A limited run of Kathmandu’s flagship Epiq down jacket will be released using leftover fabric from previous production runs, as the brand seeks to put surplus materials to practical use.
The Epiq Colour Block Limited Down Jacket has been made from unused off-cuts from past product manufacturing, including materials from previous winter seasons. These, combined with seasonal and core colours, have created contrast panel designs.
Reflecting Kathmandu’s commitment to conscious material use, surplus fabric has been minimised. Where needed, it has been distributed for prototyping, repairs, or smaller product runs, or donated to local community groups for cross-stitching and design work. In this case, the surplus fabric has been reimagined into a new garment.
“This was about finding a purposeful use for fabric that already exists,” said April-Joanna Burrows, Kathmandu’s Head of Design.
“We wanted to use the off-cuts meaningfully. Instead of treating it as leftover, we approached it as a bold design decision from the outset.”
The product release is constrained by the availability of surplus fabric, with only a limited number of units produced. Each colourway uses different combinations of off-cuts, limiting volumes and preventing scaling beyond the available materials.
The range includes men’s styles in Dark Sapphire Block and Black Block, and women’s styles in Tech Blue Block, Alloy Block and Pinot, with each colourway combining leftover fabrics with seasonal tones to create the contrast panels.
The jackets have maintained the same construction, performance and insulation as the core Epiq range, with the difference primarily visible in the panelled colour-blocking created by mixed fabrics.
“This project shows how constraints can shape the outcome in a positive way. When you work with what is already available, it pushes you toward more considered and often more interesting design solutions.”
The Epiq Colour Block range will be available from the 10th of June in selected Kathmandu stores in New Zealand and Australia, including Queenstown, Queen Street, Chatswood and Chadstone, as well as online.
