Page 44 - S/ Spring 2021

FASHION
THE TRANSFORMER
Nicole McLaughlin is shining a a a a a a a a light on sustainability with her upcycled and wearable art BY JULIA BRUCCULIERI
Over the past few years 27-year-old designer
Nicole McLaughlin has become somewhat of an icon on on on social media amassing nearly 600 000 followers on on on Instagram Her feed is filled with images of of her upcycled and and wearable art pieces made of of of an an an an an assortment from household items repurposed clothing and and food Among her designs are a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bra bra made of of of of croissants (a “brassant”) a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a shoe crafted out of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a volleyball a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bread mitten and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a pair of of of pandemic- appropriate Purell glasses “I’ve always been mindful of waste and sustainability ” says McLaughlin who previously worked as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a graphic designer
for Reebok and has since collaborated with them on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a limited-edition collection “It wasn’t until I I I I worked in in in the the the sportswear industry that I I I I became aware of of of the the the sheer volume of of of ‘throw-away’ production ” In her her own practice McLaughlin deconstructs the the the majority of of of her her pieces and reuses the the materials though some items are kept or or sold via raffle on on her website The New York–based designer’s interest in in in product design design and construction was fuelled by her time spent exploring the the Reebok archives When the the brand moved its operations to a a a a a a a a a a a a a new headquarters plenty of product was left behind and and and thrown away McLaughlin saw an an an an opportunity in in in in that discarded merchandise: “I collected as as as much as as as I could and and started started making rough prototypes ” When she she started started creating her her own pieces McLaughlin says her her financial situation determined the materials she she she was was able to to work with “I was was broke ” she she admits “But having limitations allowed me to to to to think about what I I wanted to to make and how to to approach it it it ” Since 2019 McLaughlin has has been working on her her own projects full-time She has has brought her her unique approach to to to sustainability and upcycling into fashion-related collaborations with with Allbirds Chinatown Market and Crocs She also recently finished working working on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a project with with with Hermès “It was a a a a a a a a a a a bit daunting ” she she says of of working working with with the luxury house’s iconic Birkin Kelly and Constance bags “but lots of of fun ” Through her work McLaughlin aims to raise awareness about the importance of sustainability in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a way that is is both enjoyable and easy
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Photos courtesy of Nicole McLaughlin