Erica Gadsby, Founder and Business Director of ReCreate Clothing
As FashioNZ supports Fashion Revolution Week, we turn the spotlight onto New Zealand brands leading the way when it comes to ethical and sustainable clothing.
Not all clothing brands are created equal, and ReCreate Clothing stands out from the crowd for a variety of reasons. First of all, ReCreate was never intended to be a clothing brand. It began as an idea to provide fair employment for women in the marginalised community of Dey Tmey, Cambodia.
Founder, Erica Gadsby, saw this need after volunteering in the community over a number of years. After returning home to New Zealand, conversation and collaboration with friends brought about plans to start a sewing workshop and so ReCreate began.
Ethically and sustainably crafted, every ReCreate garment transforms lives through fair employment, training, and empowerment for its maker. ReCreate is also a New Zealand-registered charity with 100% of its profits donated back to the communities in Cambodia where the clothing is made.
The ReCreate sewing team is involved in deciding where funds should be spent each year.
The ReCreate sewing team in the Cambodia workshop
ReCreate provides opportunities for training and personal development within its Dey Tmey workshop and through its production partners in Cambodia, empowering people to provide for themselves, their families, and their futures.
Every ReCreate purchase has a wider impact than simply being a well-earned addition to your wardrobe. It also helps create change within the fashion industry and is helping transform the lives of the people who make each item of ReCreate clothing.
FashioNZ chats with founder Erica Gadsby, who shares a look at the newest ReCreate collection, which is available online and in stockists stores now.
Why is ethical mindful fashion so important to you personally?
From my time spent in developing countries and meeting garment workers first-hand, I feel it is critical that we are aware of the damage that is caused when we enable fast fashion brands to continue without consequence. With such a simple decision as where to buy your next item of clothing, you can drive so much positive change not only in our industry but also by drastically improving the lives of garment makers through things such as fair pay, good working hours, and safe working conditions. To improve the life of even one person is so worthwhile. This is something that I am fortunate enough to have seen with my own eyes.
What are the challenges of working in this space?
A current challenge for us is competing with so many fashion labels who are jumping on-board the sustainability wagon. For us, there is such a huge difference between just paying the minimum wage versus the living wage, or causing no harm to the environment versus restoring it. We want to see people holding brands to a higher account.
What aspects of your business model are you most proud of and why?
We are proving that a business can be transformational as well as financially sustainable. You don’t need to pick one or the other. We want to use ReCreate as a force for good.
Neve Top and Cabin Pant in Rust; Ted Top and Cabin Pant in Taupe
What inspired your newest collection?
As with every collection, we are influenced by designs that transcend time and will last a lifetime but that also doesn’t go out of fashion. We prefer to work with minimal colours and without the use of strong patterns or prints that will date. We also design with the end in mind, ensuring that all garments are fully recyclable through our circularity model.
Our Autumn Winter 2023 collection is centred around warm, natural, autumnal colours that are easy to pair with other pieces in your wardrobe. You’ll see oversized sweatshirts, relaxed-fitting pants, and classic dresses with a unique point of difference.
What is inspiring you right now?
I love seeing big brands make a genuine change for the better – and not the greenwashed kind. Our industry is slowly moving towards one that we are proud to be part of.
Why is Fashion Revolution Week so important?
Fashion Revolution Week is important not only in remembrance of the garment workers who lost their lives in an avoidable situation but it also empowers consumers to speak out about the ongoing injustices in the industry. The exploitation of people and the planet in the name of fashion should well be a thing of the past, but there is still a great need to continue pushing big brands to do better.
What are some highlights of ReCreate for you personally?
I love seeing the individual journey of transformation in our garment makers’ lives. Our workshop in Cambodia has been going for almost 10 years now, and in that time, we have seen so many women grow in confidence, learn new skills that they never thought they could have, raise healthy babies, purchase homes for their families, and genuinely understand that they have value.
Found Jacket in Walnut; Neve Dress in Charcoal
Carter Dress in Rust
Camille Dress in Grey Gingham; Found Jacket and Cedar Pant in Walnut
Images supplied