Chosen for Redesign

There is far too much clothing being produced and consumed and the world already has enough clothes, and the amount of clothing waste is growing all the time. Could the focus of fashion be an appreciation of the existing world of products and materials? The Chosen for Redesign project, a collaboration between Emmy (second-hand fashion platform business) and Aalto University, aimed to explore how redesign can extend the life cycle of a garment and how designing can increase the value and appreciation of second-hand clothing.

In the first phase of the project, Aalto Fashion and Textiles students learned about Emmy’s product handling process and the clothes discarded in it, from which they designed new products using craft methods. The aim was to use the garments’ structures and completed finishes as much as possible, but in a way that clearly changes their character from the original and adds value to the garment. This resulted in an experimental redesign clothing collection which was available to buy through Emmy’s platform at the end of 2024. Read more about the designers’ own experience below.

In the second phase, Aalto University graduating textile designer Saimi Parikka was inspired to develop techniques for reusing old knitwear. She developed reworking knitwear by unpicking the knitwear’s structure. Now she has put together six different tutorials for this technique. Expert seamstress Paula Malleus-Lemettinen also developed tutorials for extending the life of jeans and other garments, both by repairing and developing and testing upcycling techniques. Find the DIY guidelines here.

Saimi and Paula show that sustainable fashion can be creative, individual and collaborative. Modifying old knitwear and jeans offers concrete ways to reduce your carbon footprint while creating a space for creativity, interaction and collaboration. So dig out those unused knitwear and jeans and give them a new life – maybe with a little help from Saimi and Paula!

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