ELIMINATING WASTE ONE AT A TIME
UTILISING FABRICS BY UPCYCLE
Mille [mi-lee]. A Singapore-based social enterprise that upcycles old clothing to limited edition apparel.
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How did Mille come about?
Just in late 2019, the issue of waste in Singapore became the talk of the country. Over the years, various campaigns initiated events to tackle the rising issue. However, waste is still a recurring problem. Especially the lack of emphasis on textile waste raises an urgency that needs to be addressed. On average, textiles from the rise of Fast-Fashion brands focus on inexpensive price tags and are made to dispose of within months. Statistics and research in Singapore concluded that the highest figure of commonly found categories of textile waste is of that of Fast-Fashion brands. Mille's role as a brand is not a solution, but an intervention against fast-fashion clothing.
When did Mille start?
Mille started in 2020 to gather solutions for the massive amount of textile waste that began piling up to be incinerated. A few of the most common post-consumer textile wastes are loose t-shirts, torn jeans, non-functional jackets, and even dirty shoes. With enough care, each of these items can still utilised for a prolong use and upcycled towards creating newly branded Mille products.
What makes Mille different?
Here at Mille, we aim to serve luxury clothing at the pleasure of your fingertips. With donated bags of clothing, each item will be cared for and upcycled to be utilised to our range of Mille branded apparel. Over at Mille, we accept a whole quantity of various textiles from loose fabrics, torn scarves, to even broken shoes. We believe in making use of each and every item we can get our hands on to let loose of our creativity when producing Mille products.
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Who would most benefit from this?
We hear you and we believe in you – Millennials! We know that fashion trends are ever-changing and at Mille, we can make you feel good with retail therapy. Browse through our selection of sustainable clothing created by our very own Mille designers, who are in fact, millennials too! We are genuine about building a brand that involves you and the environment.
WHAT IS UPCYCLE AND
WHAT DOES IT DO?
TO REUSE POST-CONSUMER WASTES INTO
A HIGHER VALUED PRODUCT AS THAT TO THE ORIGINAL.
The process of upcycling begins from the collation of different products or materials from consumer wastes. After which, it goes through the process of cleaning and sanitation to remove any dirt and tough stains. Once cleaned, the clothes will be categorised according to their materials. From there, designers can utilise all materials towards creating a practical and functional product.
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Is upcycling the same as recycling?
Upcycling adds value to the material while recycling downgrades its value. Unlike recycling, it is not necessary to tear apart the materials to create a better product. Regardless, any form of reuse or repurposing is good for the environment and reduces its impact.
How does upcycling save the environment?
The problem: The fashion industry continues to mass-produce affordable apparel that is readily available to both retailers and online stores. According to YouGov, a study done on fast fashion consumption reveals that the Millennials are heavily consuming fast fashion products. The concept of fast fashion unconsciously encourages consumers to dispose of untrendy articles of clothes at a fast rate.
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The intervention: Upcycling old clothes reduce the amount of waste. The benefits of upcycling conserve water resources, save energy and especially save landfill space.
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What makes upcycling sustainable?
Sustainable means the ability to produce clothes without having to damage the environment. Upcycling textile wastes take clothes that are unusable to be repurposed at a higher value. For Mille, being sustainable means upcycling clothes to be long-lasting for everyone.
HOW DO WE UPCYCLE?
YOUR EXCESS DONATIONS ARE OUR SOURCES.
WE PRIORITISE IN COMFORT AND SUSTAINABILITY.
1. DONATION
Donated piles are our resources. We take in all kinds of leftover fabrics and we are sure to make use of all components made available to us.
2. CLEAN & CATEGORISING
3. UPCYCLE & DESIGN
4. TRANSFORM
Each Mille clothing is branded with unique codes and made in limited editions. No one else will wear the piece just like yours! We are sure you would wear them for long. That is why we have F4MILLE, a lifetime warranty for everyone.
5. MILLE BRAND
Comfort means clean clothes! We care for all materials and take pride in giving the best care, especially to prolong the use of clothing!
Best believe that upcycled clothes are made with careful thought matched with creativity. Every piece is unique in its own way!
We make sure to create functional apparel and made to last! Therefore, no leftover fabrics are left to waste.
