Lydia Bolton is a Slow Fashion Designer and Sustainability Advoate tackling textile waste and helping brands & her community to do the same.
She founded her namesake brand in 2019 at the age of 25, feeling a responsibility to demonstrate how fashion could be enjoyed in a way that didn’t harm the environment. Lydia has since established a meaningful presence within the sustainability conversation, backed by WGSN, British Vogue, The Face, Refinery29 and more.
Lydia’s 2024 highlights included getting shortlisted as Changemaker of the Year at the bCreator Awards and invited to speak on an Earth Day panel discussion at Apple.
On social, Lydia gives viewers insight into her sustainable fashion practice. She also shares tips on eco-living, conscious purchasing, and educating on new ways we can be kinder to our planet with her community of 60K worldwide.
Lydia helps brands reach their sustainability goals, finding new ways to fight fashion waste, reduce landfill and retain relevance with the younger, eco-minded Gen Z consumer. She has worked with Unilever, adidas x Manchester United, Woolmark, and Channel 4 on projects that include collaborative social content & live workshop events covering upcycling, updating, mending & creating one-off pieces.
More recently, she has worked with UGG x Office, Damson Madder, Pinterest, Ebay, launched a sustainable cycle wear collection with Lime and created bespoke Christmas jumpers for Lidl x By Rotation’s festive campaign encouraging rental fashion.
An anti-landfill advocate, Lydia meticulously works with sleeping stock, deadstock fabrics and thrifted pieces to create luxury womenswear apparel and homeware that doesn't cost the earth.
Lydia's eclectic fashion designs have become a firm favourite within her community of conscious consumers who like to express themselves through style. Since 2022, Lydia has also been hosting upcycling workshops that bring her online community together IRL, to empower more people with the skills to tackle landfill themselves.
Lydia shows how, with skills and creativity, we can extend the lifetime of each garment so it becomes a treasured wardrobe staple for years to come.
Select Projects
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Lydia Designs Upcycled Cycle-Friendly Collection with Lime to Overcome Barriers to Cycling
Lydia Bolton has collaborated with Lime to launch a limited edition cycle-friendly fashion collection. We were delighted to facilitate the campaign which aims to break down the barriers to moving green and empower more people to shop and travel sustainably.
The collection of innovative unisex apparel and accessories (see here) designed by Lydia includes adaptable coats, reflective hi-vis vests, on-the-go-shorts, and clothing clips- all created to be styled with your outfit or to be packed away in a handy bag after riding. Each of the 4 one-of-a-kind pieces are unisex and made from 100% second-hand clothing sourced from charity retailer, TRAID as well as waste fabric to create unique patchwork designs that are both contemporary and practical.
The collection dropped exclusively on eBay, with 100% of proceeds donated to Friends of the Earth. This was on on display at the ‘Re-Cycle’ pop-up event at BOXPARK, Shoreditch.
"As a slow fashion designer and sustainability advocate, I've loved working with Lime to identify and create high fashion solutions for people who want to travel in a greener way,” says Lydia. “Being able to create everything from defective stock and waste textiles has meant I've been able to bring my experience and channel my passion into this project. As Lime has become so synonymous with London’s bustling city culture, I’ve taken cues from the city’s surroundings and current trends to inspire the Re-Cycle Collection. I wanted this transitional collection to feel authentic to how Londoners move around and use this city."
Lydia Hosts Live Upcycling Workshops for Nike
Lydia collaborated with Nike to host a series of live upcycling workshops at the flagship NikeTown London store, celebrating the Lionesses’ historic Euro 2022 victory. Lydia worked with Nike to create special football jerseys using past season and defective products, then taught attendees how to mix and stitch them into bespoke, hand-sewn patchwork designs.
Lydia led two upcycling workshops for Nike app members, where participants learned how to creatively transform surplus Nike products into custom jerseys using a hand-sewn patchwork technique.
Impact
The workshops engaged attendees in the art of upcycling, empowering them to take a meaningful stance on sustainability while learning a valuable skill. The collaboration resonated with Nike’s commitment to sustainability and Lydia’s advocacy for reducing fashion waste, aligning both brands with the push for conscious fashion choices.
Lydia’s collaboration with Nike reinforced her mission to empower consumers with hands-on experiences that encourage creative sustainability. The workshops provided a fun, impactful way for attendees to engage with upcycling and connect with their hands.
Lydia Takes Centre Stage at Apple x The Dots Earth Day Event Panel Talk
Lydia was invited to speak at the Apple x The Dots UK Earth Day event where she shared her career journey, sustainability mission, and insights on building a purpose-driven business, speaking alongside the founders of Ocean Bottle and SoJo.
Lydia took the stage to discuss the fashion industry’s environmental impact and her motivation behind her own sustainable brand. She shared practical advice on growing a values-led business, emphasising that success doesn’t have to follow traditional paths and encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace innovation and persistence in driving long-term impact.
Impact
Lydia’s presence at the event reinforced her role as a leader in sustainable fashion, inspiring attendees to rethink their approach to business and creativity. Her insights sparked conversations around fashion waste and sustainability, and her recap of the panel received over 500 interactions on Instagram, further amplifying the conversation beyond the event itself.
By bringing her expertise to Apple x The Dots UK, Lydia demonstrated how fashion, innovation, and advocacy can intersect to create meaningful change. Her participation further solidified her influence in the sustainability space, encouraging others to challenge industry norms and champion responsible design.
Lydia Hosts Upcycling Workshops with UGG and Office
Lydia was invited to kick off #UGGSeason at the UGG pop-up in Soho, in collaboration with Office. The event focused on sustainability, where Lydia hosted a series of hands-on weaving workshops using secondhand fabrics, guiding attendees in how to personalise their wardrobes with eco-conscious accessories.
Lydia hosted creative workshops, teaching participants how to make weaved anklets for their UGGs or customise their bags with vintage lace, thrifted materials, and deadstock fabrics. The workshops emphasised the importance of upcycling and accessorising with purpose, offering attendees a sustainable and creative way to refresh their wardrobe.
Impact
The event successfully sparked interest in sustainable fashion practices, with participants enjoying a unique opportunity to get creative with secondhand materials. It reinforced Lydia's mission to encourage conscious consumption and showcase the power of craftsmanship in reducing waste.
Lydia’s involvement with UGG and Office helped demonstrate that sustainability can be for everyone, reinforcing her commitment to educating others about eco-conscious choices while offering practical solutions for wardrobe sustainability.
Lydia’s recap here.
