katcha bilek

Female

bristol

United Kingdom

Profile Information:

Profession / role:
eco and ethical designer
Company / organisation:
re-Collect
Website (if you have one):
www.re-collect.net
My primary role in relation to fashion is:
Designer, Supplier, Manufacturer
I am looking to discover or buy
Fair trade. Less waste. Environmentally friendly everything. Artists, designers, doers, makers, and anyone who knows anything about running a business.
About me / About business or organisation:
In 2007 I set up my fashion & recycling company re-Collect. Recycling and Design come naturally to me. I love the creative challenge of transforming discarded objects into useful and beautiful products; I have an inherent disapproval of waste which makes me a kind of eco-warrior; I love beauty and originality, which draws me to the fashion-world; and I've always been pretty skint which means I've had to be crafty and stylish rather than a follower of fashion.

My new collection is called re-Collect. I use tractor inner tubes, car seatbelts and bike tyres, all collected from local repair centres and car-breakers. Everything is hand made locally, cut and sewn by hand with no use of electrical machinery or children. The hard-wearing materials are a great alternative to leather and due to the nature of the material each product is unique. A bag can be cut from the same pattern as another but the outcome will always be different.
Career history / Company history:
Art-recycle workshop leader.
Events and bar-decor.
Online-newspaper editor and a freelance graphic designer.
In the past I've had lots of language jobs - teaching, proof-reading, editing, translating.

Comment Wall:

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  • Jenny Foster

    Sure, I'll aim to post another social in Nov.
    Good luck with the business and say Hi to Lizzie !

    Sep 6, 2010

  • Daniel Godfrey

    I'm based in birmingham.. I can travel to bristol to do a mini project with you.. I have friends to crash with, I just fancied a change for a couple of days to work with a fellow upcycler and see what happens! My studio is based at home in the Black Country. I live with a mountain of denim under my bed!

    Sep 6, 2010

  • Daniel Godfrey

    Hey!! hope it's going well with your latest work.. I've just had the work piled on too!

    I thought about us making some sleeves or gauntlets with cut work and hand stitching, maybe bonding cloth to the underside to protect the skin.. also aprons in the same style, look really cool out clubbing layered over uv sensitive fabrics.. incorporating the funky vintage fastenings too!
    Cheerio! d : )

    Sep 17, 2010