Nicole Keefe

I am Nicole Keefe, a sustainable designer and fashion photographer, specialising in film photography. I have created a 100% sustainable collection made from only recycled fabrics and Piñatex®  a biodegradable leather-like substitute derived from pineapple leaves. 

To inspire my project I researched into the impact of waste in the fast fashion industry, looking at landfill and more specifically leather and plastic waste. With a current trend towards veganism,  many consumers have now switched to buying faux leather goods, made from plastic. However, after further research I discovered faux leather can have the equivalent decomposition rate as real leather, and is not sustainable. It was this fact that led to my research into biodegradable products. Alongside Piñatex® I have used recycled fabrics in my collection including neoprene from Oxfam Wastesaver to further promote the use of recycling plastic. 

When I first started university I would have never viewed myself as a sustainable designer. I viewed many ethical brands as dull and felt they didn't suit my aesthetic. However having gai a better understanding of the impact of the fashion industry on the environment it motivated me to develop an ethical collection that would appeal aesthetically to an alternative customer.