it's time to rethink recycling

UN-RECYCLING

$80.00
$80.00
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Undyed, Unbleached organic-certified cotton (GOTS)
Waterless printing and GOTS-certified pigment
Additional Points:

Recycling and the blue-bin have provided us with a ‘social-license’ to create more waste. Even if an item is successfully recycled, 95% of the environmental damage has already occurred – in the process of manufacturing and transportation. In any event, much of Canada's "recycling" eventually ends up in the Global South.

Artist Suhmer Hyatt explores the relationship between consumerism and the environment. Inspired by vector art, the work of Piet Mondrian and indeed the environment itself, Hyatt intricately depicts the ubiquitous disposable coffee cup. The lace-like design, upon closer inspection, is made up of 5-point flowers, which are made up of disposable coffee cups. The average coffee drinker uses 250 such cups a year which are practically impossible to recycle due to their thin plastic lining.

Each one of the 200 limited edition pieces is printed on 100% organic, undyed and unbleached cotton.

○ The incredibly soft, cream-coloured fabric is lightly speckled with cotton fibre.

○ This relaxed square-cut sits above the hips and has no definition at the waist or bust.

○ Short dolman sleeves create ease of movement.

○ The hem hits the bottom of the natural waist, perfect for showcasing high-waisted pants.

○ Small slits on either side create an elevated look.

○ This breezy silhouette makes this top the perfect choice for summer weather. It can be dressed up or down.

FABRIC

100% organic, unbleached and undyed cotton.

To read more about our supply chain & sustainability efforts, please see Our Business Model.

CARE

Due to the nature of unbleached and undyed organic cotton, we strongly recommend hand-washing in cold water and hanging in the shade to dry. Do not tumble dry.

The disposable coffee-cup has become a symbol of our prosperous times. In Un-Recycling, Toronto-based artist, Suhmer Hyatt beautifully symbolizes the scale of waste that our consumption creates. An average coffee drinker uses 250 disposable coffee cups per year. Suhmer reframes the disposable coffee cup to create an intricate motif which reminds one of the universally used recycling sign.

Even though these cups find their way into recycling bins, they are not recyclable. This is common for a lot of our blue-bin waste; eventually, Recycling is a global market-driven industry that needs someone to make a financial profit by buying our waste.

How big a problem is our local waste-creation?

DEEP DIVE

MEET THE ARTIST

Suhmer Hyatt is a Jamaican-Canadian illustrator from Toronto. She is an OCAD University Bachelor of Design graduate. She uses flat shapes and vivid colours to spark conversation about current events and sociopolitical subject matter. She often takes intimidatingly complex ideas and distills them into easy-to-understand images. She thinks of illustration as accessible fine art, which has allowed her to express and explore her identity as a female designer of colour.

COMMUNITY LEADER

Untold Unknown supports the Toronto Climate Action Network (TCAN), a network of 40+ local climate groups. Its mission is to foster collaboration among diverse, action-oriented organizations working in Toronto to prevent climate breakdown, strengthen climate resilience, and advance climate justice. Learn why this work is important:

DEEP DIVE

Customer Reviews

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Annette S.
Unrecycling - Comfortable, Classy and Conscious

Recently purchased this T and it has quickly become one of my capsule staples. the crop cut is perfect and for me, whenever I wear it, it is almost a reminder of my personal pledge in action to reduce single use waste wherever possible. Also, I like that I can share the hidden message in the shirt with others as an example of today's art helping to shed light on some of opportunities we have to change our behaviours for a more sustainable future for people and the planet.

K
K Cornell
Beautiful print, do not size down

The unbleached cotton paired with the colourful cup motif is a pretty combination. The reviews say to size down but I wish I’d taken my normal M. It feels snug in the chest and would have been cuter more oversized. It’s also quite cropped. Delivery was fast!

Thank you so much for your feedback and review. We have a one-time free size exchange policy and will be in touch with you shortly.

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JoAnne
Great Top! Great Concept!

Another great top from a company with a purpose and an eye for fashion and design! What better way to get a message across than through art and in this case a beautiful top! The fabric is light and cool and I love the subtle choice of design! What a powerful message! Thank you for sharing your vision! 😎

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Emily
A great gift!

I purchased this top as a thank you gift for a collaborator. My hope was to find something that felt like wearable art and was more meaningful than a gift certificate or candle. A friend recommended Untold Unknown (said she lives in her top). I was a little nervous to buy clothing for someone at first (especially because so many Tororontians live in basics) BUT it was a huge hit! The person I gifted it to really appreciated that I remembered her commitment to recycling and loves that she has a beautiful top that tells the story of a cause she's deeply committed to. + / Size guide was intuitive and made it easy to buy as a gift. Great customer service at every touchpoint. Especially appreciated the video thank you email from the creator (forwarded to the woman I gifted this to!) - / I want more options!! Can't wait to see what UU comes out with next!

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Jaylin Bradbury
My new favourite summer shirt!!!

I was so excited when I received my new Un-Recylcing shirt. The delivery was incredibly fast, and I could already tell it was going to be great based on the packaging alone! It felt like I was opening a present carefully wrapped by a loved one!
The shirt itself is a great material, so soft and light - honestly the perfect summer shirt. I loved how the unbleached cotton is slightly cream colour, it looks even better than I could have imagined.
Depending on the brand, I usually fit between a medium or large; however, I found the medium to be a great fit so the tip to size down if you want something more fitted was great advice.
The design is subtle and elegant while still being fun and colourful. Despite just getting it a few days ago, I've already worn the shirt twice and have had several people comment on it.
I love the messaging behind the design as well as the shirt itself. I'm so excited to have found a new local based company that is genuinely doing such important work in terms of sustainable, ethically sourced clothing that supports local artists and increases awareness of important causes.