Patou has strengthened its commitment to sustainability with a circularity-based initiative. The Parisian label, relaunched in 2019 by LVMH under the aegis of designer Guillaume Henry, has launched Patou Upcycling, a recycling project in which it invites emerging designers and artists to “re-imagine and give a new lease of life to dormant stocks,” creating new items from unused materials. For its first edition, Patou Upcycling has tapped Kitesy Martin Studios, a brand of upcycled jewellery founded by French designer Kitesy Martin.

 
A graduate of the Arts Décoratifs academy in Paris, Martin has worked for various labels (Balenciaga, Balmain, Lacoste and Perrin Paris) and, since she founded her brand in 2018, she has been committed to sustainability and a circular approach. Her creations are made with vintage items and dormant stocks unearthed by Martin at fashion labels and home decoration brands.  Martin regularly collaborates with brands like Nike, Ganni and Levi’s to upcycle their unused materials.
 
For Patou, Kitesy Martin Studios has created a capsule collection comprising a t-shirt, a tank top, a hat, and a handbag trimmed with fabric strips and metallic decorations. The items are priced between €170 and €490, and are available in a range of colours. The collection is on sale on the Patou e-shop and at the label’s concession at Galeries Lafayette Hausmann in Paris.

“Kitesy’s vision and dedication to designing environmentally conscious pieces resonates deeply with our brand values. Together, we have worked on a collection of five one-of-a-kind items, for those who prioritise both creativity and sustainability,” said Patou in a press release. Through Patou Upcycling, the label is keen to “offer one-of-a-kind items, transforming unused fabric and stocks into unique pieces, minimizing waste and maximizing creativity and craftsmanship.”

Ever since it was relaunched as part of the LVMH group, Patou has paid special attention to its environmental impact. Notably in terms of the raw materials it uses for its products, most of which feature sustainable fibres and fabrics, in terms of the interiors of its offices and retail premises, and in terms of packaging, for which Patou mostly uses certified materials.

Patou is also in favour of supply chain transparency. Each of its products bears a QR code tracing its production cycle.
 
Patou has underlined that, thanks to its cooperation with Fairly Made, all its collections “are now completely traceable and assessed in terms of carbon impact. This marks a significant shift from last year, when only the essential line (sixty-four items) was 100% assessed.”