PARIS, Nov 23 ― Are you ready to wear a T-shirt made from old curtains, a jacket that had a previous life as an upholstery fabric or a pair of pants made from a sheet? The idea might have seemed eccentric five years ago, but it makes sense with the practice of upcycling, aimed at limiting waste and overproduction. The concept appealed to Alexandra Hartmann, founder of the label Hotel Vetements, who works to revive treasures of the past by transforming them into fashion pieces.
Not content to simply support the expertise of craftsmen, traditions, and the work of artisans, old fabrics also embody history, a message, and even a memory, which Alexandra Hartmann, the founder of the fashion brand Hotel Vetements, is committed to reviving. The idea is to refine the material and transform them into exceptional garments, midway between fashion creations and art objects, handmade pieces offered in limited quantities.
“Our philosophy is to respect every piece of fabric for the honest story it tells. For us, imperfections are testament to a fabric’s inherent poetry — and evidence that the materials we revive have seen, heard and lived long before we came along. We handpick all of our fabrics with the intention of making something inimitable,” the label outlines on its official website.
Giving new life to vintage fabrics
Unlike many upcycling brands, Hotel Vetements was not created during the Covid-19 pandemic, but long before. It was in 2017 that Alexandra Hartmann ― who spends her time between Paris and Copenhagen ― made the choice to give new life to old ― sometimes very old ― fabrics. An idea that took shape when she came across old curtains seen outside a Parisian hotel. The founder was determined not to let this piece of heritage go to waste... She would transform them into “clothing which captures the symbolism of the hotel experience through meticulous handicraft.”
Five years later, the project has evolved into a genuine enterprise, Hotel Vetements, which focuses on handcrafted clothing from antique curtains, tapestries, upholstery, handmade embroidery, sheets, tablecloths, and other household linens. Some have more than one story to tell, sometimes dating back centuries, such as embroidered silk curtains recovered from the Ritz in Paris.
“Working with rediscovered fabrics is an active choice. Breathing new life into antique curtains, tapestries and more enables us to create exclusive pieces. And repurposing existing fabric is our way of challenging overproduction in the fashion industry;” the label emphasises. As a result, the brand's e-shop is full of treasures, such as a pair of pants made from traditional embroidery handmade in the 1960s, or a jacket made with vintage patchwork from the 1930s. All designed in an artisanal way in the studios of the label, in Paris and Copenhagen.
Increasingly popular with those involved in more sustainable production methods, upcycling not only fights against waste and overproduction, but also enhances the creativity and handiwork of the artisans behind each collection. This is evident in the sometimes surprising creations that have been gaining attention in recent months, whether they are designed from broken umbrellas, potato chip packets, airbags, or other types of waste that would have previously ended up in the trash. ― ETX Studio
