labo mono crafts the bold, eco-friendly urban jacket out of plastic bottles

french designer ali namdari created labo mono in 2018 when he was caught out in the london rain and soaked while cycling home. unfortunately, his search for a light, breathable and sustainable option in the market was fruitless. from there, the idea of creating functional and sustainable clothes that have an aesthetic sense, was born: labo mono and its first product, the urban jacket.

the designer wanted to create a bold, versatile and sustainable jacket designed for everyday urban adventures. it is waterproof and breathable, made with recycled plastic bottles and comes with 16 urban-friendly features. it comes in six different colorways; three solid: green, blue and orange, and three dynamic pattern prints.

the urban jacket was designed with rainy cities in mind making it highly waterproof. a breathable membrane is included in the fabric for users to be comfortable being active while withstanding the rain. it even incorporates pit zip ventilation, discretely designed to camouflage into the jacket’s design.

created for active users, the jacket features a hood that follows the head movement, with a 3 point adjustment system that avoids blocked views especially when cycling. the hood is also helmet compatible. the cuffs are adjustable and reflective, safe to use for night walking and riding, making hand signals more visible. the jacket includes roomy pockets, big enough for water bottles and tablets.

each urban jacket is made using 30 recycled plastic bottles. by using recycled polyester, labo mono diverts the plastic from going to landfills and also saves water and energy. in addition, the jacket doesn’t contain the harmful water repellent chemical PFC, but instead uses a sustainable alternative, bionic-finish ECO. used for cycling, commuting to work or hanging out, the urban jacket ensures the user does it in an ecological and fashionable way. 

‘we definitely don’t aim to blend in. colours, prints and usability are frontiers that we are always exploring. we’re on a mission to create pieces of clothing that aren’t just fun and pleasant to look at, but also cleverly functional and versatile. all that while using the most sustainable materials possible.’  says ali namdari, founder of the london based start-up labo mono.

the start-up is currently seeking funds for the production of more urban jackets in the future. 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: cristina gomez | designboom