Now in its 8th year, the European Social Innovation Competition acts as a beacon for social innovators in Europe, facilitating a network of radical innovators shaping society for the better. Over the last few years, the competition has mobilised thousands of Europeans in an effort to create more social, environmental and economic value in our communities.
This year, the competition is themed 'Reimagine Fashion': Changing behaviours for sustainable fashion and we are happy to announce that BYBROWN was selected as a semi-finalist.

As a sustainable brand, striving to support a more circular economy, in this project we re-evaluate the true purpose of the raincoat by developing an inclusive product which is durable, 100% recyclable and rentable.
BYBROWN’s plan is to distribute the unisex, circular coat ‘CONNECT’ to Amsterdam hotels, offering hotel guests a rented raincoat on rainy days, thus offering them a more sustainable way to travel.
The idea is to move away from ownership and take the next step towards circularity, making a true impact on the use of resources and consumption attitudes.
BYBROWN’s success over the years has been driven by our aim to innovate in our design and supply chain, striving for transparency towards our consumers.

If you would like to read more about the competition in Dutch please take a look at the article from Fashion United.

Print artist Marnix Postma, an Amsterdam based artist who dedicates his work to the exploration of grids, layering and colour, takes his inspiration from the ZERO art movement. Teaming up with artist Marnix Postma, BYBROWN has designed an eco-friendly t-shirt for VOGUE ITALIA, which is available exclusively on the YOOXGEN web-shop. The t-shirt is made from deadstock modal, milk fibre and organic cotton. Marnix Postma hand printed the t-shirts with water-based ink, giving each individual t-shirt a unique touch. We used the slogan 'RESPECT BEYOND RAIN' referring to BYBROWN's belief that we have to take positive steps in sustainable production, consumption and post-consumption, creating awareness and spreading sustainable values.

In a bid to reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact on this sustainable project, we printed everything on our doorstep with AGA Lab, BOUW Amsterdam. It was also crucial for us to use only water-based ink, to reduce any toxins from our special collection and keep our garments as clean as possible.

The screens were made, the ink was spread and from then on it was sheer delight. We are also excited about the fact that all of our materials used in the project are sustainable, with a mixture of organic modal and dead stock organic cotton blended with milk fibre.

Channelling a 'Zero' concept creates an uncluttered, infinite feeling of squares and grids in Postma's work. Naturally, in our collaboration, we worked with the hand printed work of Marnix, adding the BYBROWN touch in form and execution.

As of April the guests at Hotel V Fizeaustraat can explore Amsterdam in style, renting a premium, technical raincoat during their stay. This is thanks to a unique collaboration between the rainwear brand, BYBROWN and Hotel V.

This forward thinking rental project, RENT THE RAIN, was launched at the beginning of April, giving guests protection in case of bad weather, and let's face it, the weather can be a little unpredictable when visiting Amsterdam!

RENT THE RAIN enables customers to pre-book a coat before their stay or alternatively book a coat on arrival. This collaboration allows you to be part of a new responsible approach in the sharing economy whilst remaining protected in style.

Upon rental the coat is personally delivered to the guest at the beginning of their stay, adding an element of fun and surprise to their Hotel V experience. You can then fully enjoy Amsterdam in style, whatever the weather. When checking out, you hand the raincoat back in at reception, paying for the coat rental together with your hotel bill and continue your journey carefree.

Hotel V & The Lobby is founded by true Amsterdammers - city lovers at heart - with a fierce passion for the authentic and inspiring characteristics of their city. ‘We work hard to make you love our city like we do. From the food we eat and the streets we roam through, to the people we meet and the places we sleep at. We want you to be your most authentic self while moving – preferably biking – around and making new memories as you go. We are aware the Dutch weather can make it feel like a challenge at times, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking on this exciting journey. That’s why we partnered up with BYBROWN and offer our guests the opportunity to rent a sustainable raincoat whenever those typical, rain clouds decide to knock on our door. You can be prepared for the weather in style, everywhere you go.’

Visit RENT THE RAIN on Hotel V's website here

‘Rental addresses the environmental issues of using virgin materials and reducing the amount of fabric that ends up in landfill each year, by intensifying the usage of one singular garment by distributing it to more than one end user. This drastically minimises the environmental output of CO2 and water consumption by avoiding volume output and ensuring a durable and efficient usage of resources. This rental system has the added benefit of replacing single-use plastic rain ponchos and short-life umbrellas that hotel guests tend to use when travelling abroad. For tourists who unexpectedly have to deal with rain, renting a raincoat is a practical and yet durable alternative.'

The Serres Séparées are a corona inspired extension of Mediamatic’s restaurant. In private little greenhouses for two or four persons, you can share a fine dining experience with your intimi. In French a separate room in a restaurant or bar is traditionally named "chambre séparée" which suggests a sexy kind of intimacy. Mediamatic have decided to name their greenhouses in French too, although what happens inside will be a lot more public…

If it happens to be raining during your meal your waiters and waitresses will be kept dry and cheerful in our Agile raindress, whose design and social grace is very much in keeping with this special experience.

For the reopening of the serres Mediamatic has teamed up with guest chef Elmer Kesseler. Cooking at the forefront of vegan cuisine, he will provide a sensorial plant based menu, composed with seasonal and local produce and enriched with self foraged wild plants and fresh ingredients from Mediamatic’s own Aquaponics greenhouse.

Thank you to Mediamatic for the collaboration!

Book your Serres Séparées experience on the link now. Mediamatic Serres Séparées

 We wanted to make an effort to upcycle these perfectly functioning tents and mattresses that were now seen as waste and this in turn was how the BAG PROJECT was born. We developed patterns for a variety of bags and then got to work producing them.

We endeavour to encourage us all as individuals to reflect on our own relationship to the items that we buy and think of how we can increase their longevity and discard them when they are no longer serving us. Do we donate them? Do we upcycle them?

These bags will be offered as a premium alternative to a paper bag with the purchase of a coat at our Berenstraat Pop up, that you will be hearing about very soon.

BYBROWN presented the current collection ‘Duplicate’, designed in collaboration with the artist Marnix Postma at Palazzo Morando as one of the seven international designers featured in The Next Green Talent. The grand opening took place on Thursday 22nd February and the exhibition was open to the public on 23rd and 24th February during Milan fashion week.

This eighth edition of The Next Green Talent by Vogue Italia and YOOX was dedicated to talents who focus on sustainability. The platform stands as a reference for responsible fashion consumers around the globe.

Teaming up with artist Marnix Postma, BYBROWN has designed an eco-friendly t-shirt for VOGUE ITALIA, which is available exclusively on the YOOXGEN web-shop. The t-shirt is made from deadstock modal, milk fibre and organic cotton. Marnix Postma hand printed the t-shirts with water-based ink, giving each individual t-shirt a unique touch. We used the slogan 'RESPECT BEYOND RAIN' referring to BYBROWN's belief that we have to take positive steps in sustainable production, consumption and post-consumption, creating awareness and spreading sustainable values.

To read the interview with Melanie Brown on Vogue Italia and find out more about the collaboration with Marnix Postma click here.

Presented at the launch of WE ARE MUZE, a Dutch fashion collective together with three other labels, Electric Co by Conny Groenenwegen, Jessica Joyce and LoveLuha. The official debut took place in the beautiful and imposing Hôtel d’Avaray, the residence of the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Paris.

The BYBROWN presentation was an ode to the tenacity of nature, looking at  natures capacity to always finds a way however difficult urban mankind makes it for her. This co-existence creates an energy, the regeneration of nature, its necessity for our well being, which represents hope.

The presentation consists of three models all together inside/ wearing the RAINBARRIER. The Rainbarrier is a protection of thin PU, transparent plastic which allows the three women to act together as one organism, in contact with each other, breathing and reacting together. They each are dressed in their own BYBROWN outfit and are protected from the damp, unfriendly, even scary world outside. They have to co-exist together in the barrier. They feel good, strong, energised and protected with in an uneasy harmony.

There are split-second moments of unease, discomfort as they are reminded that they are separate, sometimes not working with each other but against each other. There are nano moments when their connection represents a kind of struggle, there is an unrest which is apparent in the way the models move in sudden jerky movements. These moments are a contradicts to the over the acceptance of their co-existence that is harmonious most of the time.

WE ARE MUZE takes its name from a whimsical persona that the designers have sculpted together, their muse, who allows them to showcase their individuality and strength. We Are Muze functions as a platform that offers possibilities to share experience and knowledge and for designers to join forces.

The collective has a fluid construction allowing it to work with artists in photography, film, dance, graphic design and other fields. The designers aspire to touch the senses, spark the imagination and use their muse as a language to develop new dialogues.

It is supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency through the Partners for International Business Programme, promoting Dutch fashion in France.