Form and substance

Yorkshire-based fashion company Antiform claims to have an irregular design twist: ‘aiming to push the boundaries of ethical, sustainable design by using reclaimed materials and mixing fashion forward shapes with heritage craft’. All its garments are produced from high-quality upcycled materials sourced within a short distance of its Leeds studio, where production also takes place. With individuality in mind, Antiform aims to show fashion-conscious individuals that they can have locally, sustainably-produced clothing without having to compromise on their unique style. Prices vary, with dresses currently costing anything from £25-70; items can be purchased at: www.antiformonline.co.uk

Lowie life

Started in 2002 by designer Bronwyn Lowenthal, Lowie’s philosophy is to produce beautiful clothing as ethically as possible, without jeopardising design. Inspired by the world’s mosaic of traditional handicrafts, Lowie reinterprets time-honoured practices in a modern way – creating quirky pieces for people to fall in love with. These purses, available at Lowie’s Herne Hill store in London, are upcycled from vintage scarves that the team has sourced from their travels. Other items also use recycled cotton yarn and offcuts, and can be purchased at www.ilovelowie.com. Prices vary, with non-sale dresses ranging from £72 to £235.

Keeping a secret

Petits Secrets by CB is a lingerie brand created in 2011 by Céline Bakshi. The collection is made from unwanted clothing transformed into unique pieces of lingerie, including knickers, matching sets, night shorts and eye masks. Petits Secrets also does custom orders if you have a specific garment to be transformed, or you can donate your unwanted clothes for a 15 per cent discount. Every collection is designed and handmade in London, with prices for a pair of knickers starting at £12. petitssecrets.co.uk

Found property

The founder of Lost Property of London, Katy Bell, has made a storm in her hometown. Taking salvaged fabric and turning it into stylish yet practical accessories, she hand-makes each piece in her studio in Islington, North London, using traditional techniques. Hoping to the achieve a ‘Rough Luxe’ effect, her collection of upcycled bags are made from materials such as old coffee bean sacks and damaged boat sails. This ‘luxury bucket bag’ will set you back £120. http://lostpropertyoflondon.com

Leftovers

Born out of the frustration with mass-produced, disposable fashion, Leftover intends to transform waste materials into beautiful items. The desire to create an original, unique, and most importantly fun look that is sustainable and ethical yet stylish underpins the label. Nearly all the materials used are upcycled, with most textiles salvaged from Shabitat in Brighton, where fabrics that still have plenty of life are hand-picked for use. Dresses, for instance, range in price from £40 to £90, and are available from: www.leftover.co.uk

In good shape

Goodone is an award-winning independent fashion label known for bold, colour-blocked styles. The company says its design method is informed by the use of recycled fabrics (combined with new British and sustainable materials), but not restrained by it. Designers panel hand-selected fabrics from clothes collected at textile recycling banks, and insert them into designs in a way that allows for mass production and for the garments to feel new rather than recycled. This dress is made from organic cotton/wool point and upcycled Aran knit collar and retails for £145. Available from various stockists. www.goodone.co.uk