INTERVIEW #20 RE.BORN
“RE.BORN is a sustainable swimwear start-up, crafted from recycled bottles and utilising mass-market offcuts and dead stock.”
A Sustainable Closet had a quick chat with the founder of RE.BORN, Georgia Braithwaite. A new swimwear fashion brand based in UK.
What is RE.BORN?
RE.BORN is a sustainable swimwear start-up, crafted from recycled bottles and utilising mass-market offcuts and dead stock. We are about where timeless meets trend, combining staple shape with our bold palette for year-round wear. Ultimately, contributing to our zero-waste approach to a slower, and more considered collection.
How did you come up with the idea of starting your own brand?
For those of you that don’t know, RE.BORN is actually only my side “hustle” as it were. Day-to-day, I actually work full time within the fashion buying sector- and have done for a few years now! I absolutely adore what I do, and this has been a great way to ease me into the crazy world of fashion as we know it… Similarly, it’s provided me with a great foundation for building everything the brand is, and where we are today.
When did you launch?
We “officially” launched back in September 2020 (mid-global pandemic) which certainly wasn’t part of the plan! But prior, launched the July of 2020 with a “soft” launch kicking off with our sample sale.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Where don’t I! Personally, I am and always have been extremely visual when it comes to my creativity. That being said, I’ll typically spend a lot of time trawling then internet (particularly Pinterest) reading trend reports/forecasts, as well as major catwalks/runways right down to magazine clippings and getting to the beach myself (which thinking back to launching peak lockdown, was a challenge in itself!)
“Our entire collection is crafted from recycled polyester (largely made up of recycled bottles) otherwise known as RPET, and outsourced over in the Far East. However, not only are our materials recycled, they’re also repurposed utilising mass-market offcuts and dead-stock.”
Which piece from the current collection is your favourite?
Honestly, I go through phases, even day-to-day sometimes and I know I’m biased- but I adore them all! If we’re talking today, I’d have to go with our WAYVE in SEA GREEN? Purely because I’ve worn it to death on my most recent holiday and just think the shape is so effortlessly flattering, even on someone like myself who really struggles with the support the typical triangle bikini provides!
How long does it take to make the WAYVE piece?
To say the brand was very much still within the early conceptual stages towards February/March 2020, and soft launched in 2020, that’s what perhaps several months? However, with that in mind- production itself may take anywhere between 4-6 weeks (enabling us to be much more reactive than typical lead-times!) which is just another benefit of producing in small quantities!
Where do you source your fabrics/material from?
Our entire collection is crafted from recycled polyester (largely made up of recycled bottles) otherwise known as RPET, and outsourced over in the Far East. However, not only are our materials recycled, they’re also repurposed utilising mass-market offcuts and dead-stock.
Where are your customers based?
Worldwide! More recently, we opened up international delivery across our entire collection meaning we’ve had a number of orders from all over the world, with the list still growing! Doing so, enables each and every one of you to do your bit for our planet, all over the planet which is just great to see!
What has been the biggest gain so far?
Cliche I know, but in all honestly the ongoing support and hype surrounding everything our brand stands for has just been amazing- at times, overwhelming! I’m genuinely not sure there’s anything that compares to seeing our first ever SMS samples in the flesh! A real “pinch-me” moment seeing what was initially just pen to paper, to wearable pieces as I’m sure you can imagine is pretty mega!
What importance has sustainability for RE:BORN?
For those of you that know us, sustainability really is at the heart of the RE.BORN ethos. Although naturally, no brand is able to maintain 100% sustainable/transparency, we do our upmost to ensure we’re as open, honest and operate as sustainably as we possibly can. Similarly, through a customer-led approach constantly seek feedback on how we’re able to better our practice.
What is your relationship to fashion, in terms of consumption?
Although our pieces are technically “new”, the fact we’re repurposing and utilising materials contributes to our conscious, and more considered approach. Doing so, encourages our consumers to shop less seasonally, for longevity rather than “quick-fixes”.
What is your advice to people out there who seek to create a sustainable closet?
I think for me personally, given the challenges 2020 in particular threw at us (in each and every one) with no single person not feeling the impact, it was clear to me I wanted to get onboard- and what better way to set-up my very own brand, promoting this change for good.
“For those of you that know us, sustainability really is at the heart of the RE.BORN ethos. Although naturally, no brand is able to maintain 100% sustainable/transparency, we do our upmost to ensure we’re as open, honest and operate as sustainably as we possibly can.”