Eco-friendly Hong Kong fashion label BYT debuts at EcoChic Design Awards, pushes upcycling and sustainability

Sustainable fashion has had a bad rap over the years, as designers struggle to create collections that are commercially viable, fashionable and relevant to the consumer. This week, however, the industry opened a new chapter with the launch of clothing label BYT, which made its catwalk debut at the EcoChic Design Award competition in Hong Kong.

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The Hong Kong start-up is the brainchild of Christina Dean, founder of environmental NGO Redress and BYT chief executive, and co-founder Michelle Bang. Dean, a passionate advocate for sustainable fashion, has been on a mission to reduce waste in the industry via Redress for more than 10 years. BYT is the culmination of her efforts.

“What we’ve been doing on the educational front is promoting the concept that sustainable fashion is the future, and can be marketable and profitable. We’ve been talking about it, but now it’s time to prove it with the launch of this brand,” she says.

As founder of the EcoChic Design Award, Dean’s first step was to tap into the competition’s pool of emerging designers who are committed to working within the sustainable fashion realm. For BYT they narrowed in on Hong Kong-based Victor Chu and Swiss designer and Central Saint Martin’s graduate Kevin Germanier. Both competed in EcoChic’s 2015/6 cycle and have since worked in the industry in various capacities – Chu as a designer for a famous Hong Kong fashion brand, while Germanier has worked with labels including Shanghai Tang and Louis Vuitton.

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In terms of concept, BYT takes fashion “waste,” in particular, surplus luxury fabrics, and transforms them into beautiful, affordable clothing using sustainable and socially responsible supply chains. Everything is produced in Asia, using sustainable manufacturers and social enterprises.

The debut collection was inspired by Dean’s 365 challenge several years ago, which saw her style and wear clothes discarded by Hong Kong consumers every day for a year. One of the items she fell in love with was a jacket featuring cut-outs at the back – a piece that forms the foundation of BYT’s first collection.

“Basically it’s a collection of upcycled jackets partly inspired by one jacket. What we’ve done is add details onto the pieces, making the styles more modern. Its elegant but timeless. From the front the jackets appear classic but at the back there is a playful and fun element thanks to the cut-outs. It’s about creating clothes that generate interest but are still wearable,” says Germanier.

The collection features several styles based on wardrobe staples such as the biker jacket, trench coat or tailored blazer – all which are been crafted from fabric waste sourced from luxury brands and suppliers. The look is modern with a twist, allowing each piece to be styled individually depending on the wearer.