Ahluwalia Drops a Doll-Sized Clothing Collection Made From Landfill
Teaming up with Epson to showcase innovation that could tackle the landfill crisis.
Consumption is at an all-time high, materials are becoming less biodegradable and landfills are piling up. One thing we don’t talk about enough is the waste generated from discarded kids’ clothes. In response to this, British fashion designer Priya Ahluwalia teamed up with Epson to create “Fashion Play,” a first-of-its-kind doll-sized fashion collection made from textile waste using Epson’s pioneering technology.
The UK bins 216 million items of kids’ clothing annually, making it the worst offender across Europe. A study found that Brits throw away 17 items of children’s clothing each year, compared to the French, who throw away less than half of that. With this in mind, Ahluwalia is showcasing sustainable clothing innovation that could tackle the landfill crisis.
The doll-sized fashion collection is printed using Epson’s Monna Lisa digital printing technology and made from waste using its Dry Fibre Technology, which transforms old textiles into new fibres without water or harsh chemicals. The miniature collection includes two men’s and two women’s looks inspired by Ahluwalia’s FW25 designs, and launches alongside the new research from Epson in a powerful yet playful reminder of the scale of fashion waste and the urgent need to rethink how clothes are made and bought. The collaboration showcases how creativity and technology can come together to tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges in a fun and fashionable way.
Ahluwalia shared, “Travelling to India and Nigeria, I witnessed the true scale of textile waste as a result of the Western second-hand clothing industry. That experience has stayed with me, and I have since endeavoured to work in a way that is better for people and the planet, especially in the global south.” Speaking of the collaboration, the designer added, “It’s about starting conversations on sustainability at multiple levels, from how we dress ourselves to what we choose for those we love.”
For more on sustainable alternatives, check out these reworked sportswear brands.
