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This Upcycle Collab Will Actually Teach Us How To Design Sustainably
Nicole McLaughlin x Allbirds x Chinatown Market upcycle for the better
Allbirds and Chinatown Market are launching a multi-faceted partnership that champions sustainability in fashion. The New Zealand-born footwear brand have joined with the Los Angeles streetwear label on a mission to promote responsible creativity and design. To kickstart the collaboration, upcycle design icon Nicole McLaughlin has come onboard to create a bespoke, one-of-a-kind lineup.
Having previously worked with the likes of Prada, PUMA and Crocs, McLaughlin has taken scrap materials provided by Allbirds and transformed them into original sustainable designs. The collection ranges from a vest constructed using deadstock footwear, to a mismatched pair of slippers sporting Chinatown Market’s branding, with the full collection consisting of six custom one-off pieces.
The entire range is set to be auctioned off on Chinatown Market’s online store on August 7, with 100-percent of proceeds going directly to The Okra Project, which offers resources that address the crisis’ Black trans people directly face, and Sunrise Movement, which aims to prevent climate change and create millions of jobs in the process.
Following the auction, Allbirds and Chinatown Market are set to release a five-episode IGTV series featuring sessions led by renowned creatives sharing design methods and DIY know-hows all in the name of sustainability. Upon its conclusion, viewers will be encouraged to submit their own creations for the chance to bag a two-week digital mentorship with the teams from both brands.
The Nicole McLaughlin x Chinatown Market x Allbirds online auction will commence on August 7 at 10 a.m. PST (1 p.m. EST).
Next Up, Championing Sustainable Fashion