On The Rise: Upcycling With Raw And Doja
Alternative Apparel is here. It’s time to reinvent your wardrobe for the long-term.
Staying on trend is never easy– every week it feels like we’re being bombarded with new music to listen to, apps to download and clothes to wear. The rise in influencers and overwhelming pressure to conform to fast-fashion’s economy has left many of us feeling like we need to wear a new outfit every day. So, how do we keep up with the latest catwalk styles without breaking the bank or the environment? The answer is much simpler than we think. It’s time to shift our focus on expression. Becoming a more conscious fashion consumer starts with you, your lifestyle and your own self-image.
Clothes are supposed to make us feel good about ourselves. Our style is one of the most intricate elements of our personalities, and let’s not forget, trends come and go – but style is forever. I mean, who thought mom jeans and scrunchies would make this epic of a comeback? In lieu of conforming to society’s bullshit standards – let’s talk about how reworking clothes will add more dynamic to your wardrobe than you ever thought possible.
We all know that unsold garments don’t miraculously vanish into thin air and sadly you can only wear your older sister’s hand-me-downs for so long. Lucky for us, upcycling exists. Upcycling is a form of recycling that’s been gaining tremendous momentum in recent years as consumers start to shift their focus towards being more sustainable. It’s a process of reworking or repurposing pieces to last longer and look even better. And the best part? It reduces the number of pieces that end up in landfills, uses less water and significantly less raw materials. We talked to Chanel and Karista, two females who have mastered the power of upcycling with their brand, Raw and Doja.
Raw and Doja is a Hawaii-based styling brand like no other. A team made up of two Guam natives, Raw and Doja was formulated on a fused passion for creating beyond what society told them was on trend. In a process they call “Alternative Apparel”, Chanel and Karista handpick “deadstock” or unsold garments from around the world and rework them into edgy and modern clothing items.
Growing up, our parents didn’t find it a priority to buy us new clothes that were in style or trending. Instead, we dressed in hand me downs from our mom, sister, and grandma. 95% of the time, they were outdated and not in style. We would reach for the scissors and sewing kit, cropping, chopping and tapering existing styles to make it more modern. -Chanel
And that’s not all, in addition to their reworked apparel they girls also curate a selection of styling pieces made to bring new life to your existing wardrobe. By purchasing deadstock, second-hand clothing and limiting the mass production of garments – they’ve shown us that upcycling is not only better for the planet, but for your pocket too!
