Lili
Dreyer

Read about Lili's recent trip to Portgual to visit potential manufacturers here! 

Lili Dryer has recently graduated with a master in environmental science and sustainable entrepreneurship. The focus of her dissertation was on textile waste and the fashion industry which deepened her knowledge on the topic and rooted her business idea. Since graduating she has fully committed to developing her business and career within the sustainable textile and fashion sphere. Her business, still in its early stages, is a fashion startup which involves upcycling of textile waste, which requires collaboration between different partners involving both city and business leaders, innovators, experts.

MOTIVATION AND COMMITMENT TO CREATING A BETTER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE PLANET

Textile waste is a huge problem, and as the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry globally, it is something that needs to be addressed now and on a larger scale. As a circular economy strategy, I believe that fashion upcycling is the way forward in terms of ensuring sustainable societies. However, it is often overlooked in the agenda on sustainable fashion, but addressing it city-wide could make it a more financially sustainable solution.

After graduating, she wanted to use this knowledge to make a change - to contribute to creating a more sustainable fashion industry. This lead to her startup - WAIR, which creates upcycled sneakers made from textile waste.