Scottish designers have turned textile waste into fashion to encourage more thoughtful ways to revalue unwanted clothing.
The groundbreaking collection, created from Shelter Scotland rag stock, was unveiled as part of the Fashion for Social Change design challenge.
Six designers - Emma Corcoran, Franz Maggs, Gadgie, Josh Jensen, May Macaulay, and Krishma Sabbarwal - took textiles deemed “worthless” and transformed them into showstopping garments inspired by Scotland’s textile heritage.
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Model Gillian Cheung brought the upcycled designs to life in a project hosted at Glasgow's historic Trades Hall.
Rag stock, the clothing that can’t be sold in-store due to damage, poor quality, or fast fashion excess, is currently facing a dramatic 50% drop in value, to as little as 5p per kilogram.
The decline highlights the overwhelming volume of clothing being discarded, which is far more than recycling systems can handle, but the project demonstrated what is possible when "imagination meets sustainability".
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The team behind the challenge said: "These designers proved that value isn’t defined by price tags.
"It’s defined by creativity, craft, skill, and community."
Reflecting on the project's impact, Gillian said: "It was a privilege to be involved in a project that not only celebrates creativity but also shines a light on the urgent issue of textile waste.
"Seeing garments that were destined for the rag bin transformed into pieces of real artistry was inspiring.
"Supporting Shelter Scotland through this challenge felt meaningful—proof that fashion can be both beautiful and a force for social good."
The challenge connected to Shelter Scotland’s mission to fight the housing emergency and support people experiencing homelessness or unsafe housing as the better use they can make of donated stock, the more funds and awareness they can generate.
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