# Coal Miner Couture Zechekind Creates Accessories From Recycled Uniforms By Holger Mohr | Published 2009-06-20 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/recycling-with-philosopy-zechenkind-is-making-accessoires-of-coal-miners-cl References: [zechenkind.de](http://zechenkind.de) & [tu-dortmund.de](http://www.tu-dortmund.de/uni/studierende/aktuelles/meldungen/2009-02/09-02-23-Zechenkind/index.html) Anika Beller-[Kraft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plastipak-and-kraft-heinz)’s new brand Zechekind (“coal mine child”) is comprised of bags and accessories made from used coal miner’s clothing. Zechekind is based in Dortmund, a German city that is known as an industrial area with a number of mines. While the mines themselves have been closed, Anika Beller-Kraft takes all the old coal miner’s uniforms that she can find and turns these [old clothes into new creations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/freitag-x-tudes-studio) that retain the history and soul of their prior life. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.7/10 - Popularity: 62% | Activity: 12% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Sustainable Fashion:** Zechekind's use of recycled uniforms highlights the trend of sustainable fashion, demonstrating an opportunity to create environmentally conscious products. - **Circular Economy:** Zechekind's use of upcycling in their production process presents an opportunity for the circular economy trend to gain momentum. - **Heritage as a Value Proposition:** Zechekind's focus on preserving the history and soul of the coal miner's uniforms they use demonstrates the value in highlighting heritage as a selling point for modern products. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fashion:** Zechekind's use of repurposing old uniforms can be applied to other fashion industries which highlights an opportunity to work sustainably. - **Textile Waste Management:** Zechekind's approach serves as an excellent model for socially responsible businesses in the textile waste management sector. - **Sustainability Consulting:** Zechekind's success in repurposing old clothes can be applied to sustainability consulting practices, opening up new opportunities to use waste as a resource. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Contemporary Military Fashion Brands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ukrainian-brand-rbtnk.md) - [Airline Safety Equipment Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/upcycled-life-vests.md) - [Upcycled Surf Kite Backpacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/edgy-kids-brand.md) - [Upcycled Designer Pillows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kara.md) - [Sustainably-Focused Experimental Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/upcycled-fashion-collection.md) - [Bespoke Textile-Focused Mittens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/linkdesigns.md) - [Handcrafted Jewelry Brands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pretty-weird.md) - [Luxury Slow Fashion Brands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kzk-studio.md) - [Retail Overconsumption Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coachtopia-1.md)