Still Here, Still Slow
A reflection on eight years of making differently
When Outliv began back in 2018, it was just me, a pile of preloved fabric, and the idea that perhaps I could do things differently. I didn’t set out to build a brand in the traditional sense, I wanted to make something useful, something lasting, and something kind to the planet.
Over seven years on, I’m still here, still making, still committed to slow, thoughtful fashion. And while a lot has changed around us, our purpose has stayed the same.
A different kind of progress
Over the years, we’ve sold more than 160 one-of-a-kind bags—each one made from upcycled materials, stitched with care, and sent out into the world to live a second life. With each Outliv bag sold, we have donated to the Sea Cleaners, a local non-profit working to protect Aotearoa’s coastline. Thanks to your support, we’ve raised over $1,100 to date through bag sales and events.
We’ve also diverted more than 22.25 kilograms of textiles from landfill, that’s more than enough to fill a large Auckland kerbside 240L rubbish bin, or the equivalent of around 50 pairs of jeans. Every panel, strap, and interior lining has been repurposed from fabric that already had a story. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s one rooted in care and circular thinking, on a mission to design waste out of the process, and keeping useful materials in use.
We’ve had some proud moments along the way:
Showing at the Good Magazine Sustainable Style Show at NZ Fashion Week in 2018
Presenting the Let’s Get Ethical community-focused event during NZFW 2018
Hosting the events; Join the Fashion Revolution and screen of movie doco River Blue
Being named a Finalist in the Zero Waste Awards for Innovation in 2021
Small actions. Big energy. All rooted in purpose.
Slow in a fast world
In many ways, the industry has come a long way. More people are questioning fast fashion. More brands are being held accountable. There’s a greater awareness now of the toll that clothing takes on the environment, on garment workers, on our collective future.
But building a slow, sustainable brand in the thick of a fast-paced world hasn’t been easy. We’re surrounded by businesses releasing new stock weekly, collections built for speed and scale. That’s never been our way.
We release product when it’s ready.
We upcycle because it’s creative, restorative, and resourceful. Not because it’s on-trend.
We make fewer pieces, but with more intention.
And we see every bag not just as an accessory, but as an act of care for our environment, our craft, and future generations.
This work is part design, part rebellion.
It’s art. It’s utility. It’s deeply personal.
A quiet thank you
Outliv is still small by design. But thanks to you, our community, we’ve been able to keep going, slowly and surely. If you’ve followed our journey, bought a bag, told a friend, or simply understood the value of what we’re trying to do… thank you!!!!
There’s more to come. Not all at once, but when it’s ready.
Warmest,
Amy x
