Tailoring brand turns to bottles for new suit collection

A tailoring business in Leeds which dates back to 1948 has launched its first sustainably-sourced suit collections – made from recycled plastic bottles.

Skopes which was founded after the Second World War by Sydney Cope was once renowned for its corduroy from Hebden Bridge and the finest worsteds from Huddersfield.

However now under the leadership of Cope’s grandson, Simon Cope, the business is looking at ways to reduce its impact on the environment.

Each suit in firm’s new Morelli, Pepe and Gambino ranges is made from at least 45 recycled plastic bottles that would otherwise go to landfill and is a partnership with Lyfcycle, an ethical UK-based sustainable clothing manufacturer.

The suits also feature linings and woven labels made from recycled bottle tops while paper hang tags use 100 per cent recycled FSC-certified paper.

Head of buying at Skopes, Nick McGlynn, said: “We are really keen to reduce our environmental impact and have developed this collection diligently with Lyfcycle over the past 18 months.

“They have been a trusted supplier of ours for over 10 years so we are delighted to be the first brand to partner with them in this initiative.”

McGlynn added that this was just the start for the business which also has a collection of shirts made from recycled fabrics due to launch later this year.

He said: “The aim with Lyfcycle is to create a fully self-sufficient, transparent loop of sustainable and traceable sourcing, production and delivery.

“As such, we are actively encouraging all our supply chain partners to follow this lead because the industry simply has to be more sustainable.”

Alongside these project the business is also working with disabled children’s charity Newlife to encourage customers to extend the lifecycle of their clothes by donating them after use, which also helps the charity raise much needed funds.