FASHION WITHOUT TE SHADINESS: REMAKE’S JOURNEY OF RETELLING THE STORY OF FASHION
by: Zibah Olabode
Sweden has been known for leading the way in sustainability and ethical fashion, with a commitment to environmental responsibility and social justice. In recent years, the country has become an exemplar with an array of brands that prioritize eco-friendly materials, ethical production / practices and circular fashion models.
Image Source: Remake Website
Swedish fashion has made giant strides in an attempt to go from linear production to circular, an economy where they don’t discard materials after use but instead recycle or use them in other ways keeping waste to a minimum.
One of the pioneers of circular fashion in Sweden is Marie Taike, the founder and head designer at Remake STHLM, a not for profit social enterprise that takes old clothes and gives them new life while celebrating fashion.
In 2002, Marie Taike had an intense need to create fashion without damaging the environment or exploring anyone working in it; she wanted to do fashion without the shadiness.
After many years of living abroad and running a brand that created stunning designs using second-hand materials, she came home and started working with Stockholm’s Stadsmission’s second-hand division, in a moment of epiphany, she realized that she wanted to continue the good work at home in Stockholm to build a team while doing her best work.
“It became clear to me that what I had been doing on my own was something that should be done within an organization that had all the components to make it happen” says Taike.
Taike started the initiative as a way to, together with others, put the light on all the things she found and problematic about the fashion industry and consumption.
Image Source: Remake Website
She thought it was important to do it within an organization that also had a focus on human rights and dealt with the results of overproduction and overconsumption on a daily basis to make a win-win situation.
Clothes featured in Remake Stockholm collections are based on materials donated to Stockholm’s Stadsmission’s. This ensures that their collections vary throughout the season and always take on new forms and expressions. According to them, their magic lies in the fact that they are not afraid of change and uncertainty, “That makes us dynamic.”
Their lookbook is filled with bold and colorful creations that celebrate the joy of self-expression while taking care of the planet. All of their creations are one-off designs and are locally produced in their studio in Västerhaninge, Stockholm.
Remake encourages their customers to return pieces that they have grown tired of with a determination to give the creation new life, “It might stay the same, or it might take a whole new shape”.
Taike admits that the work her team does is intense but highly rewarding. As a result of their relentless passion and hard work in the past twenty-three years, Marie and the Remake team have created a brand totally rooted in social and environmental sustainability.
Image Source: Remake Website
Their studio also offers opportunities for work integration. Where people can be a part of their team while finding their way together with coaches.
Their good work has been recognized, and they have been awarded the Elle’s conscious award, NK´s innovation award and Damernas Världs Guldknappen, Sweden’s most prestigious fashion award, awarded to changemakers in fashion, they have also been given the great honor of making a Nobel dress for the former Swedish cultural and democracy minister Alice Bah-Kuhnke.
As Remake displays their allegiance to social and environmental sustainability, we hope that more brands take inspiration from them.