RE:FRAME Sustainable Fashion Exhibition: Turning Textile Waste into Bold Style

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RE:FRAME is a special photography exhibition running April 24–27, 2025 at the Leica Store & Gallery in New York City’s Meatpacking District. Created by legendary fashion photographer Enrique Badulescu and sustainability advocate Marina Testino, the show uses bold images to spark a new kind of conversation about how we dress. Instead of hiding the problem of fast fashion, RE:FRAME shines a spotlight on it—while proving you don’t have to sacrifice style for responsibility.

Exploring Atacama’s Textile Waste Crisis

Did you know that over 39,000 tons of new or barely worn clothing end up in Chile’s Atacama Desert every year? That huge pile of fashion waste is so vast it can even be spotted from space. When Marina Testino first saw that mountain of discarded clothes, she felt inspired—and shocked. She believes that showing this waste as art can help us rethink how we buy and wear clothes.

From Waste to Wearable Art

Instead of just showing piles of trash, RE:FRAME turns garbage into gorgeous fashion statements. Designer pieces are built from torn shirts, crumpled packaging, and even empty plastic bottles. Each image—styled by creative director Romina Herrera Malatesta—mixes high‑fashion energy with recycled materials. The result is playful, colorful, and impossible to ignore.

Enrique Badulescu and Marina Testino’s Vision

Badulescu shot every photo with Leica cameras, bringing his signature bright colors and dramatic lighting to the project. After taking time off to raise his daughter, he returns to fashion with a purpose—to make images that move people to act. Testino adds that sustainability doesn’t mean giving up fun or luxury. “We have to redefine style,” she says, “so that thinking about the planet becomes part of getting dressed.”

The 4 S’s of Sustainable Fashion

Marina Testino’s simple plan for more eco‑friendly wardrobes is called the “4 S’s”:

1. Simplify: Buy fewer pieces with more versatile design.
2. Share: Swap or borrow clothes with friends.
3. Sustainably Sourced: Choose brands that use eco‑friendly fabrics.
4. Secondhand: Shop at thrift stores or online resale sites.

How Culture and Fashion Can Drive Change

Fashion makes up 10% of global carbon emissions—and most of that impact hides in supply chains or dumps in deserts like Atacama. RE:FRAME isn’t about guilt; it’s about possibility. By mixing stunning photography with clear facts, the exhibition shows that everyone—from big brands to high school students—can use fashion to protect the planet. After all, what we wear is more than just clothing. It’s a statement about who we are and what we care about.