Malaysian designer takes his battle for sustainable fashion to the ocean

The Malaysian designer has joined forces with Ocean Hero Conservation and KL Young Designers Association to form an initiative named Ocean'Us. Photo: Hatta Dolmat

Following in the footsteps of his fashion collection made from recycled plastic bottles, Hatta Dolmat is now bringing his crusade against textile waste to the ocean.

The Malaysian designer has joined forces with Ocean Hero Conservation and KL Young Designers Association to form an initiative named Ocean'Us.

Guided by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 12 "Responsible Consumption & Production" and Sustainable Development Goal 14 "Life Below Water", as well as the Eleventh Malaysia Plan for pollution control action, it aims to eradicate littering and usage of plastic bottles that will endanger marine life.

Ocean'Us also looks to spreading awareness on the importance of conserving oceans and promoting technology in converting plastic bottles to fabric.

Read more: Even in Malaysia, fashion goes 'green': why is sustainability so trendy now?

Launching his "green" collection in September last year, Hatta said that sustainable fashion is the future of the industry. He sent out a clarion call for local designers to set a good example.

"Our consumers are eager to explore more in sustainable fashion but they have limited access to it. Therefore, designers need to wake up," he noted. "The fashion industry needs to take action now for the sustainability of the future."

Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna was featured in his campaign and web series leading up to the 2020 Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week held last November. She described his designs fashioned from recycled plastic bottles as "amazing".

She added: "He is the first fashion designer in Malaysia to do this, to try this out. And look, it's a success."

The Ocean'Us initiative was recently officiated with the inking of a memorandum of understanding (MoU). It calls for strong partnerships and cooperation with government bodies, companies and industry players.

Held digitally, the MoU signing was graced by Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

In his speech, the patron of Ocean Hero Conservation, Tengku Datuk Hishammuddin Zaizi Azman Shah, said that the ocean plays a fundamental planetary role in mitigating the effects of climate change through its absorption of heat and carbon.

"The problem of plastic in nature, particularly in our oceans, is a global crisis. Every minute, about a dump-truck load of plastic goes into the oceans, sullying beaches, hurting wildlife and contaminating our food supply."

An Ocean'Us digital runway event is tentatively scheduled for July. There is also a plan for workshops to be held in April, all in the hopes of building awareness and generating interest in creating better policies and promoting further investments on ocean health and sustainable environment.

Shop for sustainable fashion at marked down prices using Zalora Promo Code