Interview about Re Created Sustainable Suite, winner of the A' Fashion, Apparel and Garment Design Award 2021
Collection creates a new aesthetic through waste and scrap from the sewing industry. Model design is born from a vivid combination of scraps, colours, proportions and textures. Each model is different and unique. The design reveals a variety of wear options, from a classic snug suit to oversize. Models created from pieces symbolize versatility and multiplicity of a person, inspiring users to rethink their values and re-create their self's. For the presentation, author chose a place that sometimes resembles new constructions and sometimes an apocalypse, which makes to rethink future scenarios.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe Re Created collection challenges traditional fashion production by proving that sustainability can coexist with structure, elegance, and high aesthetic value. Conventional production often begins with new, uniform fabrics and a focus on efficiency. In contrast, this collection begins with waste—specifically, leftover suiting materials—and builds something refined and expressive from what is usually discarded.Working within the limits of industrial offcuts forces a completely different design mindset. Instead of controlling every element from the start, I had to respond to what was available. Each suit was developed from fragments of different textures and shades, which were carefully combined to avoid randomness and instead create coherence. This method breaks away from the idea that sustainability must look raw or unfinished. It shows that even with limitations, we can create garments that are tailored, intentional, and culturally resonant.
The Re Created collection was directly inspired by learning about Earth Overshoot Day. Understanding this date helped me grasp the true scale of global resource consumption and the urgency to act. It became clear that we must find alternatives to using primary resources or at the very least, use them in smarter, more responsible ways.This collection responds to that awareness by relying entirely on existing textile waste from suiting production. Rather than consuming more, I focused on what was already available. By transforming these offcuts into high-quality garments, the project shows that meaningful fashion can be created without further depleting the planet. Each piece becomes a reminder that sustainable solutions already exist—we just need the will to apply them.
Lithuanian national heritage has had a strong influence on my work, especially the way it reflects a respectful and mindful relationship with materials. In the past, everything was mostly handmade, created in limited quantities, and only when truly needed. There was no excess. Each garment had value, was cared for, and often passed down through generations. This mindset is something I believe we urgently need to restore.In the Re Created collection, I draw from that legacy—not only through silhouettes and details inspired by traditional costume, but also through the principle of using every piece of material wisely. The patchwork references are not just visual; they reflect a historical practice of reuse, resourcefulness, and creative repair. Bringing those traditions into contemporary fashion allows me to build a bridge between cultural memory and today’s sustainability challenges, showing that the solutions we seek may already be rooted in our past.
The adaptability of the Re Created suit is a core part of its sustainability message. In creative photoshoots, I often aim to show the art of wearing a suit, not as something reserved for a single formal occasion but as a versatile piece that can shift across contexts and styles. Whether worn in a classic way, in an oversized silhouette, or separated into smart-casual combinations, the same garment can serve many roles.This flexibility supports a more sustainable wardrobe. Fewer garments are needed when one piece can adapt to different situations. It also encourages alternative ways of use, such as borrowing from a parent or partner, or exchanging with friends. These practices expand our understanding of how clothing can circulate and remain relevant longer. In this way, the suit becomes more than just clothing. It becomes part of a more creative, conscious, and resourceful approach to fashion.
The location for presenting the Re Created collection was chosen very intentionally. Visually, it balances two extremes: the ruins and rawness that suggest an apocalyptic scenario, and the signs of new construction that hint at rebuilding. This contrast reflects the central message of the collection.Re Created invites us to rethink our values and to rebuild more sustainable identities, both as individuals and as a society. The garments are constructed from waste, but they carry a sense of purpose, renewal, and care. By placing them in a setting that speaks to both destruction and creation, I wanted to show that the future is still open. Whether we continue toward collapse or begin constructing a more conscious world depends on the choices we make now.
Combining different textures, colors, and fabric qualities in the Re Created collection required both structure and intuition. The process began with carefully sorting the offcuts from suiting production by shade, texture, thickness, and drape. Even though these materials came from the same category, they varied enough to demand attention to detail.Visually, the goal was to create balance and rhythm, not uniformity. I treated each suit like a composition, where contrast had to feel intentional rather than accidental. The challenge was to avoid randomness while preserving a sense of vitality and uniqueness in every piece.Achieving harmony meant constantly adjusting and repositioning fragments until the entire silhouette felt cohesive. I often worked directly on the mannequin, allowing the materials to guide the structure. It was a slow process, but one that let each suit evolve naturally. In the end, this method gave the garments not only visual strength but also a deeper sense of narrative and individuality.
Receiving the Gold A' Design Award for the Re Created collection was a powerful confirmation that sustainability and innovation can go hand in hand. It strengthened my belief that working with waste materials does not mean compromising on aesthetics, structure, or relevance. On the contrary, it proved that limited resources can push creativity in new and meaningful directions.This recognition also gave me more confidence to continue exploring slow, material-driven design approaches and to trust in the value of thoughtful processes over fast results. It showed that the fashion world is ready to appreciate garments that carry both visual strength and deeper responsibility. Looking ahead, I believe sustainable fashion will move further toward circular thinking, where the origin, transformation, and future of materials are considered from the start. I hope this collection can serve as one small example of that mindset in practice.
The Re Created collection was built on slow fashion principles, where time, attention, and material awareness guide the entire process. By using textile waste to create garments that are refined, carefully constructed, and emotionally meaningful, the collection challenges the fast-paced, resource-heavy habits of the fashion industry.This approach offers an alternative way forward. It shows that sustainable fashion does not have to look raw or experimental to be relevant. Instead, it can offer beauty, structure, and wearability while still respecting material limits. If more brands adopted even parts of this mindset and focused on using existing resources, designing for longevity, and valuing craftsmanship, it could shift how collections are produced and how consumers relate to clothing.I believe this kind of slow, intentional design can create space for more responsible systems, where waste is not just reduced but reimagined as a source of creativity and value.
My background in materials engineering helps me analyze fabric behavior and structure. In the Re Created collection, it allowed me to plan where seams could be added without compromising comfort or movement. This knowledge was essential when combining offcuts with different textures and directions. It helped ensure that the final garment was both visually balanced and functionally well-constructed. The result is a design process that begins with material understanding and leads to practical, wearable solutions.
The Re Created collection invites people to see clothing not just as trend-based or disposable, but as something that can reflect deeper values. By showing that beauty and refinement can come from waste, the collection encourages consumers to question what they truly need, how much they consume, and what kind of stories their clothes carry.I hope it inspires a shift toward more conscious behavior—choosing fewer, better-made pieces, rethinking ownership, and finding meaning in what we already have. If fashion can spark that kind of reflection, it can play a real role in changing not just individual habits but the entire system behind them.
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