Dev Sreerama MA ’21

Re/work is a sustainable and gender-neutral fashion company based in Brooklyn, NY. Re/work sets a new standard of sustainability within the fashion industry while promoting the use of recycled and upcycled fabric in the construction of its clothing. It provides a platform for local designers to showcase their talent and work, which magnifies local culture and trends.

The fashion industry pollutes more than the aviation and shipping industries combined. A cotton T-shirt takes about 1,800 liters of water and a pair of jeans takes about 6,500 liters of water to produce. On top of that, cotton farmers in countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have the highest suicide rates in the world because of all the chemicals that they inhale due to the high volumes of cotton required for the market, and the minimum wage for workers in the garment industry is only around $5 a month. To add insult to injury, there are close to 13,000,000 tons of clothing thrown out each year globally, and none of this clothing can decompose because most of it is made of 95% polyester.

Re/work aims to combat these issues by creating a closed-loop cycle for the way fashion is consumed in today’s world, and work only with eco-friendly and sustainable brands to transform the industry. As a company and platform, Re/work wants to help educate the masses regarding the devastating damage that the fashion industry has on the environment. It aims to be the solution and an alternative to the fast fashion brands that are tearing the planet apart.