CycloTide

CYCLOTIDE - Weave Water Cycle into Wearable Ecology
CycloTide is a student-designed conceptual fashion collection that translates the water cycle—precipitation, runoff, and marine ecology—into tangible, meaningful garments. More than a fashion showcase, it’s a heartfelt appeal for water conservation, merging artistic expression with sustainable innovation to respond to the fashion industry’s water crisis (100L of water = 1 t-shirt).
Design Language: Three Chapters of Water’s Journey
• Precipitation: A functional raincoat embedded with an innovative circular water control device, blending practical rainwater management with sleek aesthetics—an elegant tribute to human wisdom in harmonizing with nature.
• Runoff: A 3D-printed lung-shaped ornament crafted from bio-based degradable PLA material, using light-transmitting properties and adjustable printing density to mimic the flow of rivers; geometrically patched trousers trace the path of water as it branches and converges into the sea, symbolizing water as the shared "breath" of Earth and humanity.
• Marine Ecology: Recycled denim (sourced from the designer’s wardrobe and classmates’ donations) is transformed into textured marine reefs, while layers of ruffle trims echo the delicate textures of marine life. Discarded fishing nets from Zhejiang’s coastal fishermen, cleaned and disinfected, are repurposed into fabrics—linking fashion directly to ocean conservation.
Sustainable Innovation at Its Core
The collection marries technology and eco-consciousness: glowing optical fibers capture water’s dynamic forms (liquid, gas, solid) with vivid light effects; bio-based PLA 3D printing minimizes waste while echoing water’s transparency; and upcycled denim and fishing nets turn discarded materials into sartorial treasures. Every detail tells a story of "human intervention for good"—proving fashion can be both beautiful and responsible.
CycloTide invites wearers and viewers to reconnect with water. It turns clothing into a voice for the planet, reminding us that every choice—from what we wear to how we reuse—can protect the water cycle. In every stitch, it whispers: to safeguard water is to safeguard life itself.