Our Process
In Southeast Asia, rapid urbanization has overwhelmed waste infrastructure, leading to thousands of mismanaged disposal sites and a growing reliance on incinerators. Landfills & Dumpsites: There are an estimated 1,000+ registered landfills and open dumps across ASEAN nations. Indonesia alone houses over 500 landfills (many of which are open dumpsites), while Malaysia manages roughly 142 sites (with the majority being unsanitary dumps). Due to poor waste separation, many of these pose risks like fires and refuse avalanches. Incinerators: Historically low, incineration is expanding rapidly as countries adopt Waste-to-Energy (WtE) to reduce landfill reliance. For example, Malaysia uses several municipal incinerators on resort islands, while Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia are in the process of building dozens of new WtE plants. Singapore famously relies heavily on incineration to manage its limited space, sending bottom ash to its sole offshore facility As waste continues to accumulate, the second question is how do we design them? Our answer began with a simple proposition: using waste as a resilient resource? We started with one of the least desirable materials in the recycling stream — single-use plastic bags. Lightweight, ubiquitous and notoriously difficult to process, they presented an unlikely starting point. Through experimentation, we developed a way to transform discarded plastic bags into durable woven textiles. What was once destined for landfill became the foundation of our bags. As the project evolved, it attracted a growing community of collaborators: individuals seeking alternative pathways for waste, and designers interested in exploring the creative potential of reclaimed materials. The result is !SSUE — an impact-fashion label that brings together material innovation, thoughtful design and circular thinking. Each piece begins with waste but is designed for long-term use. More than an accessory, it serves as a quiet reminder that meaningful shifts in consumption often start with the objects we choose to carry every day.
