Lydia Bolton launches capsule with e-bike firm Lime

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
August 22, 2023

British slow fashion designer Lydia Bolton has debuted her first cycle-friendly streetwear collection in a collaboration with e-cycle-for-hire brand Lime. 

Using Bolton’s recycled designs “to empower more people to travel and shop sustainably”, the Re-Cycle Collection’s “innovative features make two-wheel travel contemporary and practical for all”, we’re told.

Designed to fit into everyday wardrobes, the four-piece capsule can be “thrown over or styled under existing outfits, to allow a seamless transition from cycle lane to the office, or dinner with friends”. 

The capsule was inspired by a new study from Lime that found that 90% of UK adults admit they avoid cycling when wearing certain items of clothing, and 48% of cyclists wish there was more high-fashion cycle-friendly clothing.

All pieces are made from second-hand clothing sourced from charity retailer Traid’s London stores and includes waste textiles, sleeping stock, deadstock fabrics and thrifted pieces. These include old tents, quilted jackets, jerseys, waterproof coats, and puffer jackets.

The collection includes adaptable coats that double up in both short and long styles, with a detachable lower half that can be zipped off and folded into an attachable bag to let riders pedal freely, while still sporting an oversized coat after reaching their destination.

The reflective hi-vis vests are described as "more gilet chic than health and safety marshal", while "on-the-go" shorts are long unisex length -- designed to be worn under a skirt. Meanwhile, the line’s clothing clips are used to secure trouser hems or long dresses and skirts from getting caught in a bike or scooter. 

The colour palette features forest greens, beige, and sand, and pieces come in sizes ranging from S to XL, while having been designed to be worn oversized.

Individual pieces have now dropped on eBay and can be bid for, with 100% of proceeds donated to grassroots environmental organisation Friends of the Earth. An auction will be live until 25 August and the collection will be on display at the ‘Re-Cycle’ pop-up shop at BoxPark Shoreditch, London, on 24 August.

Bolton said: “As Lime has become so synonymous with London’s bustling city culture, I’ve taken cues from the city’s surroundings and current trends to inspire the Re-Cycle Collection. I wanted this transitional collection to feel authentic to how Londoners move around and use this city."

Lizzy Day, Sustainable Operations Manager at Lime, added: “Cycling in London is at an all time high. But barriers still exist that prevent it becoming fully integrated into our daily routines and lifestyles. One of those barriers is the lack of fashion-friendly clothing that also lets you ride comfortably and safely. By working with Lydia and Traid, we’ve created a collection that inspires a future of cycle-friendly fashion that can help more people travel sustainably without having to compromise their outfit choices.”