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Ketchup is essentially an experiment.

An experiment in recycling and local community development and an opportunity through which to explore how we can make better use of the resources we have around us.

By setting standards in recycled fashion it hopes to path the way for other designers and provide a basis from which to start debates in sustainable and ethical design.

Ketchup was set up a few years ago as a social enterprise – with the aim of developing a collection of clothes made from recycled materials that had the potential to be made up in the local area.

Recycled – because we chuck too much away and local - because there is a need to reduce the air miles associated with clothing and also to provide a mechanism through to which to harness local design skills and manufacturing capabilities.

As it has grown so has the collection and it now includes a numbers of exciting possibilities for using trashed and discarded materials. These include knitted and recut t-shirts, jackets from curtains, duvet covers and factory waste – check out the photo gallery page for more visuals on the collection.

Ketchup engages in community recycling workshops in which participants are taught skills in recycling techniques and ways of extending and using items in their own wardrobe for new and exciting garments. For more information please contact Karen.

Education is also at the root of Ketchup’s design philosophy as it is felt that only through challenging and asking critical questions of current design students that change for the future will come about. More information can be found on the education and resources page.

If you are interested in purchasing or commissioning a Ketchup item of clothing please contact Karen who can discuss sizes and prices.

All items made by Ketchup are currently produced at our studio in Leeds 6 on fully industrial machines. Plans for a sewing cooperative are presently being drawn up and it is hoped that this will tap into local skills and provide a basis for a small manufacturing unit. This it is hoped will enable mass production of key styles and provide a model for sympathetic enterprises to draw on.

All materials used in the Ketchup collection have been recycled in some way – textiles and garments are sourced from charity organizations, local rag traders and donations. On the whole they constitute the remnants of our wasteful over consumption culture and have found their way to us because people have deemed them unfashionable, dirty, ripped and now longer useful.

The joy then is in taking these lost textile items and turning them into something beautiful – something that has a story to tell about what it may have been before and in the process forging a better relationship with the ultimate consumer.

Because they have been through a bit of a journey sometimes the quality may vary and styles can be altered by the very nature of the materials. The textiles and garment used are old but not vintage.

We have quite a bank of materials now – anyone wishing to view the collection for private projects or workshops should get in touch. Similarly if you see a style you like and would like it made up in your own material or have any garment you want customizing get in touch.