AHLUWALIA STUDIO

UK

As a menswear designer, Priya Ahluwalia has always had a graphic and bold aesthetic, not to mention an interest in found objects. While travelling and researching for her master’s degree, Priya realised the scale of fashion’s waste problem and decided to try and tackle this issue in her work. “When I visited Lagos, I found out there was a market selling second-hand clothing that people had donated to Western charities. I was quite shocked, so I did more research into this trade. Then I went north of Delhi, to Panipat, which is the global capital for recycling second-hand textiles,” says the British creative who has published a book titled “Sweet Lassi” to raise awareness about the impact of overproduction and overconsumption. “Those travels really strengthened my interest in second-hand garments and I started to think about how I could make them fresh and forward-facing. Now I’m using waste to develop something new that people will keep forever.” Last November, Priya won the H&M Design Award 2019 with a playful and sporty collection of patchwork items that are ethical and sustainable. Ahluwalia, who has Indian and Nigerian origins, is currently focused on securing more sources for her materials, as until now she has relied on charity shops, flea markets and donations. She is also creating meaningful relationships in all areas of the industry: “I want to work fairly with all my suppliers, manufacturers and buyers.” • F.B.