How Boden’s made new dresses from old – DINAH VAN TULLEKEN explains how they’re easy breezy linen, and made from fabric offcuts that would have gone to waste
- There are plenty of mums and daughters who love dressing in matching outfits
- Boden’s new ‘mini me’ dress collection has a standout sustainability factor
- Dinah Van Tulleken explains how Boden has worked hard to earn its eco stripes
Previously I’ve said I’d never be seen dead in the same outfit as my five-year-old daughter, Lyra. But the truth is, she’d never be seen dead in the same clothes as me.
We seem to be in a minority, however, because ‘mini-me’ clothing is big business for brands such as Gucci, Balenciaga and Givenchy this season.
Boden has sold these designs for a while, but what makes its new collection stand out — forcing me to reconsider my stand on mother daughter matching — is the eco-factor. Sustainability is a buzz-word for every fashion brand. And it’s not always easy to discern whether a label is truly committed to making a difference or simply ‘greenwashing’ — plastering the same old harmful practices in saintly-sounding jargon.
Left: Dress, £90, boden.co.uk; shoes, £32, and hair bow, £4, lacoqueta kids.com. Right: Dress, £198, boden.co.uk; heels, £209, lkbennett. com; hair scarf, £9.50, marksandspencer.com; earrings, £15.99, zara.com
Boden has worked hard to earn its eco stripes, however. In 2021, it banished glitter and sequins (the latter is cut from a square, so a third of the plastic is wasted, plus they take thousands of years to break down and they leave microplastics in the water supply). Last year, the brand introduced its Care: Repair: Rewear service to fix or tailor existing Boden garments. While its Pass It On scheme sees older items donated to charity instead of dumped in landfill.
And yesterday, it launched Remix, a mini-me collection made from the offcuts of some of Boden’s most popular lines, dramatically reducing fabric waste. Every dress is made from 100 per cent linen, which is biodegradable. And the flax plant, from which linen is made, does not require the use of fertilisers or pesticides.
Left: Dress, £90, boden.co.uk; shoes, £32, hat, £39, lacoqueta kids.com. Right: Dress, £198, boden.co.uk; heels, £153, lkbennett.com; sunglasses, £125, cubitts.com; earrings, £17.99, zara.com
So how does the range shape up in style terms? The women’s dress is in a flattering cut that will work for several body shapes: V-neck, nipped-in waist, full skirt, long sleeves — and pockets! You’ll be wearing it for many summers to come. Having examined the fabric and cut, I can confirm it’s built to last. Meanwhile, the children’s version got the seal of approval from Lyra, for whom comfort is key.
My children live almost entirely in handme-downs and pre-loved items from eBay or charity shops — but sometimes it’s nice to treat them to a new outfit.
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