‘IVY, IVY, IVY’ by Xi Scorpii: Leading by Example in Sustainable Couture

Chinese fashion designer Xixi Tong is without doubt one of the most exciting names in fashion at the moment. She graduated from Central Saint Martins in June 2024 and started her couture brand, Xi Scorpii, just a few years ago in 2021. Her alternative designs have already attracted celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, BIBI and Katy Perry. Now, her latest collection IVY, IVY, IVY continues to break boundaries as she utilizes it to address the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Tong does so by finding new innovative ways in which couture, custom fitted garments often worn for events, can be even more sustainable aside from the fact that it is slow fashion. This is why IVY, IVY, IVY by Xi Scorpii is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Responsible Consumption and Production and Life on Land.

Over 90 percent of the materials utilized in the collection have been sustainably sourced. This includes repurposed old and second hand fabrics, recycled discarded garments, eco-resins and stainless steel. All of these technical components came together to create a dystopian aesthetic where nature triumphs over human-made structures. This shows that even conceptually, the pieces in IVY, IVY, IVY are promoting nature’s resilience and calling for people from all walks of life to take concrete action to support it.

One of the collection’s centrepieces, Look 13, is a ball gown made with a recycled steel front. It has been wrapped in ivy stems that gradually climb up and down the dress with the help of embedded electric motors, showing in real time how ivy can grow and completely overtake the surface of a structure. Tong was able to achieve this look with the help of Yangqu and Youguo from Guangzhou, whose work integrates technology and machinery with clothing. The success of this particular look and other elements of IVY, IVY, IVY has also inspired Tong to found 51 LIBARE LAB, a consultancy service that aims to help designers and brands utilize sustainable materials and the advanced technological solutions that support innovation.

Xixi Tong’s IVY, IVY, IVY collection under her brand Xi Scorpii is a groundbreaking example of how couture can embrace sustainability without compromising artistic innovation. By repurposing secondhand fabrics, recycled materials, and eco-resins, Tong redefines luxury fashion through an eco-conscious lens. Furthermore, through her consultancy service, 51 LIBARE LAB, Tong extends her commitment to sustainability by helping others in the industry adopt greener practices, positioning IVY, IVY, IVY as a visionary call to action for a more sustainable future in fashion.

Find out more about IVY, IVY, IVY and other pieces by Xi Scorpii on their Instagram @xi.scorpii.official.