Klaudia Chmaj: Zero Waste Upcycled Fashion with a Bold Twist

Klaudia Chmaj: Zero Waste, Maximum Creativity

Bradford College student Klaudia Chmaj has created a collection that embodies sustainability, creativity and bold experimentation. Aptly titled “Just Doing It!... 0 to Hero!”, her womenswear designs for the Autumn/Winter season highlight the importance of zero waste fashion and the art of transforming the unexpected into wearable statements.

Klaudia’s garments are built from second hand pieces, socks, shoes and duvet cover fabrics, cleverly repurposed into striking new forms. By pinning and stitching socks onto garments, she explored a process that was as playful as it was challenging. Making dresses and tops from socks proved difficult, as the material was tricky to stitch without damage, but perseverance led to truly unique results. From reimagining a second-hand top into a jacket to blending clashing patterns, Klaudia embraced the unusual and turned it into a statement of sustainability.

For Klaudia, sustainability goes further than design. Any extra fabrics donated to her project were used to create hospital gowns for women and children in Gambia, showing how fashion can make a tangible difference beyond the studio. Leftover socks became sock monkeys, while small scraps of fabric were transformed into scrunchies and even business cards. Her love for styling and the final photoshoot brought joy to the process, celebrating the fun side of fashion innovation.

Klaudia describes herself as a motivated and enthusiastic designer, passionate about building a career in fashion and determined to drive sustainability forward. Skilled in Photoshop and Illustrator, she aims to combine technical expertise with her bold, creative vision to inspire more designers and consumers to embrace upcycled fashion.

You can follow Klaudia’s journey on Instagram at @klaudia_designs, or explore her resale work on Vinted under the same name. She has already sold one of her standout jumpsuits there, proving her designs are as wearable as they are experimental.