Sustainable Fashion’s Latest Trend: Patchwork Collections

While the term “patchwork” may invoke the fashion of the 1970s, today’s brands are bringing this aesthetic back in the name of sustainability.

The latest brand to hop on this trend is Madewell.

From launching a denim recycling program to introducing resale and its first circular store in 2021, Madewell is now further expanding its commitment to sustainability with the launch of a limited edition, dual-gendered collaboration with Brooklyn-based innovative design house Storytellers & Creators.

This news comes on the heels of an update to the brand’s Madewell Forever platform, which now includes upcycled collaborations, denim resale, and trade-ins—all aimed at establishing Madewell as a go-to sustainable shopping destination.

The collection taps into the increasingly popular patchwork trend with one-of-a-kind denim patchwork pieces like a bucket hat, tote, patchwork pants, and more (all upcycled from drop sample denim scraps Madewell had left over from the product development process.)

As this collection is made by hand, it’s only available in limited quantities on Madewell’s website and in the Madewell Men’s store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

“As a brand that shares a love for craftsmanship and denim, this partnership was a dream come true. The Storytellers team was personally invested in every detail of each garment they touched,” said Mary Pierson, Madewell’s SVP of Denim Design.

Other brands like Alex Mill are promoting similar patchwork-based upcycled collections, too. ReWork, created in partnership with Blank Supply, is a limited capsule of handmade, one-of-a-kind work jackets, chinos, and hats made utilizing a collection of vintage quilts.

Even student groups at universities like Colorado State are getting on board with the movement.

There, The Patchwork Initiative, a student-run sustainability club, is teaching students the basics of clothing mending to fight fashion pollution. At campus events, the group offers free garment mending and mending kits, as well as information on sustainable clothing practices.

Sustainability experts like Ashlee Piper feel that patchwork-based upcycling efforts are a move in the right direction. “I love seeing not only the look coming back but also the commitment from designers and manufacturers to see textile scraps in a reimagined, utilitarian way,” she said.

What’s fueling the patchwork craze in the upcycled fashion space? Consumer psychologist Kate Nightingale says it could be rooted in patchwork’s historical context as a community activity, in which the act of creating patchwork was a social affair.

“The intrinsic need for closeness has been driving many consumer trends, and patchwork is no different,” she said.

No matter the inspiration for the trend, the rise of more sustainable fashion practices (like patchwork and clothing repair) continues to be top-of-mind for both brands and consumers.