Fit For Purpose: Zero-Waste Design With Deploy
What if one of the world’s most polluting industries could become a blueprint for a just and sustainable future?
This common belief was the spark behind a special collaboration between Custom Collaborative and London-based brand DEPLOY, a strategic action plan to reform fashion that’s been pioneering zero-waste design since 2006.
Sustainability runs at the core of Custom Collaborative’s Training Institute, from the curriculum all the way to the fabric sourced for each project — all textiles otherwise destined for the landfill.
With a strong focus on education, this partnership presented an exciting opportunity for our graduates to deepen their understanding of sustainable design from industry experts who revolutionized the process.
To start, DEPLOY selected several damaged dresses from their archives and shipped them across the pond to our Garment District studio. The vision was to have Custom Collaborative graduates reimagine each vintage garment while sticking to DEPLOY’s 360° Sustainable Compass and zero-waste design.
The upcycled styles would walk the runway alongside the launch of DEPLOY’s F/W ‘25 collection, Fit for Purpose, and be auctioned off in support of Custom Collaborative and the women we serve.
And here we are at the end!
In so many ways, this project served as an unexpected testament to the power and strength of community and collective action.
Working with ultra-fine, repurposed silk satin — a first-time experience for many graduates — presented a distinctive technical challenge. It required patience, precision, and new skills, while also immersing them in DEPLOY’s uncompromising standard of quality.
Participating graduates leaned into their unique strengths, some sketching and designing, others tackling construction, each coming together to complete the one-of-a-kind capsule collection.
Before
An open exchange of resources and knowledge, this collaboration defies fashion’s tendency to gatekeep, charting a path toward an industry where women are centered, resources are respected, and circularity drives meaningful change
Get an up-close look at the DEPLOY garments before and after upcycling, and learn more about the designers and makers behind the project.
Designer: Irma, Cohort 5
The navy blue Fit For Purpose look has been reimagined by designer and mother of three, Irma, and constructed by a collective team of her fellow Training Institute graduates, namely Stephanie from Cohort 10.
What makes this capsule unique is its ability to blend sustainability with timeless style. Irma appreciated the modesty of the original garment, but sought a shorter style that a petite woman, like herself, could wear with confidence.
Unlike working with raw textiles, the process of deconstructing and reshaping finished garments into new silhouettes was a fresh technical challenge for our graduates — one that demanded restraint and creativity to enable transformation within strict material limits.
After
After
Alt styling with infinity shawl
Waste was reduced by utilizing scrap fabric to create a versatile scarf/shawl, offering the wearer added styling possibilities.
What makes this capsule unique is its ability to blend sustainability with timeless style. It’s designed for a leading lady — the keynote speaker — whose presence embodies elegance, individuality, and purpose.
Designer: Juanairis, Cohort 13
Both the purple shift dress and the white halter Fit For Purpose looks have been reimagined by Brooklyn-based designer Juanairis, with construction support from Stephanie and Sarata, who just graduated from Cohort 14 over the summer.
Before
Before
Juanairis shared that each piece draws on influences from boho fashion, 1940s tailoring, and feminine confidence, designed for Spring/Summer outings across the city, altering timeless elegance into modern individuality. She intends to make the wearer feel confident, playful, and empowered.
From New York Fashion Week to Climate Week, there’s no better way to round out an eventful September than to share the start of this ongoing collaboration between DEPLOY and Custom Collaborative with our community
Fit for Purpose invites you to witness the power of community-driven fashion — and to imagine an industry where every stitch shapes a more resilient future for all.
What will you dream up?
Capsule on display at the DEPLOY Fit For Purpose pop-up