Fashion collaborations have taken a revolutionary turn, uniting creative forces to push boundaries, redefine norms, and spark sustainable change. While some bring forth innovative designs and embrace diversity, some bring a fresh take to conscious style, finding solutions to fashion’s overproduction and waste problem. One such collaboration is the latest footwear collection by Oceedee, a homegrown footwear brand and Paiwand, a recycling studio.
This unique partnership has given birth to an extraordinary collection called "Nakshi," which showcases the art of upcycling. By ingeniously utilising Oceedee's leather offcuts and employing innovative techniques like re-leather, the collection, named Nakshi, aims to reduce waste and contribute to a more eco-conscious fashion industry.
Driven by a shared dedication to eco-friendly practices, Oceedee Shoes and Paiwand Studio have taken a significant step towards minimising their environmental impact. Recognizing the need to curb waste and prevent it from ending up in landfills, the collaborators embarked on a design journey that draws inspiration from global landforms, topography, and the unfortunate reality of landfills transformed by human actions.
The collaboration, for Oceedee, builds upon the brand's previous initiative, the "Offcut Project," which was launched in 2020. Through this ongoing endeavour, the shoe brand has become increasingly mindful of the waste generated and has worked tirelessly to optimize waste reduction, reuse, and repurposing strategies for its leather offcuts.
The creative direction of the Nakshi collection took shape through the exploration of maps, geographic illustrations, and the captivating artwork of Shalina Vichitra, entitled "Where on Earth." Vichitra's creations delicately explore the balance between the natural world and human interaction, providing a profound source of inspiration.
Image Source: Oceedee.com
The skilled designers and craftsmen at Oceedee Shoes, drawing from cartography and abstract contour lines, have transformed this inspiration into a conscious collection of classic styles like block heel pumps and flats. The designs, available in two neutral colourways- nude and black- feature an abstract style patch adding edge to the versatile pieces. The Nakshi collection epitomizes timeless design and offers high-quality essentials that transcend passing trends, making it an ideal addition to any conscious wardrobe. The intricate lines and distinctive features adorning the Nakshi collection are a symbolic representation of a new map being consciously drawn by the "Nakshis"—the women who quietly drive positive change and endeavour to create a better narrative for our Earth
With meticulous attention to detail, Oceedee Shoes has implemented an effective process for collecting leather waste, resulting in the upcycling of nearly 80 kilograms of offcuts into re-leathered fabric in collaboration with Paiwand Studio.
Notably, the collaboration between Oceedee Shoes and Paiwand Studio aligns with Paiwand's core ethos of creating zero-waste products. By breathing new life into even the tiniest remnants of waste, they ensure a double circularity approach, where the waste generated from this collection will be upcycled once again into new materials, perpetuating the sustainable cycle.