Revival London is a slow fashion label that stands at the intersection of sustainability and style, focusing on repurposing textile waste into contemporary and expressive clothing. Founded with a mission to redefine how fashion is created and consumed, Revival emphasizes zero-waste design and limited-edition capsule collections. The brand’s bold and creative pieces celebrate individuality while staying committed to environmental consciousness. UNCLE has partnered with Revival to promote the vision of making slow fashion both responsible and exciting, while pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability.
Revival London’s clothing embodies a unique fusion of nostalgic influences from 90s R&B and the founder’s West African heritage. Bold silhouettes, deconstructed elements, and vibrant patterns are key features of the designs, blending cultural richness with modern aesthetics. The use of reclaimed garments allows for the creation of one-of-a-kind pieces that feel fresh and eclectic, with versatile styles that can be worn in multiple ways. Revival’s collections are statement-making yet sustainable, offering a new vision of fashion that’s as ethical as it is eye-catching.
In this interview, Rosette (Revival’s founder) delves into the inspirations behind the brand, from early fashion experiments in London to the influence of cultural heritage and sustainability. Throughout the conversation, we discussed how the city influenced the brand and what helped shape Revival’s vision for a more conscious fashion future.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
I’m really inspired by the 90s R&B music era. I just think that era was so cool and people didn’t care, they wore what they liked and were bold and expressive with their looks. I also draw inspiration from my West African heritage (Ghana and Nigeria) as that’s a huge part of my identity. I love some of the bold silhouettes and styles from cultural attire and I try to tie those into my work. These two influences shape my designs, blending nostalgia with cultural richness to create something special and distinct.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO FASHION?
My journey into fashion began when I moved to London from Accra, Ghana and first discovered cross-stitching in Year 6! That initial spark led me to study art and textiles in secondary school, and from there, I was hooked. I got my first little £50 sewing machine from John Lewis and started customising my clothes using YouTube tutorials, which eventually led me to pursue a fashion diploma and turn my passion into a career. During that diploma, I did a ‘‘deconstruction reconstruction’ course which entailed taking an old garment apart and turning it into something else, and that’s when I knew that upcycling/reworking was the route I wanted to take into fashion.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU CREATED?
I think the first thing I created was a pair of African print shorts in school! It was my first attempt at bringing my heritage into something I had created with my hands. It was definitely not the best fit but they were cute nonetheless.
WHAT DOES FASHION MEAN TO YOU?
Fashion, to me, is all about creative self-expression. It’s a powerful way for me to communicate my personality, mood and creativity with the world without saying a word. Also, fashion gives me confidence. I truly live by the “look good, feel good” mantra. When I’m in my baggy triple denim fit or a sexy secondhand bodycon dress, I feel like I’m the baddest b!
WHAT IS THE THING YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A DESIGNER?
I love transforming something “ugly” or unwanted into something beautiful and unique that no one else owns. The creative process of reimagining and repurposing materials is incredibly rewarding. It just gives me life.
HOW HAVE YOU REFINED YOUR OWN PERSONAL STYLE?
My style has definitely evolved over the years. I used to experiment with everything—one day dressing like a bit more grunge-y, the next as a proper tomboy, and then going preppy and girly the next. I was very experimental when I was younger. Now, I’ve refined my style to a base of 90s and slightly tomboy-ish vibes which is truly me, but I still like to flex around that foundation.
WHY IS SUSTAINABILITY SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR BRAND?
Sustainability is crucial to Revival London because I believe in creating fashion that not only looks good but also does good. It’s about respecting the environment and ensuring that our impact on the planet is positive, not harmful. I promised myself I wouldn’t start a brand that would further contribute to the tonnes of textile waste ending up in landfills and damaging the environment. I try to live by the saying, ‘leave a place better than you found it’ in every aspect of my life.
HOW DOES WORKING WITH REPURPOSED TEXTILE CHANGE THE DESIGN PROCESS AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS?
Working with repurposed textiles makes the design process more challenging but also more rewarding. It forces me to think creatively about how to use what’s available, which often leads to innovative and unexpected designs. I usually sketch a few designs out but as I unpick the garment seams and play around with material, the initial designs may completely evolve and turn into something else. The benefits are clear—each piece is totally unique and special, and we’re reducing or saving carbon, water and co2 emissions by giving new life to old materials.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CORE DESIGN ELEMENTS OF YOUR CLOTHING?
Core design elements of Revival London include bold, eccentric and deconstructed features, inspired by the original garments reclaimed. There’s also elements of my West African roots blended with 90s & Y2K aesthetic which are evident through our silhouettes and shapes. Revival London has a strong focus on creating versatile, statement pieces that can be worn in multiple ways.
WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION IN LONDON?
London is full of inspiration. I find inspiration everywhere as the city is so diverse so there are people from all over hence diverse street style. It could take 30 minutes of people-watching on a busy East London street and I’m filled with inspiration for an eclectic new design. I also love visiting photography, art and fashion exhibitions (mostly the nostalgic and culturally-focused ones) as these open my eyes to different people’s journeys, their inspiration and the creative concepts they’ve delved into to create their own version of art.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LONDON?
I love London’s energy and diversity. It’s a city where you can find every style, culture, and trend, all coexisting. That melting pot of influences is incredibly inspiring for a designer. There’s also always something to do so I never find myself bored or wondering what to explore.
HOW HAS LONDON SHAPED YOU AS A DESIGNER?
London has shaped me by exposing me to a wide range of cultures and styles, pushing me to think outside the box and incorporate diverse elements into my designs. It’s a city that encourages creativity and innovation, which has been essential to my growth as a designer.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR BRAND?
Revival is a zero-waste, slow fashion label centred on sustainability and specialising in the repurposing of textile waste for creative self-expression. As a slow fashion brand, Revival creates limited edition capsule collections using reclaimed garments that are deconstructed and redesigned into contemporary pieces. The brand’s vision is to inspire more conscious and circular ways of creating and consuming fashion; making slow fashion sexy.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR REVIVAL?
We’re looking to expand globally, with plans to host pop up stores and events in Europe, the US and Asia. We’re also expanding our product offering to introduce a menswear line which is really exciting as I’ve never created looks for men. Further down the line, we’ll also be exploring textile innovation and how technology can be used to push the boundaries of sustainable and circular fashion.
