The work questions newness and looks at how value can be created in what has already exists — through its history, provenance, use and transformation.
Adding value through transformation.
Existing fabrics become raw material.
COLDWASH47 takes existing materials, familiar garments, textiles and ordinary objects as material for reinterpretation — carrying their histories into new contexts and new forms.
MATERIAL:
All goods are hand-made and processed in Cape Town using waste materials, preloved goods and sustainable fabrics. Created / made / built entirely from recovered garments, existing objects and textiles and natural fabrics / ordinary objects and other available resources.
Each element used to create these garment have already contributed to society. They have travelled a journey and have a unique story to share.
They carrying the histories, repairs, and journeys, built into every piece.
Some garments take months, even years to produce.
It carries evidence of its previous life, printed logos, origins, markings, stains, repairs, stitching and wear. Once transformed into clothing, those traces become part of the garment's history rather than something to hide.
From the origin of the material used, to the added details, or the complex construction process, it starts to tell a story, a narrative is formed.
SHWESHWE:
We source, salvage and repurpose off cuts, roll ends and waste fabrics that were intended for dumping and hand sort them for use in our collections.
NOTE: This may result in some synthetics being used which will be mentioned in product descriptions.
Some items may also begin as discarded surplus clothing or pre-loved, vintage garments that have been rescued, repaired and transformed into unique, one-off pieces using various decorative techniques.
DENIM:
We source, salvage and repurpose off cuts, roll ends and waste fabrics that were intended for dumping and hand sort them for use in our collections.
NOTE: This may result in some synthetics being used which will be mentioned in product descriptions.
Some items may also begin as discarded surplus clothing or pre-loved, vintage garments that have been rescued, repaired and transformed into unique, one-off pieces using various decorative techniques.
MILITARY SURPLUS:
We source, salvage and repurpose off cuts, roll ends and waste fabrics that were intended for dumping and hand sort them for use in our collections.
NOTE: This may result in some synthetics being used which will be mentioned in product descriptions.
Some items may also begin as discarded surplus clothing or pre-loved, vintage garments that have been rescued, repaired and transformed into unique, one-off pieces using various decorative techniques.
HESSIAN BAGS:
We source, salvage and repurpose off cuts, roll ends and waste fabrics that were intended for dumping and hand sort them for use in our collections.
NOTE: This may result in some synthetics being used which will be mentioned in product descriptions.
Some items may also begin as discarded surplus clothing or pre-loved, vintage garments that have been rescued, repaired and transformed into unique, one-off pieces using various decorative techniques.
ORGANIC HEMP:
Hemp is one of the most versatile and eco-friendly fabrics on the planet. It is easy to grow, takes up minimum space and requires little water and no pesticides.
It is durable and provides all the softness and comfort of other natural textiles but with 3 times the strength, making it one of the strongest and most durable of all natural fibers.
It is long-lasting, ages well and does not wear out like cotton. The more you wear it, the softer it becomes.
Hemp is hypoallergenic, non-irritating to the skin and has more anti-bacterial qualities than any other natural fabric.
It contains no micro-fibers and has a natural resistance to mold and ultraviolet light.
It is breathable, wicks moisture away from the body and does not hold odours.
Hemp products are non-toxic, biodegradable and easily recycled. They are great for outdoor activities, including travel and work well with other natural fabrics such as cotton, denim, linen or silk.
ETHICALLY SOURCED COTTON:
Our supplier only sources organic cotton grown in various countries within the SADC (Southern African Development Community) and adhere to the SADC's ethical and sustainable development practices and commitment to fair trade and regional integration policies and values.
Organic cotton is a natural, GMO-free fibre that uses less water than standard cotton. In addition, its production does not involve the use of chemicals or pesticides and encourages rotation of crops to keep soil healthier, more fertile and maintain humidity.
The entire production process is completed in South Africa, under one roof and consists of a fully vertically integrated manufacturing operation covering the full spectrum of textile and clothing production, including yarn spinning, fabric knitting, fabric dyeing, cutting, assembly and finishing of garments. Allowing our supplier to have full control of each manufacturing processes, including critical areas such as product quality and availability.
We take actions that are aimed at benefiting the communities and environment we work in.
We engage in charitable giving and donate unused materials for skills development workshops and upliftment programs.
We practice social responsibility by providing skill share workshops to those interested or food and clothing to those in need.
We know this mission will take time, but to accomplish it we remain conscious of areas that need improvement and are always looking at ways to better our production processes, reduce inhouse waste and advance our zero-waste strategy.
In 2023 we introduced our #oponeton initiative to share the positive impact our production process has on reducing the primary factors causing climate change by the fashion industry in general.
This allows us to track the positive effects made by you when you shop with us compared to other retailers.
WASTE TEXTILES:
We source, salvage and repurpose off cuts, roll ends and waste fabrics that were intended for dumping and hand sort them for use in our collections.
NOTE: This may result in some synthetics being used which will be mentioned in product descriptions.
Some items may also begin as discarded surplus clothing or pre-loved, vintage garments that have been rescued, repaired and transformed into unique, one-off pieces using various decorative techniques.
CANVAS WASTE:
We source, salvage and repurpose off cuts, roll ends and waste fabrics that were intended for dumping and hand sort them for use in our collections.
NOTE: This may result in some synthetics being used which will be mentioned in product descriptions.
Some items may also begin as discarded surplus clothing or pre-loved, vintage garments that have been rescued, repaired and transformed into unique, one-off pieces using various decorative techniques.
2nd HAND CLOTHING / PRE-LOVED GOODS:
We source, salvage and repurpose off cuts, roll ends and waste fabrics that were intended for dumping and hand sort them for use in our collections.
NOTE: This may result in some synthetics being used which will be mentioned in product descriptions.
Some items may also begin as discarded surplus clothing or pre-loved, vintage garments that have been rescued, repaired and transformed into unique, one-off pieces using various decorative techniques.