First Runner Up

DutchSpirit, now rebranded as Aarden, is a Dutch luxury suiting designer that emphasises ‘respectful tailoring’ in its brand philosophy. Using recycled wools and silver recovered from X-ray photos, Aarden encourages regeneration within its consumer and producer community.

In 2011, Fioen van Balgooi collaborated with DutchSpirit on a raincoat called First Runner Up. Developed on the basis of a C2C interior furnishing fabric impregnated with an eco-friendly coating, First Runner Up is waterproof and can be taken apart and recycled. The buttons are clicked onto the fabric and are easy to remove; they can also be replaced to suit the wearer’s taste and needs. The women’s coat has a three-layer front closure for optimal weather-proofing. The coat is sold with a deposit – it can be returned to the shop and recycled once it is worn out.