Trust fashion to surprise and innovate. Wearing plastic is nothing new in the industry, but given the push to adopt an eco-friendly approach, more and more brands are turning to fabrics made of plastic bottles and other trash to create products.

Look at Sperry. A childhood footwear staple, the brand has intrigued me anew with its Bionic collection. It has boat shoes and sneakers for men, women and kids made of at least five plastic bottles for each shoe. The silhouettes and designs reflect Sperry’s familiar aesthetics, so you don’t have to think twice about the quality.

Looking for a duffel bag to serve as carry-on luggage, I was happy to find Parkland at the newly opened SM Outdoors. At an affordable price, the bag was an easy buy, plus I was glad to find that the exterior fabric of all Parkland products is made from 100-percent recycled water bottles. They’re easy to clean.

I also appreciate how Parkland manages to use cute prints for its backpacks and other bags, to show how being environmentally aware isn’t boring.

To go inside that duffel bag is a Sora Life towel. Following a plastic-to-fabric philosophy, its multipurpose towels are made from 85-percent recycled materials, each towel containing at least eight recycled plastic bottles. Given how it’s also designed as the perfect towel for any activity—swimming, yoga, or everyday use—you get to cut down on excess consumption.

Vogue-approved

If you’re into exercise and sports, upgrade your gear with Girlfriend Collective. The sportswear brand makes leggings, sports bras, tank tops and pouches from various recycled fabrics.

Its compression leggings are specifically made from 79-percent recycled polyester and 21-percent spandex, and leggings are made from 25 recycled post-consumer bottles.

Its compression bras, meanwhile, are made of 11 plastic bottles. They are Vogue-approved and they ship to the Philippines, in case you need some fantastic plastic for the gym.

I would be amiss without mentioning Maco Custodio. For a while now, the local designer has produced creations that are more environment-conscious, and which help out community-based entrepreneurship.

Custodio’s Lalapatos are a must-have if you’re a sneakerhead. Made with Habi, a community in Baseco, and communities in Rizal and Marikina, Custodio’s shoes are made with foil packs with panels. Unique, stylish and one-of-a-kind—every step feels a little bit lighter.

Take your pick or choose them all—we need more of these treasures from trash. I hope this doesn’t just stay as a trend, but become a norm across the fashion industry. —CONTRIBUTED