Words by Smiley Team
A sculpture of a Loch Ness monster made entirely from recycled denim jeans is on display in London’s Grosvenor Square.
It’s a collaborative work by artist Billie Achilleos, the streaming platform WaterBear, which is dedicated to climate documentaries, and circular denim brand MUD Jeans, to highlight the critical need for a circular economy when tackling the climate crisis.
Oxfam is also the official donation partner at the Messy exhibition, as part of its mission to extend the lifespan of clothing, along with the slow fashion champions House of Baukjen.
Messy is on display throughout the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, to draw attention to the polluting effects of denim on the environment.
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In the UK, it’s estimated that £140 million worth of clothing goes to landfill each year, and 95% of this could have been recycled in some way.
Jeans are one of the most polluting items in fashion, with approximately 7,000 litres of water and plenty of chemicals needed to make just one pair of jeans. With over 200,000 million jeans being sold yearly, the impact of recycling jeans and using organic cotton can be huge.
MUD Jeans champions a circular economy, with every pair of jeans recycled into a new MUD Jeans, leaving no waste and using 92% less water than average.
The Messy artwork is made from steel, plywood, and wire mesh, and the components will be recycled and reused once the installation closes.
Head of marketing at WaterBear, Poppy Mason-Watts said: “We believe in collaboration and using the power of inspirational storytelling to reach and inspire as many people as possible to act (in a small or big way) to make a positive difference to the world we live in.
“Despite the UK being the host nation for COP26, poll findings show that awareness of the conference is very low.
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“With the help of our talented partners, Messy, the Cop-Ness Monster, will bring the defining conversations taking place at COP26 out from behind closed doors and into the hands of citizens to inspire meaningful change.”
Apparently it will be “proof that unlike the Loch Ness Monster, living a more circular lifestyle is easy, simple and certainly not a hoax.”
In the first few days, visitors can donate their old jeans at the installation, which will then be upcycled into new jeans or recycled.
You can visit Messy at Grosvenor Square from October 29 to November 12.
Want to get involved? Find out how Oxfam promote sustainable fashion – and donate to help the charity continue its work.
