Portrayal is an upcycling studio made by Marina and Vicky, two Fashion Designer from Argentina, as a space to let their creativity flow while giving discarded clothes a new chapter in their lives. Their purpose is to revive garments doomed to disposal and turn them into unique pieces. This project is not only a canal for expressing our inner world but also to help with the circularity of used clothes and repurposing any material, putting the spotlight on the forgotten". transform discarded garments, exploring our creativity as we combine embroidery, hand-paint, dye, bleach, and different hand-crafted textile techniques.
Driven by a vision of meaningful change in the fashion industry, Portrayal stands as a testament to what's possible when creativity meets purpose. The mainstream fashion landscape is rife with examples of greenwashing and performative sustainability—brands making incremental gestures while the system remains fundamentally unchanged. Many of us have felt the weight of these contradictions, both professionally and personally, witnessing the environmental and social costs of fast fashion.
What sets this collection apart from most is the refusal to accept powerlessness. Rather than accepting the status quo, we have chosen to build a tangible alternative. Through this collection, we are trying to demonstrate that another approach to fashion is not only possible but necessary. By rescuing discarded garments and transforming them into one-of-a-kind pieces, we're actively trying to push the industry toward genuine circularity and accountability.
It's our goal that this Capsule Collection extends beyond the individual pieces—it's about illuminating a path forward for an industry desperately in need of authentic transformation. In a sea of empty sustainability claims, this work has the ambition to speaks louder than any marketing campaign ever could.
The mainstream fashion industry operates on a fundamental assumption: that existing business models can be reformed to address their own failures. Adjust production here, add a sustainability label there, and the system remains intact. Yet this approach overlooks a critical truth—the capitalist structures that created these social and environmental crises cannot simultaneously be the solution to them.
At 12oz Vintage, we reject incremental fixes in favor of radical reimagining. We partner exclusively with brands and designers who have committed to fundamentally rethinking how fashion is created, distributed, and valued. We are not a company that's making marginal adjustments; we want to be architects of genuine alternatives.
Our collaborations reflect a deliberate philosophy: supporting those who challenge the system rather than perpetuate it. Through strategic partnerships and transparent initiatives, we highlight the work of designers and studios that prioritize environmental stewardship and social responsibility as core principles—not afterthoughts.
Social Change
The foundation of fast fashion's affordability rests on a troubling reality: cheap labor. The mainstream industry depends on outsourced production in regions where wages remain depressed and working conditions are often exploitative. Yet this model obscures a fundamental truth that deserves to be front and center—every garment is handmade. Behind each discounted piece hanging in stores is a human being, typically earning a fraction of what their labor is worth.
Creating genuine social change in fashion requires acknowledging this human cost and actively choosing alternatives that value the craftspeople behind the work.
Environmental Impact
The environmental footprint of fashion is staggering. The industry generates significant greenhouse gas emissions from human activity—a burden that rivals international aviation and shipping combined. This crisis stems primarily from two interconnected failures: systemic overproduction and the near-total absence of meaningful recycling infrastructure.
At 12oz Vintage, we address these core environmental challenges through our curation and partnerships. we are committed to circular practices, reduced production cycles, and material recovery, we actively contribute to reshaping how fashion impacts our planet. The three primary environmental sustainability issues we work to transform are rooted in these realities, and our collaborations reflect a commitment to solutions that go beyond rhetoric.
The Architecture of Fast Fashion
Fast fashion operates on a deceptively simple premise: produce massive volumes at breakneck speed using the cheapest materials available. This in turn enables consumers to be drawn to purchase products inexpensively.
At 12oz vintage it is our goal to be the Antidote to fast fashion!