Urban Outfitters launches ReWork

Vintage fashion has enjoyed a huge surge in popularity over the past few years. Suddenly, second-hand shops are all the range, and everyone is raiding their mum’s wardrobe for oversized eighties sweaters and battered denim jackets. Combined with the growing trend for sustainable clothing, this hunger for all things vintage has led many brands to recycle, repurpose and reclaim old styles, designs and fabrics for the modern consumer.

The latest company to jump on the bandwagon is high street superpower Urban Outfitters, who have added another in-house label to their comprehensive portfolio. Entitled ReWork and created entirely in London, limited runs of vintage fabrics will be transformed into unique, affordable designs released as three annual collections.

To add to the exclusive feel of each one-of-a-kind piece, every design will be marked with an individual number to indicate how many have been created.

The idea of starting with the fabric and then coming up with the individual designs has an effect on the creative process itself, as explained by Urban Outfitters head of design and Topshop veteran, Lizzie Dawson.

“This collection is designed entirely with the view that beautiful fabrics lead beautiful designs—and with the range made up entirely of sourced remnant fabrics, the design process is unlike any other,” Dawson told British Vogue.

“It’s experimental and designed from what feels right opposed to chasing trends. Fashion is fast and the landscape is constantly changing and evolving. By offering something like ReWork, I’m hoping that we can offer the new and unseen to our customers.”

ReWork is available to buy online and in Urban Outfitters’ Oxford Street flagship.

Grace Cain