These days, upcycling is par for the course for just about any emerging designer, but Rave Review has been collecting accolades and celebrity endorsements for their luxurious take on repurposed materials since before it was cool. Now, the Swedish designers unravel their process...
In a cavernous warehouse in a nondescript suburb of Stockholm, a woman is cheerfully sorting through piles of fabrics. Maria Skotte has worked for Swedish second-hand giant Myrorna since 2014. She stands among the industrial machines that separate and transport various garments and materials. Stacks of unwanted clothing are piled up around her, waiting to be sorted and sent to thrift shops all over the country.
“This is my favourite station,” she tells me, over the dull whirr of the machines. “I used to see it as a punishment.” Guided by reference images on a printed brief, Skotte selects various blankets and bedsheets – some plaid, others floral – and places them in a trolley. Soon, these fabrics will be repurposed into coats and dresses and sold via the world’s most exclusive retailers under the name Rave Review.
Corset dress, price on request, Rave Review. Shoes, Acne Studios. Earring, Rave Review collaboration with Ulrika Runius. Bracelet in white gold (Clash de Cartier), €9,900. Ring in white gold (Clash de Cartier), €3,500, both Cartier. Photo: Janneke van der Hagen