Recycling is not usually considered to be a very glamorous activity. Rinsing milk bottles out and squashing down cardboard boxes come to mind. However, a Parisian duo of designers is aiming to showcase the beauty and style of recycling in their Zero Waste fashion workshops. 

Aurore Thibout and Laurence Teillet met in Paris when working together on the Artisanal Collection at Maison Martin Margiela. Since then, they have taught together at a number of masterclasses and workshops in Fashion and Textile institutions in the USA, France and Canada.

Thibout is a textile and fashion designer and visual artist, who is interested in the concepts of time and memory. She uses recycled antique fabrics and natural dyes in her work, which has been inspired by her worldwide travels. Recently, she has given workshops and masterclasses in Taiwan and Japan. Teillet is currently Artistic Director at Elemental, a vintage and antique furniture company.

Thibout and Teillet are giving two workshops in Zero Waste fashion techniques, which are aimed towards those who have an interest in creative upcycling. No prior experience is necessary and all materials are provided. The workshops focus on exploring the concept of Zero Waste pattern cutting, reusing handpicked vintage furnishing textiles to create a bespoke dress. Thibout and Teillet's programme does not only concentrate on transmitting skills and techniques; they also encourage an awareness in participants of a more ethical and sustainable fashion system, inspired by their own design work.

Blog post by Jessica Edney