Errr...in something that showcases the versatility of Ford's seat fabrics, the Ford Motor Company made its debut on the HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week runway today as part of The EcoChic Design Award 2015/16 grand finale show. Five outfits featured in the show were made entirely from the up-cycling of Ford’s sustainable seat fabrics, which are made from recycled plastic bottles.
So what we have here are basically plastic bottles, recycled and then turned to fabric that Ford would then use as seating material but instead the fabric is then used as material for clothing. We see synthetic material usage at its best here actually. It also tells you that plastics, which are petroleum based products are so darn versatile that you can make it hard like a bottle and soft and pliable like thread.
This is an experiment in sustainability and how to find new and innovative ways to reduce waste through better design. But I don't think you should start stripping your Ford of their seat covers and make a dress out of it though.
PRESS RELEASE
Ford on the Runway
Ford’s sustainable seat fabrics make a stylish debut at Hong Kong Fashion Week
HONG KONG, Jan. 21, 2016 – Ford Motor Company made its debut on the HKTDC Hong Kong
Fashion Week runway today as part of The EcoChic Design Award 2015/16 grand finale show.
Five outfits featured in the show were made entirely from the up-cycling of Ford’s sustainable
seat fabrics, which are made from recycled plastic bottles.
The garments were designed at The Redress Forum 2016: Ford Design Challenge, in which 10
emerging designers were tasked with creating high-fashion outfits using Ford’s sustainable seat
fabrics. When designing the collection, the designers – from Hong Kong, mainland China,
Thailand, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom – took inspiration from the landmarks of the
city of Hong Kong.
Turning plastic into something fantastic
But how did Ford cross paths with the fashion industry? It’s all about sustainability.
This is the second year in a row that Ford has teamed up with Redress to raise awareness
about innovative ways to reduce waste through better design.
“We armed these talented designers with off-cuts of our sustainable seat fabrics – which are
made from recycled plastic water bottles,” said Marie Smyth, senior designer, Color and
Materials Design, Ford Asia Pacific. “We wanted to give them the opportunity to work with this
alternative material and show them that eco-friendly fabrics can come from surprising sources.
“As designers, we constantly need to look to the horizon – both in regards to style forecasts and
the environmental challenges ahead. When we sit down to design a product, we always look for
new ways to reduce its environmental impact. So when it comes to sustainability, designers
have a huge responsibility – one that we are passionate about.”
“We were expecting the materials at the challenge to be a lot heavier and more difficult to
manage, but were surprised at how easy they were to work with,” said Pan Wen. “Working with
Ford’s fabric today has definitely inspired me to look for more sustainable fabrics in my future
designs.”
The wheels keep rolling
Ford’s sponsorship of The EcoChic Design Award 2015/16 reflects the company’s long-standing
and growing commitment to sustainable design research. Beyond seat fabrics, Ford produces
storage bins using wheat-straw, dashboards padded with scrap cotton from recycled jeans and
seat foam from a bioplastic made from soybeans.
Today, the company continues to experiment with new biomaterials, including the use of tomato
fibers from discarded tomato skins, seeds and stems and retired U.S. currency, to offset
petroleum use in producing bins and other plastic parts for vehicle interiors. Research teams are
also experimenting with biomimicry to develop a new sustainable adhesive for use under the
hood. These efforts are all part of Ford’s global sustainability strategy to lessen its
environmental footprint.
Wang Di (China) and Cora Bellotto (Spain) put forward this spiritually inspired outfit. A pair of tailored red pants is topped off with a floor-grazing jacket. The collar and lapels of the jacket are lined with plaited pieces of Ford’s fabrics.
I can recognise this as the rear seat fabric ..... Tsang Fan Yu (Hong Kong) and Annie MacKinnon (United Kingdom) created this voluminous tunic and floor-length skirt. Taking inspiration from the Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong, the dramatic outfit creates a strong and powerful silhouette.
PRESS RELEASE
Ford on the Runway
Ford’s sustainable seat fabrics make a stylish debut at Hong Kong Fashion Week
HONG KONG, Jan. 21, 2016 – Ford Motor Company made its debut on the HKTDC Hong Kong
Fashion Week runway today as part of The EcoChic Design Award 2015/16 grand finale show.
Five outfits featured in the show were made entirely from the up-cycling of Ford’s sustainable
seat fabrics, which are made from recycled plastic bottles.
The garments were designed at The Redress Forum 2016: Ford Design Challenge, in which 10
emerging designers were tasked with creating high-fashion outfits using Ford’s sustainable seat
fabrics. When designing the collection, the designers – from Hong Kong, mainland China,
Thailand, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom – took inspiration from the landmarks of the
city of Hong Kong.
Turning plastic into something fantastic
But how did Ford cross paths with the fashion industry? It’s all about sustainability.
This is the second year in a row that Ford has teamed up with Redress to raise awareness
about innovative ways to reduce waste through better design.
“We armed these talented designers with off-cuts of our sustainable seat fabrics – which are
made from recycled plastic water bottles,” said Marie Smyth, senior designer, Color and
Materials Design, Ford Asia Pacific. “We wanted to give them the opportunity to work with this
alternative material and show them that eco-friendly fabrics can come from surprising sources.
“As designers, we constantly need to look to the horizon – both in regards to style forecasts and
the environmental challenges ahead. When we sit down to design a product, we always look for
new ways to reduce its environmental impact. So when it comes to sustainability, designers
have a huge responsibility – one that we are passionate about.”
“We were expecting the materials at the challenge to be a lot heavier and more difficult to
manage, but were surprised at how easy they were to work with,” said Pan Wen. “Working with
Ford’s fabric today has definitely inspired me to look for more sustainable fabrics in my future
designs.”
The wheels keep rolling
Ford’s sponsorship of The EcoChic Design Award 2015/16 reflects the company’s long-standing
and growing commitment to sustainable design research. Beyond seat fabrics, Ford produces
storage bins using wheat-straw, dashboards padded with scrap cotton from recycled jeans and
seat foam from a bioplastic made from soybeans.
Today, the company continues to experiment with new biomaterials, including the use of tomato
fibers from discarded tomato skins, seeds and stems and retired U.S. currency, to offset
petroleum use in producing bins and other plastic parts for vehicle interiors. Research teams are
also experimenting with biomimicry to develop a new sustainable adhesive for use under the
hood. These efforts are all part of Ford’s global sustainability strategy to lessen its
environmental footprint.
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