'Retaso' is the future of fashion according to this clothing brand
Reinventing scraps or leftover fabric, 'retaso' as referred to by Filipinos, into unique and multifunctional clothing pieces is the design philosophy of clothing brand, Nin and Yang.
Founded by sisters Nina and Thea Morales, they believe that fashion is one of the strongest forms of self expression, dressing well should not come at the expense of the environment. All of their pieces hold a history of being unwanted scraps thoughtfully transformed into unique and expressive clothes that their customers can wear for a long time.
“What others considered 'trash' became our treasure. In that sense, we've always seen scraps as rich resources just waiting to be explored,” Nina and Thea shared.
The sisters have always shared a passion for arts and crafts, but translating their creative hobby into a business in the middle of a pandemic was a challenging and risky endeavor they gambled on.
“We're just so grateful it paid off in the end. In fact, these hurdles became stepping stones. Because we did everything online, we were able to reach new audiences and connect with people far away from us,” they said.
Since the very first thread in the clothing brand's story, they have shared their vision and success with a group of sewers, managed by their aunt Rege Gustilo. The group is committed to the meticulous and time-consuming process of upcycling scrap fabric.
The team produces multifunctional and flexible clothes, some with adjustable ties and some with detachable parts, to make it wearable regardless of the changing weather and the customer's varying body types.
“We want to revolutionize sustainable fashion through our smart material choices and multifunctional designs. We want to encourage conscious consumerism by offering reasonably priced garments that are versatile, timeless, and adjustable. Eco-friendly fashion doesn't have to break the bank. It doesn't have to look plain and basic either,” they said.
If you're interested in more environment-friendly products, check out our list of sustainable Christmas gift ideas in the gallery below.
