IÖ  Clutch

IÖ  Clutch

Our modern world is characterized by diminishing resources, mass-produced merchandise, and disposable products. I believe it is important to offer an environmentally conscious alternative that reinvents the way products are designed and created. IÖ focuses on upcycling used fabric and clothing items to create staple, colourblock purses that will become essential wardrobe accessories. As someone who frequently invests in stylish, quality purses, I know that chic envelope clutches of various colours and textures are currently in style. The product my company will sell will be a welcome addition to this growing trend. The colours and textures used to create the one-of-a-kind purses will depend on the amount and type of recycled fabric I can obtain—from old shirts and sweaters to blankets and tablecloths. The goal of the purses is two-fold: I want to emphasize the rich possibilities of upcycling fabric to create fashionable accessories and bring awareness to endangered trees and plants, providing customers with an opportunity to mitigate this growing concern.

By stenciling patterns of endangered plants and trees onto the purses, I will create awareness and promote conversations around threats facing green life. I want my first collection of stenciled purses to focus on the patterns of the ash tree, which is currently endangered because of fungal disease and invasive beetles. In addition to including ash tree seeds along with my branded tag, I will provide customers with the necessary information to plant, care, and maintain their new green life. The focus of the IÖ clutch will not only be on the reuse of old fabric materials to create quality products, but will extend to fostering sustainable consumption. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, Canada has one of the highest per capita CO2 emissions in the world, and the challenge to reduce our carbon footprint is formidable. This product will provide customers with an easy way to become active participants in promoting green life and reducing national CO2 emissions. I hope that the design and production of these purses will inspire a global movement about the importance of preserving the environment.