Born & Based in Chester, 2020 alumnus of MMU, Oscar Munro started his business in lockdown repurposing materials such as hot air balloon off cut, seatbelts, car leather and sail cloth to make functional & striking accessories.

Each item is handmade and has an individual design determined by interpreting the waste fabrics. Oscar grew up surrounded by print and colour so has a natural affinity for pattern, texture and combining materials.

Also a love of the craft - developed after 3 years apprenticeship for a long standing tailor in Manchester known for their high quality bespoke shirts and suits.

His connections with local scrap yards and recycling companies are at the root of the business “what I love about reusing materials is you never know exactly what to expect. The material partly forces the design and I take much pleasure in finding textiles which have earnt their character through time.”

Working with The Unpicking Couture exhibition banners was a total honour and great fun. The product for this collaboration was made in Manchester with help from MMU students on placement. Each piece is unique and has been made by carefully selecting sections to make the most of the graphics and turn the waste banners into appealing wearable products which add another dimension to the Manchester City Art Gallery shop.

His mission is to keep collaborating with companies to identify and reuse waste materials (which are often overlooked) in an imaginative way. “The time when fashion was just about looking good is over. We all have a duty to think about how things are made and my aim is to help improve this.”

His designs have been stocked in Tate Liverpool, OH Design Foundation and The Hepworth Wakefield Gallery!