...Clothe Oneself with a Clear Conscience...

The Label...
Leftover grew out of combining the frustration with the mass produced, unethical disposable fast-fashion and the desire to create an original and
unique look that was sustainable, ethical yet stylish. We like to represent the irony of waste materials being transformed into beautiful luxurious items.

The Design...
Inspired from imperfections and developed from existing details and seams, all our items are completely unique. They are individually designed
and hand-finished to a high standard. We believe eco fashion doesn't have to be boring, so we like to create designs that are fun, different and original. So you can create your own style...

The Designer...
Swedish born Sibel Lagerdahl had a passion for craft from a very young age. She used to get into trouble for cutting up her clothes. But later on
when her mum introduced her to the sewing machine, she started to put the pieces together.
In her university years she started to get commissions from around the campus. As she was studying philosophy, she enjoyed having this creative
sideline.
In 2001 she ditched the thick and dusty library books and moved to Brighton to get hands-on! Since then Leftover has developed into what it is
today; a conscious and creative label offering style to those who care.

The Materials...
99% of all the materials we use are recycled. The 1% that is new is sewing thread, boning etc . Most textiles are salvaged from
Magpie Recycling Cooperative in Brighton where we sift, sort and hand-pick fabrics we think still got plenty of life in. The secret in reusing
secondhand textiles is that, they have already been washed several times,so when something new made out of them, they won't twist, misshape,
shade or stretch. What you see is what you get!
So we believe there is no need to use new fabrics when there is already so many good quality textiles in existence.

The Wearer...
Is where it starts and ends...
* Instead of buying garments we only going to wear one season, invest in some quality, timeless ones.
* Update your look with accessories to create a statement instead.
* Don't get rid of it just because its missing a button or got a hole in it. Fix it, mend it, or even better, be creative and customise it!
* Bored of your old clothes? Organise a clothes swap. See Swap-O-Rama-Rama for inspiration.
* Most polluting stage of your garments life is the washing and drying. Try to get more wear out of them between every wash.
*Wash your wollies and delicates by hand, they will last longer, and its energy saving.
* A 30° or 40° wash is all you need. Try using ecological washing products and dry naturally and iron only if you have to.

The Reasons...
(this one can go on and on... you know it makes sense...)
* Our materials are already in existence, so we don't put pressure on virgin resources.
* Made from local recourses. The only bit of travel the item will do is from us to you!
* We use 100% renewable energy, and are carbon neutral.
* No sweatshop, no middleman, just fair wages directly to the maker.
* Textiles that get recycled reduce the need for landfill space. Which means less methane gasses, so less contribution to global warming.
* You will look unique and stylish with a clear conscience.

The Facts...
* Creating a garment from recycled materials uses less than 3% of the energy that it does to make it from raw materials.
* Each year approximately 2m tons of textiles are purchased in the UK alone. Over 1m tons end up in a landfill or incinerator, and only a quarter of it gets recycled.
* If everyone in the UK bought one reclaimed woolen garment each year instead of a new one, it would save an average of 371 million gallons of
water (the average UK reservoir holds about 300 million gallons) and 480 tons of chemical dyestuffs. (Evergreen)




“Create your own style... let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.”

Orson Welles