ECO MINDED: Phoebe English, the London designer who’s known for her darkly romantic creations, has teamed with the Kentucky-based bourbon maker Maker’s Mark on an upcycled capsule for the holiday party season.
The eight-piece collection includes a dress, shirt, T-shirt, trousers, blazer, jacket, scarf and handbag. They are produced on a limited made-to-order basis and are made with a combination of upcycled clothing such as T-shirts, deadstock plaid, occasion party wear, and deadstock wools.
The pieces are inspired by the Maker’s Mark distillery Star Hill Farm, where nature is preserved and respected via regenerative agriculture and sustainable programs such as zero landfill waste, solar energy warehouses, and the world’s first LEED-certified whiskey cellar.
Phoebe English x Maker’s Mark capsule
“The range is purposefully multifunctional so that it can be styled up or down to fit into existing wardrobes and across personal styles,” said English.
“I’m delighted to be working with Maker’s Mark and have enjoyed learning about their extensive and long-standing work with considered agriculture, enhancing water health and biodiversity renewal. My hope is that this project can reach people to show that garments can live beyond a single wear, purpose, or season,” she added.
A dedicated pop-up called the (Re)Made to Party Boutique and Bar will run from Thursday to Saturday at 149 Shoreditch High Street. Customers who wish to purchase an item will be measured in person, before having their custom-made piece delivered to them in time to wear for the holiday season.
The pop-up will also have on-site tailors offering mends and repairs for free. Love Not Landfill, a nonprofit organization that encourages fast fashion fans to buy second-hand, swap, recycle and give clothes to charity, meanwhile, will set up a clothing donation bank there to promote conscious consumption.
A rendering of the (Re)Made to Party Boutique and Bar pop-up.
Neil Skinner, marketing director of Edrington UK, the parent company of Maker’s Mark, said the brand decided to work on a fashion collaboration because it felt “a sense of responsibility to the way we impact our shared environment.” Maker’s Mark is the largest bourbon distillery in the world to achieve B Corp certification and the first distillery to achieve Regenified certification.
“We’re thrilled to strengthen our pledge to the planet and people beyond Star Hill Farm via our collaboration with Phoebe English, a designer equally committed to her sustainability mission,” added Skinner.