At Kent Business School sustainable innovation is at the heart of everything we do – so what better way to celebrate World Tailor’s Day (June 4) and World Environment Day (June 5) than to profile some of our talented students who have started businesses in forward-thinking fashion that gives back to the planet?
Revival & Resurrection Collective
Politics and International Relations student Tobi Kolawole-Olutade took part in the 2019-20 Business Start-Up Journey to launch a sustainable fashion brand, Revival & Resurrection Collective making accessories from recycled snack wrappers.
She says: “The future of fashion is regenerative, and I design upcycled pieces from waste in a bid to maintain ecological sustainability and integrity. Regenerative, in fashion, refers to the contribution and changes in the fashion industry, with the desire to recycle and use more sustainable fibres and materials in production.
With this in mind, my debut collection, the Evocation Collection, calls for residents of Lagos and Nigeria, as a whole, to take positive action in reducing their consumption and thus, waste.
Though we all (including myself) still have a lot to learn about sustainability as a whole, I consider the sustainable process a continuous innovative learning experience.
Visit R&R Collective at Revival and Resurrection (revivalresurrection.co)
Follow on Instagram @rrcollective
Jehu-Cal
Emmanuel Enemokwu (aka Emay) started his business whilst studying a BA in Accounting & Management at KBS. His clothing business a sustainable brand for effortless, comfy, high-quality and unisex streetwear, Jehu-cal, has gone on to achieve great success, featuring in consumer fashion magazines, on BBC news and hosting a pop-up store at London Fashion week 2019.
He says: “At high school I was bullied for not wearing fashionable clothes. Although a negative experience at the time, this has been my inspiration. I used my hunger to learn and progress to get the things that I wanted – even if that meant making them myself.
I started the brand whilst studying my degree. I love numbers and love business so decided to study accounting at University. It was The Business Start Up Journey in 2019 that helped me to take Jehu-cal from a hobby to a business that has grown to the point where I now have my own accountant for it and employees.
I want the clothes and products I make to last forever, so my slogan is ‘Til Forever’. I source sustainable materials that are high quality and last. You see how you can get insane Louis Vuitton pieces from decades ago and they still look in better condition than a lot of IG brands products after two washes.
Visit Jehu-Cal at: https://www.jehu-cal.com
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jehu_cal/
MGX
Giovanni Morgan is studying a BSc in Marketing at KBS and launched his customisable brand, MGX as part of his Selfie year in 2020.
“MGX is a denim customisation service, dedicated to realising the ideas and designs of customers. We are not just a brand; we provide customers with a choice of over 50 design options. MGX not only fashion innovative and contemporary designs of our own but also encourage personal requests from creative customers.
The idea for my business was sparked by the Creative Age. With the rise of dominating tech start-ups and media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Facebook we have all been given the tools and a canvas to learn trades, create unique content and express ourselves to the masses. In 2018, I studied how prevalent and successful small customisation brands were in the form of trainers as well as the success of global brands such as Nike and Off-White. In order to tackle the saturation of customisation brands specialising in trainers, I decided to take a step into mainstream fashion in the form of a Denim oriented customisation service, MGX JEANS.
Visit MGX jeans at NXT LVL UTILITY CARGO – MGX JEANS
Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mgxjeans/