In recovery 2023

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“IN RECOVERY” a runway show by Melisa Minca

At Melisa Minca, design fixes problems, not causes them. In Recovery is a one-of-a-kind presentation that explores breaking free from destructive economic cycles. Through sustainable fashion, art, and storytelling, MM tackles our addiction to growth as a society and showcases her latest upcycled designs.

The collection is exclusively crafted from discarded materials, embodying their commitment to sustainability and innovation. Each piece tells a story of transformation, representing a non-linear journey. MM aims to fuel imagination and highlight the potential of upcycling, with zero-waste as the central design approach and ultimate production goal.

‘To me fashion is a powerful tool which can affect societal changes on a global scale. I believe clothing can be instrumental in contributing to a wider cultural shift which the human race is desperately in need of considering how science has evolved in recent years.’ Melisa Minca.

merrfer etiqueta (1) 72

Merrfer is an independent brand based on the concept of upcycling and creating new stuff using materials that are already existing and without producing too much waste. Merrfer products are created to make you happy and make you free. Since I was small, clothing was for me like an armour that helped face a society that didn’t understand differences and that was sometimes aggressive and rejecting. Through fashion and clothing I build my own personality, and with images and videos I created stories of characters with the superpower to overcome any obstacles and make their own life. Merrfer the brand started in 2020, when I decided to share my vision of fashion and style with the world via Instagram, and there I found that many other people also loved what I was creating. And as the characters in my mind, that year I achieved all that I dreamed of, my own shop and a dog.

Oystersia_Lettering_large (1) 73

Oystersia is a jewelry project by Joanna Wu, founded end of 2020 with an aim to recycle and re-use old pearl jewelry. In ever evolving process, where natural and structured meet, final works are mixed with handsculpted metals, locally sourced glass beads, natural sea & earth gems.

Each piece is unique and handmade with a mindful approach per order. End products might slightly differ from the photos due to natural shapes of pearls, but are carefully curated to match the original.

STYLIST: Joana Zibat 

NAIL ARTIST : Camilla Inge Volbert

JEWELERY: Oystersia Studio 

HAIR: Tina Pachta 

MAKE UP: Gianluca Venerdini / Haebmau – Ardell 

SHOES: MERRFER 

IN RECOVERY

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-2 74

Materials: 1. Coat: Fleece scraps 2. Balaclava: Gussets from underwear

Look Note: The party has to end one day. And what’s left?

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-4 (1) 75

Materials: 1. Trousers: Suit scraps 2. Waistcoat: Suit lining 

Look Note: for every dollar in aid, global north they lose 30 dollars in an unequal exchange with the north – poor countries develop rich countries not the other way round

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-5 (1) 76

Materials: 1. Top: Suit scraps 2. Trousers: Suit scraps

Look Note: girlboss gaslight gatekeep

retouched paradox 77

Materials: 1. Dress: Leather scraps & shoe laces

Look Note: trapped: genuine, conserted action, to try and make progress on the question of climate change and ecological breakdown, and yet frighteningly little sustained systemic change has been achieved.
we have to ask ourselves. What is responsible for this failure?

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-7 (1) 78

Materials: 1. Slip Dress: Satin scrap fabric 2. Upcycled bag clasps & waste material 3. Balaclava: Underwear gussets & webbing strap

Look Note: – I’ve been thinking about this for weeks and
– It’s just stronger than me
– It feels like it doesn’t matter if I do it or I don’t
– But it matters
– It feels like it would solve a lot of my issues
– but of course it wouldn’t

– I feel bad, but I feel like there is just no other way for me
– I just don’t feel like this kind of person
– who’s gona be nice to themselves
– Like.. I wanna be in charge of killing myself
– I feel like I wasn’t in charge anymore

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-8 (1) 79

Materials: 1. Skirt: Upcycled suit 2. Jacket: Upcycled Jacket 3. Bra: Upcycled bra with bows from underwear

Look Note: permanent state of deprivation

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-9 (1) 80

Materials: 1. Bag: Upcycled bag clasps & waste material 2. Skirt: Shirts & belts 3. Top: Gloves

Look Note: When something tries to grow forever within a healthy living thriving system it’s a threat to the health of the whole.

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-10 (1) 81

Materials: 1. Top: Suspenders 2. Skirt: Silk scarves & bra hooks

Look Note:

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-11 (1) 82

Materials: 1. Tank: Upcycled tank with chain scraps 2. Bag: Upcycled bag clasps & waste 3. Skirt: Denim scraps  material

Look Note:

escape retouched 83

Materials: 1. 2. Skirt: Denim scraps  2. Top: Upcycled t shirt 3. Headband: Bows & bow ties 

Look Note:

retouched ivy 84

Materials: 1. Dress: Corset muslin fabric

Look Note: Martin Luther King Jr.: “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

seyram retouched 85

Materials: 1. Dress: Knit sweater scraps

Look Note: Until we start talking about the underlying economic system, we’re going to continue to make a fundamental error

Para 86

Materials: 1. Dress: Handkerchiefs 2. Earrings: Ink bottles

Look Note: Addiction to petroleum.

never fit retouched 87

Materials: 1. Top: Polo shirts 2. Skirt: Shirts & belt

Look Note:

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-18 (2) 88

Materials: 1. Jacket: Blanket 1. Top: Suede leather scraps 2. Skirt: Suede Leather scraps & shoelaces

Look Note:

BFW 2023

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-19 (2) 89

Materials: 1. Suit Jacket & Pants: Upcycled suits 2. Top: Waistbands

Look Note: Anti-fragile

warning retouched 90

Materials: 1. Dress: Upcycled fabric from a market & chain scraps

Look Note: zero-waste dress – World’s most ingenious people turn boundaries into the source of their creativity. It’s boundaries that unleash our potential.

risk collage 91

Materials: 1. Dress: Upcycled fabric from a market 2. Dress: Upcycled fabric from a market with waste scraps 

Look Note: Fashion as we know it only exists in abundance. Is infinite growth possible on a finite planet?

restorative retouched 92

Materials: 1. Onesie: Rib knit scraps

Look Note: Restorative Economics centers on healing and restoration of vulnerable communities who have been marginalized and oppressed by a polluting and extractive economy, by investing in strategies that create shared prosperity and self-determination for a just transition to the next economy.

healing retouched 93

Materials: 1. Coat: Cotton muslin scraps

Look Note: We have a new consciousness embedded inside the planet

reimagined retouched 94

Materials: 1. Skirt: Crochet lace scraps & grosgrain tape waste 2. Top: Crochet lace scraps

Look Note: solar punk

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-29 (1) 95

Materials: 1. Top: Thongs 2. Skirt: Crochet Doily Waste

Look Note: Regenerative economies thrive in healthy ecosystems, social equity, and economic growth. They value natural resources as a source of wisdom and power. They view human society as stewards of the Earth.

what doesnt kill you retouched 96

Materials: 1. Shorts: Leather scraps and waste + metal scraps 2. Top: Logo patches from Tommy Hilfiger

Look Note:

scavanger 1 97

Materials: 1. Top: Pearl necklaces 2. Skirt: Silk scarves

Look Note: balance between collective and individual action

scavanger 2 retouched 98

Materials: 1. Dress: Silk scarves

Look Note:

 

decentralized retouched 99

Materials: 1. Dress: Boxer shorts

Look Note:

reimagened retouched lol 100

Materials:  1. Top: Upcycled hoodie sweatshirts 2. Capris: Upcycled sports socks 3. Mask: Underwear gussets

Look Note: Global Dream

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-36 (1) 101

Materials: 1. Top: Upcycled Bras 2. Skirt: Silk scarves

Look Note: balance between collective action and individual action

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-33 (1) 102

Materials: 1. Coat: Fleece scraps 2. Receipt: Cotton scraps 

Look Note:

Show Looks

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-2 103

Materials: 1. Coat: Fleece scraps 2. Balaclava: Gussets from underwear

Look Note: The party has to end one day. And what’s left?

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-4 (1) 104

Materials: 1. Trousers: Suit scraps 2. Waistcoat: Suit lining 

Look Note: for every dollar in aid, global north they lose 30 dollars in an unequal exchange with the north – poor countries develop rich countries not the other way round

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-5 (1) 105

Materials: 1. Top: Suit scraps 2. Trousers: Suit scraps

Look Note: girlboss gaslight gatekeep

retouched paradox 106

Materials: 1. Dress: Leather scraps & shoe laces

Look Note: trapped: genuine, conserted action, to try and make progress on the question of climate change and ecological breakdown, and yet frighteningly little sustained systemic change has been achieved.
we have to ask ourselves. What is responsible for this failure?

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-7 (1) 107

Materials: 1. Slip Dress: Satin scrap fabric 2. Upcycled bag clasps & waste material 3. Balaclava: Underwear gussets & webbing strap

Look Note: – I’ve been thinking about this for weeks and
– It’s just stronger than me
– It feels like it doesn’t matter if I do it or I don’t
– But it matters
– It feels like it would solve a lot of my issues
– but of course it wouldn’t

– I feel bad, but I feel like there is just no other way for me
– I just don’t feel like this kind of person
– who’s gona be nice to themselves
– Like.. I wanna be in charge of killing myself
– I feel like I wasn’t in charge anymore

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-8 (1) 108

Materials: 1. Skirt: Upcycled suit 2. Jacket: Upcycled Jacket 3. Bra: Upcycled bra with bows from underwear

Look Note: permanent state of deprivation

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-9 (1) 109

Materials: 1. Bag: Upcycled bag clasps & waste material 2. Skirt: Shirts & belts 3. Top: Gloves

Look Note: When something tries to grow forever within a healthy living thriving system it’s a threat to the health of the whole.

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-10 (1) 110

Materials: 1. Top: Suspenders 2. Skirt: Silk scarves & bra hooks

Look Note:

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-11 (1) 111

Materials: 1. Tank: Upcycled tank with chain scraps 2. Bag: Upcycled bag clasps & waste 3. Skirt: Denim scraps  material

Look Note:

escape retouched 112

Materials: 1. 2. Skirt: Denim scraps  2. Top: Upcycled t shirt 3. Headband: Bows & bow ties 

Look Note:

retouched ivy 113

Materials: 1. Dress: Corset muslin fabric

Look Note: Martin Luther King Jr.: “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

seyram retouched 114

Materials: 1. Dress: Knit sweater scraps

Look Note: Until we start talking about the underlying economic system, we’re going to continue to make a fundamental error

Para 115

Materials: 1. Dress: Handkerchiefs 2. Earrings: Ink bottles

Look Note: Addiction to petroleum.

never fit retouched 116

Materials: 1. Top: Polo shirts 2. Skirt: Shirts & belt

Look Note:

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-18 (2) 117

Materials: 1. Jacket: Blanket 1. Top: Suede leather scraps 2. Skirt: Suede Leather scraps & shoelaces

Look Note:

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-19 (2) 118

Materials: 1. Suit Jacket & Pants: Upcycled suits 2. Top: Waistbands

Look Note: Anti-fragile

warning retouched 119

Materials: 1. Dress: Upcycled fabric from a market & chain scraps

Look Note: zero-waste dress – World’s most ingenious people turn boundaries into the source of their creativity. It’s boundaries that unleash our potential.

risk collage 120

Materials: 1. Dress: Upcycled fabric from a market 2. Dress: Upcycled fabric from a market with waste scraps 

Look Note: Fashion as we know it only exists in abundance. Is infinite growth possible on a finite planet?

restorative retouched 121

Materials: 1. Onesie: Rib knit scraps

Look Note: Restorative Economics centers on healing and restoration of vulnerable communities who have been marginalized and oppressed by a polluting and extractive economy, by investing in strategies that create shared prosperity and self-determination for a just transition to the next economy.

healing retouched 122

Materials: 1. Coat: Cotton muslin scraps

Look Note: We have a new consciousness embedded inside the planet

reimagined retouched 123

Materials: 1. Skirt: Crochet lace scraps & grosgrain tape waste 2. Top: Crochet lace scraps

Look Note: solar punk

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-29 (1) 124

Materials: 1. Top: Thongs 2. Skirt: Crochet Doily Waste

Look Note: Regenerative economies thrive in healthy ecosystems, social equity, and economic growth. They value natural resources as a source of wisdom and power. They view human society as stewards of the Earth.

what doesnt kill you retouched 125

Materials: 1. Shorts: Leather scraps and waste + metal scraps 2. Top: Logo patches from Tommy Hilfiger

Look Note:

scavanger 1 126

Materials: 1. Top: Pearl necklaces 2. Skirt: Silk scarves

Look Note: balance between collective and individual action

scavanger 2 retouched 127

Materials: 1. Dress: Silk scarves

Look Note:

 

decentralized retouched 128

Materials: 1. Dress: Boxer shorts

Look Note:

reimagened retouched lol 129

Materials:  1. Top: Upcycled hoodie sweatshirts 2. Capris: Upcycled sports socks 3. Mask: Underwear gussets

Look Note: Global Dream

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-36 (1) 130

Materials: 1. Top: Upcycled Bras 2. Skirt: Silk scarves

Look Note: balance between collective action and individual action

Melisa-Minca-Berlin-Fashion-Week-SS24-Hofrichter-33 (1) 131

Materials: 1. Coat: Fleece scraps 2. Receipt: Cotton scraps 

Look Note: