Yunn Ong, 24, Malaysia

TRANSFORMED: Yasmin’s Maison Margiela jacket and Vetements denim jeans.

After falling in love with David Hockney’s photography, Yunn Ong has been developing her own signature photographic patchwork technique. Yunn replicates existing silhouettes by recording single design details using her camera before composing the images into a patchworked print – a process she calls ‘re-achieving’.

How did you incorporate the theme of energetic healing into the design?

The duplicated matrix layers up beautifully, bringing the process of retrieval and reclamation into the whole piece; each fragment of the design has its own soul and energy.

Why are upcycling projects so important in the current climate? 

Upcycling projects don’t just reduce more fashion waste but are important for designers to challenge themselves in order to grow. Rather than being afraid of it, designers should be embracing sustainability as part of the culture of fashion.

How did it feel to take part in this upcycling project with Yasmin Sewell and Selfridges?

It is such a rare opportunity for a designer who is still pursuing a degree to be able to collaborate with someone like Yasmin, who has such a huge influence in the industry. Having Selfridges as our launching platform is a blessing.

Catherine Hudson, 29, Buckinghamshire

TRANSFORMED: Yasmin’s velvet Chloé dress, Natasha Zinko blazer, Y-Project denim trousers and Simone Rocha dress.

Rooted in her studies of black heritage, identity and displacement, Catherine Hudson designs use fabric manipulation techniques such as draping and wrapping to create a sense of tension. Key inspirations include 1990s Maison Margiela and the musical journeys of bands such as The Heptones and The Mighty Diamonds, who travelled from Jamaica to the UK in the 1970s.

How did you incorporate the theme of energetic healing into the project?

I explored visualising the flow of energy as it passes through the human being and outwards as auras into the universe. I researched the seven chakras but specifically focused on Anahata – the chakra of the heart that is associated with balance. I layered tulle around my selected pieces and incorporated crystals, which are embedded into the fabric to empower not only the garments but the aura and wellbeing of the wearer. 

Why are upcycling projects important in the current climate? 

There is now a collective understanding of the ecological impact that disposable fashion has on the environment and a better understanding of the poor treatment of garment workers. There are now easier and more socially responsible ways to consume fashion in a transparent and ethical way.

Catherine Hudson and fellow student Wesley Stuart-Hartwell (below) are set to launch Dismantle.The Studio, a collaborative, interdisciplinary studio and umbrella company for their individual brands. Watch this space…

Wesley Stuart-Hartwell, 49, Australia

TRANSFORMED: Yasmin’s Balenciaga coat, Antonio Berardi blazer, Versace shirt, Stella McCartney shirt and an Acne shirt.

The Australian designer’s work centres around deconstruction and re-assembly by using pleating and book-binding techniques. Fascinated by the idea that our wardrobes are full of signs and codes that we use to compose and live out our identities, Wesley has been exploring ‘fashion as autobiography’ through his Queer identity.

What techniques and processes did you use to upcycle Yasmin’s pieces?

I dismantled the tailored garments stitch by stitch and re-composed them using book-binding stitches and repetition. The bolero and the waistcoat can be worn in two different ways, and I didn’t discard anything from the original garments, except a tiny amount of the original thread. I was questioning the role of the author and the wearer and I became interested in Yasmin’s relationship to the garments and where they might go next…

How did you incorporate the theme of energetic healing into the pieces you created?

I took the idea of mantra, which gives you focus and healing, and related it to my processes of unpicking the stitching in a very calm, focused and repetitive way.

Why are upcycling projects such as this important in the current climate? 

Upcycling is the most interesting way of extending the lifespan of our clothes. It is an important time for self-reflection. Giving new life and a fresh start to garments is better for the environment and great for ourselves.

Tim Guangyu, 26, China

TRANSFORMED:  Yasmin’s Balenciaga dress and dress by Natasha Zinko.

Fascinated by how people interact with the objects around them, Tim Guangyu’s playful pieces exist on the boundary between accessories and works of art. He specialises in recreating household objects using textiles – a unique and fun way to give fabric a new life.

Why did you decide to make sculptural flowers and household objects out of Yasmin’s checked dresses? 

Objects from our daily lives have always been my inspiration. I like flowers in the living environment – they represent romance and vitality. Transforming these garments, by giving them a second life, is just like when flowers bloom again.

How did you find making the pieces?

Making a sunflower requires more than 100 patterns, so it required skill and patience to complete it. Some parts of the flowers are delicate, so the production process requires constant exploration.

Georgia Wilson, 24, Surrey

TRANSFORMED: Yasmin’s shirts and coats by Céline, Simone Rocha and Comme de Garçons.

The illustrative designer works with trompe l’oeil techniques, creating illusions to express feelings of escapism. She’s fascinated with how clothing is a way in which we can interact with each other on a visual level.

How did you incorporate the theme of energetic healing into the pieces you created?

I looked at the moon’s waxing and waning cycle. Each phase of the moon comes with different energies and it can be used to recharge and cleanse crystals. The moon is a really important part of how nature can affect energy – gardeners, hunters and fishermen all still use the moon to determine time, and it can change animal and plant behaviours. I like to think that the moon raises awareness of collective needs, as we all experience the moon’s energy every day. In this project, I have used illustrations from tarot cards to channel this. Tarot has some really beautiful and uplifting messages, which are key in the current climate.

How did it feel to take part in this upcycling project with Yasmin Sewell and Selfridges? 

It’s been really exciting! Yasmin is such an advocate for wellness, and she wanted to give her garments new energy – it felt like perfect timing. It’s been a privilege to work with such a respected and knowledgeable industry expert and an established global store. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such great people and hope we can spread a bit of light through Yasmin’s clothes. 

Fanni Hendrics, 25, Austria

TRANSFORMED: Yasmin’s Miu Miu skirt, Alaia dress, Petar Petrov dress and leather jacket by Dancassab.

The Austrian designer’s work is grounded in handcraft through her use of the traditional knotting technique, macramé, which she finds meditative. Fanni’s textural pieces are inspired by cultural events in music, literature and cinema.

How did you incorporate the theme of energetic healing into the project?

I was exploring different aspects of sound healing and came across these beautiful tapestries from Peru. I discovered that Peruvian shamans who perform Amazonian healing songs can read these detailed pieces of cloth like a musician reads sheets of music. These tapestries were the inspiration for the macramé patterns in all my designs. 

Why are upcycling projects important in the current climate? 

This project – especially with a big name like Selfridges getting behind it – will hopefully help ‘normalise’ the idea of reusing and reimagining clothing instead of believing garments are discardable when not ‘in fashion’ anymore.

San Kim, 30, Korea

TRANSFORMED: Yasmin’s Prada dress, Vetements jeans, Pringle of Scotland sleeveless top and vintage ruffled halter-neck dress.

Making inflatable living sculptures by trapping air in between different materials has become San Kim’s design signature. For this project, San has swapped plastic bags for Prada.

How have you incorporated the theme of energetic healing into the project?

By putting air into the pieces and letting them breathe, I started to make inflatable works in the first year of my MA in Menswear at Westminster. At the time, I was fascinated by Paul McCarthy’s inflatable sculptures and back then I had no money, so I bought sheets of recycled plastic bags for £2 each and taped them together.

Why are upcycling projects important in the current climate? 

The fashion industry is having a difficult time, but this period of reflection has allowed us to think more about sustainability. I hope it has made many realise that we are living with more things than we need.