For most entrepreneurs, their greatest breakthroughs often come after they have dealt with their biggest challenges.
The case is not different for Cyprian Kiswili, a visual artist and fashion designer.
Cyprian enjoyed drawing and sketching since a young age. After finishing his secondary education, he chose to take up a fashion and design course to continue with his passion.
After graduating, Cyprian wanted to set up an art studio, but the high cost of art materials stood in his way.
“When I was starting out my art journey, the materials were quite expensive, so I had to find means to navigate and try and make it, to still continue with my passion,” he said.
He went the route of transforming fabric waste into art material.
“I found a way in repurposing some pieces that I would find locally that did not cost much but would work really well. An example is fabric textiles. I explored textiles for quite a while, and I found it working well,” he recalls.
To make the best out of the waste fabrics that he uses, Cyprian has a detailed art-making process.
He sketches the artwork first around the subjects he would like to explore, then gets the materials he needs from local tailors.
“We have a relationship with the tailors where they expect me on some days to come and collect the waste. So, I will just collect the waste then I will sort it out, wash it and dry it. And then after that, I’m able to carefully select what pieces to actually use and incorporate them into the art,” he says.
He also uses tech and Artificial Intelligence to assist him in his designs.
As Cyprian uses waste in his art, he also ensures that he has zero waste in his productions.
Cyprian is among artists and individuals in the fashion industry looking to reduce the amount of textile waste.
Every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste is produced globally, while the duration of garment use decreased by 36 per cent between 2000 and 2015, according to the United Nations.
Also looking to reduce the amount of textile waste in the environment is Joy Wanja, a fashion designer who founded Kovu Couture and designed the Olympics opening ceremony attire for Team Kenya in 2024.
Joy Wanja, Kovu Couture Founder
Joy also repurposes fabric waste in some of her fashion pieces.
She also works with a company called Waste to Wear, that seeks to help other fashion brands in handling their waste.
“We hope to just come up with systems to help other fashion brands manage their waste, because like for us when we were collecting waste from other tailors, we found that they just stuck everything together, packaging waste. We would pick it up and find a full outfit. So if we can come up with systems where we set up bins, where they can sort their waste, depending on where the waste is coming from, so it’s easier to manage it, that will be great,” she said.
We all wear clothes and therefore have a lot of fabric around us; so to be able to reduce your fabric waste, prioritize buying less, choose quality over quantity, repair and repurpose clothing, donate or sell unwanted items, and explore textile recycling options.
Here’s a break down on how you can achieve this:
- Reduce Consumption:
Most people buy clothes almost every month. To be able to reduce your fabric waste, resist the urge to buy fast fashion and instead invest in durable, well-made pieces that will last longer.
Before buying fabric, consider your projects and needs, and buy only what you need.
Reflect on your purchases and ensure they align with your needs.
- Extend the Lifespan of Existing Fabrics:
To reduce how many times you throw away fabric/clothing, learn basic sewing skills to mend tears, fix buttons, or alter hems, extending the life of your clothes.
Repurpose:
Transform old clothes into new items, like turning t-shirts into tote bags or using fabric scraps for quilting or other crafts.
- Give Fabrics a Second Life:
Donate gently used clothing to charities or sell them online or at consignment stores.
Transform old fabrics into new products, such as insulation, cleaning rags, or fashion accessories.
- Sustainable Choices:
Opt for sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, recycled polyester, or bamboo.
As the world celebrated Zero Waste Day under the theme ‘Towards Zero Waste in Fashion and Textiles’, see how these two artists are ensuring zero waste in their endeavors.
