Sans Soucie: From Hose to Haute

Though her cutting-edge collection, Sans Soucie, translates to “without a care,” it’s clear that such nonchalance doesn’t apply to the ethics and effort Katherine Soucie puts into her clothing, made from reclaimed hosiery. Soucie deconstructs unworn reclaimed hosiery that she silkscreens, dyes, heat-sets and reconstructs into fabric. The new textile is machine washable, less likely to pill or run, and is ready to be fashioned into a body hugging Sans Soucie original, like the ones that have graced the fine forms of Halle Berry, Norah Jones and Vancouver’s own Sarah McLachlan.

“From the textiles I use, to the dyes and silkscreening pigments I apply to my work, I am making a conscious effort to use products that are safe or are less damaging to our environment,“ says Soucie.

Last year, Soucie received a B.C. Creative Achievement Award for her outstanding work in applied arts and design, and she continues to develop unconvential textiles, using dryer sheets, reclaimed wool, and silk fibre. Her goal is to reinvent a textile that would originally get used only once before being discarded.

“The materials I use and intend to incorporate in my current and future work will contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally sound industry,” says Soucie. Look for Soucie’s menswear collection, which will incorporate sustainable materials such as organic cotton, soy and hemp.