Melbourne social enterprise slash streetwear label Homie is releasing a capsule collection of upcycled one-offs, which it created for this year’s now-cancelled Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival (VAMFF).

The Reborn collection has 100 unisex pieces made from second-hand clothing and excess materials sourced from op shops, vintage stores and factory floors. As with all Homie’s collections, 100 per cent of profits will be donated to help young people affected by homelessness or hardship.

It’s also not strictly streetwear. The collection includes cropped and oversized blazers, fleece jumpers and T-shirts¬, plus mismatched patterns spliced together, recycled symbols and overlapping text and graphics.

Stay in the know with our free newsletter. The latest restaurants, must-see exhibitions, style trends, travel spots and more – curated by those who know.

SIGN UP

“For this VAMFF collection, it’s a bit more ‘fashion’,” says Homie co-founder and creative director Marcus Crook. “There are more suit jackets and matching pieces there.”

The collection will be released in parts over the coming weeks. Today is the first drop, with 30 unique pieces available online, plus an additional 20 in-store. Individual pieces cost between $80 and $150.

The suit jackets in particular are a departure from the label’s standard, stripped-back, block-coloured hoodies and tees – though there’ll be jazzed up versions of those too.

To reduce waste, Homie often gives away leftover stock on its annual VIP shopping days to young people it’s connected to through local homelessness organisations. Crook says the concept for the Reborn collection sprang from a few pieces leftover following last year’s VIP day.

“I just started to upcycle a few of them and cut and sew some pieces together,” he says.

“It’s important that we create ways [to] repurpose, redesign and rethink our clothing. Most of it ends up in landfill, so any way that we can repurpose what we have will be better for the environment.”

Initially, Crook worked alone on the collection, although his mum spent a week teaching him to sew to put it together. Fashion graduate and upcycler Chloe Turner later came on board to ensure Reborn was made – in Crook’s words – “properly”.

For those who aren’t keen on wearing pre-loved clothes, Homie’s standard range uses ethical supply chains and sustainable materials. The label is also set to launch a 20-piece capsule collection in collaboration with global streetwear giant Champion.
The Reborn x Champion line will feature old samples and seconds from previous Champion collections (more on that soon).

Shop the Reborn collection online or in-store at 2/296 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy from Friday March 13.