The PolyU designers' collection is called Clothes We Live In, which translates into a collection of trans-seasonal, functional and modern pieces that are wearable 365 days a year. "Throughout the creative process, we have been very playful and innovative with our approaches to sustainability," explains Basia Szkutnicka, a professor of practice and the director of the master's programme in fashion and textile design at PolyU. And behind the 23 unique pieces of the collection are 23 students, who have focused on sustainable fashion by using deadstock fabric or unwanted garments.
The capsule collection aims to break down conventional boundaries and doesn't limit itself in terms of age, gender, season or occasion. Silhouettes are loose with a sportswear influence, while the style is edgy and contemporary. Among the standout pieces, the oversized unisex Jessica jacket is windproof due to the clever sealed-seam construction on the inside, which ensures there is no waste from the cutting in the fabric roll at the production stage. The quirky, almost surreal Luna coat is a transformable piece that becomes a soft duvet when fully opened – perfect for romantic adventurers in the mountains. The Shubhi three-piece, meanwhile, has numerous transformational possibilities and is somewhat Issey Miyake-esque in its multifunctional approach – from a top to trousers, or even from a skirt to a dress.
Although the outfits are currently unavailable for sale, select pieces will be exhibited in the brand's Causeway Bay store from June 5 to 11. The collaborative project marks the first time a group of students has designed such a bespoke collection anywhere for H&M – kudos to the designers for their future-forward fashion take.
