Pattern Nation specializes in designing one of a kind and upcycled colourful ungendered clothing. We feature the work of 3 designers, myself and brianna Klassen who are Canadian and my partner Costa Besta who is South African. We source all our materials in Canada and South Africa working with preloved fabrics and garments and original fabrics which we upcycle our off cuts into more clothing, art work and jewelry. We have a studio in Coquitlam where we sew up the majority of our designs and uphold slow fashion values. We have showcased in a Fashion Revolution South Africa show in Durban and at the sechelt arts festival upcycle fashion showcase as well as many other fashion shows in Vancouver, LA, and South Africa. We also teach upcycling workshops to youth to share our passion for sustainability in fashion. I'd accepted into your show Costa and Cyd will attend and showcase a collection of one of a kind patchworked garments.

Creating harmony between caring for the earth and fashion is the ethos of my company and the inspiration behind my designers. Sustainability is more intuitive rather than a conscious choice, largely due to my upbringing. I grew up on a small island which, at least when I was young, untouched by the influences of fast fashion. My mother was a seamstress, and through her I learned the importance of creating as little waste as possible. Fast forward to the present day, I aim to infuse her lessons in “rule breaking” pieces that resist the monotony of mass produced garments.

Our dream is to make African inspired products that are not only sustainable and eco friendly,but affordable and easy to access.

Tracy Yerrell is an eco-designer who works under the label of Bat-Fish Studio. Started in 2014 to address the ongoing problem of textile waste, everything produced from Bat-Fish Studio is made using reclaimed & repurposed materials that otherwise would have ended up in landfills. Textile waste is currently one of the largest pollutants on the planet. Bat-Fish Studio is committed to using these materials as a starting point. From hand-embroidered tablecloths to discarded men's shirts, forgotten textiles in attics to dead stock from the upholstery industry, fabric is fabric. By forging new concepts in the world of up-cycling &  through creative vision and ingenuity, we can give these materials a new lease on life. As an eco-designer, it's important to showcase the beauty that can be found in reclaimed and repurposed materials. By up-cycling and reworking these components, we can produce unique and sustainable one-of-a-kind fashion pieces.

Smouldy is a slow fashion brand adapting classic silhouettes for a young and funky audience. Styles are made to order, and second hand material is used wherever possible to reduce the environmental impact.

The whole creative process in which I design my clothing is rooted in environmental sustainability, social justice and the commitment to creating quality clothing.
I believe that we all have an individual and collective responsibility to be good stewards of this beautiful planet earth. I want what I create to bring positive change in our world, so the choice I make with fabrics, production, designs and really every aspect of my brand is in line with that.
At Ette I use deadstock fabrics sourced from local companies as well buying Ankara fabrics from family run businesses. The production and sewing is done myself in my home studio.
You can positively affect and change a social circumstance with art, and it's vital that a change happens now." - Mos Def

Andrea's vision is to create a new reality in the fashion landscape, where every individual has the space, permission and capacity to express their most authentic self, while revolutionizing the way consumers buy and working towards a zero waste fashion industry. Operating from an inclusive lens, she works with an incredibly diverse customer base. She encourages her clients to use what they already have first, and offers alterations, up-cycling, re-creations and custom design as options to building out your dream wardrobe. She does not believe in throwing fabric away, making use of scrap, deadstock, and upcycled fabric from old garments. She also uses fabric that is gifted to her and looks to buy fabric from individuals in the local community before going to the store.