REBORN by HoMie

REBORN by HoMie is an entirely unique concept that satisfies all fundamental criteria for good design. It is deeply functional, unisex, clothing. It is aesthetic, collections frequently selling out within 20 minutes. It is extremely high-quality, hand-made in Melbourne. And it is made with rare levels of sustainability, created out of pre-loved or unsold garments that would otherwise have gone straight to landfill. In addition to its environmental sustainability, it employs young people affected by homelessness or hardship to manufacture garments, with profits going to further projects that support young people affected by homelessness or hardship.

REBORN is a circular economy solution to two major problems facing both Victoria, and the world: environmental destruction, and homelessness. REBORN is a subset of the social enterprise, HoMie, that puts 100% of its profits towards its mission of supporting young people affected by homelessness or hardship. Indeed, REBORN has recently employed one of those young people to create REBORN garments. Since REBORN launched in March 2020 it has created 190 one-off upcycled garments, saving over 513,000 litres of water, and 160kg of apparel that was destined for landfill. As REBORN grows, so too will its impact.

Fashion is the second largest polluter in the world behind the oil and gas industry. It takes 2700 litres of water to manufacture 1 tee. Australia discards 500 million kilograms of textiles per year. The problem is immense, but REBORN demonstrates that it is possible to innovate within the industry to make positive change. The idea of ‘upcycling’  garments is not new, but what is new is the decision to do it in a streetwear context. By creating one-off streetwear pieces, HoMie are able to compete with the fast-fashion industry in a way that does minimal harm to the environment.