Learn more

Further information on Coreprêt’s Mission of Responsibility can be found on their website: corepret.com

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