About the project
Kalopsia Collective, a registered social enterprise, are a batch textiles product manufacturer supplying clients with ethical and sustainable accessories and apparel from their standardised product collection Assemble. Starting out in 2012 as a textile and design collective running exhibitions, they are now an award-winning manufacturer who recently participated on the RSA / Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Rethink Fashion: a learning journey.
The innovative ‘Assemble’ manufacture model was developed with a sustainable circular business in mind. By retaining the maximum amount of textiles surplus and knowledge in this closed loop production system, Kalopsia has drastically improved the environmental, social and economic impact of their manufacturing and that of their clients. Their aim is to reclaim the human, economic, and natural resources that otherwise get lost in today’s linear production system.
Assemble’s accessories and apparel catalogues contain product templates that can be ordered in (almost) any fabric provided by clients, which include mills, independent businesses and retailers. Both catalogues contain a range of classic product designs, curated to highlight craftsmanship and sustainability, whilst considering functional, classic designs with contemporary, clean aesthetics. The client can select the design, plus finishing, linings, zips, sizes, etc. This allows each fabric to put its stamp on the selected product design. There is no minimum order, with manufacture up to 500 units per run, per product.