87 per cent of material used for clothing production ends up being burned or dumped in landfill, according to the Ellen McArthur Foundation

In the basement of a shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur, you’ll find one of Malaysia’s most unusual fashion ateliers.
Biji Biji is a brand which creates fashion almost entirely from upcycled materials – or as other people might put it, from trash. From surplus seat belt straps to discarded plastic banners, this is where the old becomes new.
In a small workshop, sewing machines hum as the team works to create satchels, tote bags and other accessories. Look closer and you might guess at the origins of the materials.
“Biji Biji started as friends who were living together and wanted to contribute to society, the environment,” explains 28-year-old Ambika Sangaran, managing partner of the Biji Biji brand.