Mandai Wildlife Group Launches Upcycled Fashion Collection
The group – which manages the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders and Bird Paradise – is making safari fashion chic, with an eco-friendly twist.
As part of an ongoing campaign, Mandai Wildlife Group has launched Good Threads – a capsule collection of apparel upcycled from pre-loved clothing, with design details to inspire a more sustainable lifestyle. The campaign aims to empower the public to protect nature and wildlife by making conscious choices. Its previous initiatives focused on food.
Now comes fashion. Designed by local upcycling craftsman Hakim Samat, the capsule elevates the concept of performance wear by incorporating functional elements suited for the urban jungle.
Good Threads' designs boast a cool utilitarian aesthetic
There is The Takeaway Shirt ($139), with compartments for keeping reusable utensils and containers at hand, and a pocket that converts into a sling for a bottle. For bottoms, The Tote Shorts ($119) come with a detachable tote bag for unplanned grocery runs, while The Trashy Pants ($159) include a removable pouch for holding litter and dual pocket organiser for separating paper from plastics.
The collection was crafted from 1,158 pieces of pre-loved clothing and materials weighing about 108kg, salvaged from local thrift shops and a textile collection drive. Hardware on the clothes, such as buttons and carabiner hooks, were sourced from Plastify, a home-grown start-up that recycles plastic waste into reusable goods.
Hakim Samat (above), an upcycling craftsman from Singapore, was commissioned to design for Good Threads.
The collection drops in three phases, starting Feb 15. All items will be available for sale on goodthreadsbymandai.sg and proceeds go towards supporting wildlife conservation efforts in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
This article first appeared in The Straits Times