Left to Use

An exploration of leftover textiles in the fashion industry, ‘Left to Use’ diagnoses the unhealthy habit of wasting large quantities of fabric, then proposes an elegant remedy: a universal methodology for creating new collections from leftovers. There are plenty of challenges: for fabric colour, weight and length you get what you’re given. Navigating resourcefully around these restrictions, Elena Naumann combines materials by weight and uses a basic pattern derived from the timeless kimono. Straight lines allow for efficient cutting and the loose fit can be adapted for all garments, whether lengthened for a dress or split for a jacket. By cultivating a considered approach, and accommodating chance, ‘Left to Use’ nurtures a system that restores value and meaning to waste.