King Charles has partnered with eco-designers Vin + Omi on a groundbreaking fashion project, transforming milk cartons from his Sandringham estate into an innovative leather-like material.
The sustainable fabric will feature in the designers' upcoming "Kaos" show on February 19, on the eve of London Fashion Week.
Omi said: "It's like a spongy leather — it's really soft, and it looks and feels like leather.
"It took us about a year and a half, and it's the first fabric like it in the world!"
King Charles has partnered with eco-designers Vin + Omi on a groundbreaking fashion project
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The idea emerged while the designers were having tea in the Sandringham canteen, where they noticed the volume of milk cartons being used.
The project marks a significant development in sustainable fashion, with the designers turning waste materials destined for disposal into wearable fabric.
This is not the first collaboration between the King and the eco-designers, who have been working together for six years.
In 2023, they created a golden dress from Butterbur plant leaves, an invasive weed found at Sandringham's lake.
This is not the first collaboration between the King and the eco-designers, who have been working together for six years
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The partnership began in 2018 when Vin and Omi met the then-Prince Charles at a fashion event, impressing him with their sustainability ideas.
Their projects have included dresses made from harvested nettle leaves, brooches from plastic plant trays, and a "Resist" sweater dress crafted from discarded royal horsehair.
The materials were all salvaged from compost heaps at Sandringham and Highgrove.
The designers also recently created silk scarves inspired by the late Queen Elizabeth, which were sold in the Sandringham gift shop.
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The designers have now completed ten projects with King Charles, with more planned for the future
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The designers have now completed ten projects with King Charles, with more planned for the future.
Omi told People: "Obviously working with the King is such a far-fetched dream. I never sat back and thought, 'Oh yeah, I'll be working with the King of England.'
"We have never asked him for anything, and I think that makes the relationship very pure because it's about what we can all do to improve the environment.
Their pioneering work is now being collected by museums including London's V&A.
