By Helen Morgan, Source: Ecouterre

This cool collection of jackets by Swellas are “upcycled” from quality surplus fabrics that would otherwise be discarded. For their debut line, the design team have given these technical materials a second life, saving them from ending up in a landfill by transforming them into these modern designs. But their commitment to sustainability goes even further than reusing their source material, and they aim to work using a “holistic approach”. Each purchase has three impressive benefits which is described as their One For Three movement: a jacket for a person in need, a donation to fund clean water, and a donation to build sustainable food systems.

The brain behind the designs is founder Ann Chen, who put these values at the core of the company with the overall hope of empowering vulnerable communities through sales and donations. On their website they note that they prioritize “social equity, pays fair wages, and meets the highest standards of work place safety.” By partnering up with Farm Africa, LifeSaver Systems, and Operation Warm, Swellas keeps a focus on social good. And although remnant fabrics will not always be available, sustainability remains a top priority so the team promise to upcycle wherever possible.

So following on from their exciting debut, how might Swellas evolve? “We want to build a strong foundation around our One For Three movement,” Chen tells Ecouterre. “Our success will enable us to collaborate with brands and organizations who shares the same value, allowing us to provide in-kind assistance in more ways than we could ever imagine.”