Sustainability. It’s everywhere. But predominantly in fashion, consistently employed by several major labels and designers when discussing about “growth initiatives.” As one of the most wasteful industries in the world, we all share a duty to reassess how to appropriately interact with the clothes we buy, sell, and discard–maybe we can start by choosing better brands to top our year-end leaderboards.
While the idea of being sustainable is fun and morally admirable, what does it mean to embody a philosophy with so much positive potential? Enter Nicole McLaughlin, the reigning queen of fashion upcycling.
If you’re unfamiliar with social media’s go-to tinkerer, here’s the gist. Since 2018, McLaughlin has been stitching, fastening, and adhering an assemblage of fabrics and materials to create one-of-a-kind pieces that are just as functional as they are idiosyncratic.
Ever thought about how convenient it would be to have a bra that doubles as a snack holder? McLaughlin has. What about flipping those old beanies in your closet for something other than your head? She’s got you covered there too. Or maybe you have an intrusive desire for a pair of gloves made of bread. Don’t worry; you’re not alone.
“I feel like the material tends to dictate what the project's going to be,” McLaughlin shares when asked about her process. “I think, ‘what's the most insane version of this?’ Or, ‘how far can this be taken?’ But a lot of the time, I just pick things that seem fun to me.”
Today, many look to the 29-year-old neo-couturier as a shining example of how to make interesting, unique pieces while avoiding wasting excess materials. Whether it be notable shoe collabs or taking on brand ambassador duties, McLaughlin loves finding common ground with the brands she works with, leveraging shared histories and ideals into imaginative projects.
That’s why it only makes sense that IG’s favorite upcylcer and California’s iconic outdoor equipment company CamelBak would join forces for a sustainability summit to promote minimizing fashion’s environmental impact.
Born from innovation, CamelBak has roots in the DIY space. By embracing its humble history, the outdoor brand, best known for its signature hydration backpacks, remains open to all that the discipline of design has to offer; Insert McLaughlin and her cheeky, one-off creations.
During the environmentally conscious event, CamelBak will auction off a 4-piece capsule of the designer's functional oddities. A portion of the proceeds from the online sale will be donated to Protect Our Winters; an environmental organization focused on preserving outdoor spaces by promoting non-partisan policies.
“Sustainability isn’t just a trend – it’s a responsibility,” said Tim Perry, Senior Brand Manager, for CamelBak. "Our shared belief system with Nicole underpins this initiative, as we showcase how style, function and sustainability can coexist while still supporting great causes.”
Teaming up to bring to life some of the wildest hydration tools we’ve ever seen, the duo of McLaughlin x CamelBak is a match made in upcycle heaven. Through this latest partnership, we all get a taste of what the future of sustainability in fashion can really look like because, let’s be honest, a skirt that can quench your thirst is pretty ingenious.
We caught up with McLaughlin to talk about her latest collab with CamelBak, her thoughts on sustainability in design, and just how she conceptualizes her designs.
When you started your design journey, was sustainability always at the forefront, or did that piece connect once you began flipping these materials into new things?
To be honest, I just wanted to make stuff. I didn't really have this idea of sustainability and upcycling at first. But after I had made a couple of projects, I was like, “Oh, this is a form of sustainable design.” And other people were the ones that were coining it as an “upcycling project.”
Do you feel like you are starting to become one of the go-to people for sustainability in fashion?
I'd say I'm definitely a name that comes up pretty often, especially within the upcycling space. It's not the easiest task for a brand to figure out because they have a lot of other things they're worried about. So it's my job to make them see it as a priority and showcase all this great material that doesn't serve its original purpose anymore.
So, in general, what sort of attributes do you look for when you begin a collaboration with a brand?
I think this is something that is really important to me. The design and the product that they make is definitely a big one. I feel like I have to resonate with it in some way. Most of the time, the brands that I work with closely, like CamelBak, I’ll have already been using their products before we even begin working together. So when [CamelBak] approached me, I was like, “Oh, finally, this is my moment because I am such a fan of the things that they make.”
Obviously, the whole history of CamelBak is similar to the DIY approach that you have. How did this commonality help in your collaboration with the brand?
I think I've always had a cool connection with CamelBak. One of the first pieces I ever made was with [one of their] packs. The people that are working within the brand are tinkerers; they're makers. They have to have some type of heritage within this space of being curious and making these things because they've been the first to make so many inventions. We have a similar way of doing things.
How do you conceptualize these ideas of things that people might not ever have thought to use as the objects that you turn them into?
I wouldn't say there are any real boundaries in terms of the material. The boundary is more of my skill set and the knowledge a specific project requires. I think the thing about working with pre-existing materials is that they have their own identity, and so you have to figure out how to highlight that or how to hide it [during the process].
So what qualifies a finished product to you?
Functionality is really important to me. I think that's the rule of design; if you're not having to actively adjust your clothing, then it's doing its job. I don't want people to have to think too hard about it. I want it to be functional and serve its purpose.
Talk to me about the process of putting together the pieces for this CamelBak collab.
So CamelBak is always great about sending me a box of goodies, and that's how our relationship really started to form. We were just like, “Let's see what we can make from this.” I knew I wanted to create some vessel to hold a bottle. And so the Can Cooler Bra was one of [my creations].
And then the Hydro-Skirt is another item. CamelBak came out with this really cool invention that’s basically a cooler in a backpack. And so I made a skirt out of that; it just made sense to me.
Lastly, the Drift Pants, which I think is my favorite. They’re pants made from zephyr packs; they definitely challenged me the most.
On a larger scale, how do you feel that a brand like CamelBak is raising the bar on environmental accountability and sustainability in a space that doesn't always keep that in the forefront?
I think the fact that they recognize fashion has been really wasteful is really important. CamelBak creates more of a long-term relationship. I've had [my Camelbak] bottle forever, and I’ll keep it until it's not able to serve its purpose anymore. I just feel like they create products to last.
Recently, upcycling and sustainability have been that big brands are trying to incorporate into their collections. In what areas have you seen companies doing good on that piece, and where do you think things can still be improved?
I do find that people are trying to actively make space for these ideas. I think larger companies are starting to be more conscious about the materials and the time it takes to make all the stuff that they put out. I’ve also noticed a lot of younger designers are starting brands and doing it in a way that's sustainable. There are steps that are moving forward, and it's exciting.
Explore Nicole McLaughlin x CamelBack at camelbak.com.
