This year, WM & Slow Factory teamed up for the inaugural Design Challenge in hopes of continuing our work of fostering innovation at the crossroads of creativity and climate action.
Together, we supported the next generation of fashion designers in applying circular and regenerative principles to their work. Six teams across the US and UK explored innovative design solutions for fashion products, materials, or systems built on regenerative practices.
This seven-month challenge culminates in the 2022 WM Sustainability Forum and a special edition Open Edu class.
About the WM Design Challenge
Building on a foundation of waste-led design, the goal of each project was to reimagine how a material’s waste state could be transformed into a climate positive solution through circular garment process or system innovation. By experimenting with tangible solutions for disassembly, and reusing products through de-manufacturing and up-cycling materials, designers are bringing imaginative, creative, and best of all, waste-led solutions to the fashion industry.
Meet our Designers
Delfina Farías created Modular Moda, a modular design guide and accompanying upcycled line, to help other designers adopt waste-led design practices.
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Gordon Holliday pays homage to the legendary African samurai, Yasuke, with his upcycled jacket collection—a blend of traditional Japanese embroidery and street style.
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Mary Lempres and Charlotte Böhning used biochar (charcoal produced from plant matter) to create a sustainable leather alternative.
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Natasha Mays created a waste-to-wear puffer jacket using abandoned tents filled with shredded, donated clothes; converting hand-me-downs into trendy sportswear.
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Bob Carswell and Robert Seevers collaborated with their communities to convert landfill-bound fiber into upcycled sweaters, beanies, and ponchos.
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Sayo Watanabe turned her clothing line, needs theory, into a sustainable, waste-led fashion brand—transforming local packaging waste into hats, handbags, jackets and more.
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Join us for a special edition of Open Edu:
Tangible Solutions
Instructed by our WM Design Challenge Cohort
Friday, February 25th at 12PM EST
Register NowMeet the Advisory Board
Jamaican-American geographer, researcher, writer and poet
Published author focused on sustainable landscapes in fashion
Global textile sales and technical leader
Multidisciplinary Engineer and Strategic Consultant
Founder of EMME studio; thinker, maker and critical analyst driven to challenge colonial ways of thinking
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of EON
Circular Systems Designer, Eileen Fisher Renew and Waste No More
Founder and Creative Director of Mara Hoffman
Accomplished Circular Economy Advisor and Strategist
Sustainability leader driven to humanize climate crisis and social justice issues
CEO of Circ, Innovative leader dedicated to creating lasting circular fashion
Multidisciplinary Designer exploring sustainability solutions
Worn Again Founder and award-winning entrepreneur
PhD - Assistant Professor, Research Scientist and inventor
Founder and CEO of FABSCRAP
Experiential Marketing and Strategic Alliance Manager
Senior Account Manager at EON
Multi-talented professional dedicated to social and environmental activism, Founder of FATRA
Apparel, chemical, and pulp and paper innovative pioneer
Innovative designer, patternmaker and activist
About WM: WM is the leading provider of comprehensive environmental services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, WM provides collection, transfer, disposal services, and recycling and resource recovery. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. To learn more information about WM, please visit wm.com
Open Edu Special Edition:
Tangible Solutions
Instructed by our WM Design Challenge Cohort
Friday, February 25th at 12pm EST
Register Now
