Case Study
DHL X ANGUS TSUI : Uniforms Reimagined
Created by
Redress
,
2025
DHL Uniforms Reimagined, Credit: DHL
While fashion waste is increasingly in the spotlight, one category continues to go largely unnoticed: corporate uniforms. Issued to millions of workers across industries each year, these garments are often discarded not just because they’re worn out or damaged, but because they’re difficult to reuse — tied to specific sizes, job roles, or company branding. When employees leave or uniform styles change, redistribution isn’t always feasible. This leaves businesses with stockpiles of textiles and few circular solutions.
This case study examines how circular design strategies can be applied to post-consumer workwear. In a collaboration facilitated by Redress, sustainable designer and Redress Design Award alum Angus Tsui partnered with DHL to remanufacture retired courier uniforms into a limited-edition accessory collection. The project demonstrates how design can transform corporate textile waste into functional, desirable products—and how NGOs, designers, and corporations can co-create tangible circular solutions.
The Vision - Why This Project Matters
Corporate uniforms are a steady and often overlooked source of textile waste. For example, in the UK, corporate workwear waste is estimated at over 39 million garments annually, with less than 10% recovered for reuse¹. Many of these garments are made from synthetic fibres which do not biodegrade and persist in the environment as microplastics. As the fashion industry moves toward circularity, workwear represents a consistent, under-addressed waste stream that is ripe for redesign.
To explore circular solutions for this under-addressed waste stream, DHL Express Hong Kong partnered with environmental NGO Redress to launch the DHL GoGreen Plus Alumni Prize under the Redress Design Award 2024. The brief invited Redress alumni to transform retired DHL courier uniforms into fashion or accessory pieces that retained the brand’s iconic red-and-yellow identity while demonstrating circular design principles.
Angus Tsui receiving the DHL GoGreen Plus Alumni Prize under the Redress Design Award 2024, Credit: Courtesy of Redress
Angus Tsui was selected as the winning designer, a Redress Design Award alum celebrated for his commitment to sustainability and innovative upcycling techniques.
“This project has pushed me to think beyond aesthetics. Working with DHL’s retired uniforms made me reconsider how design can be a tool for transformation, not just of materials, but of systems and mindsets,” Angus reflected.
The initiative also enabled DHL to explore circularity in practice. As Andy Chiang, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of DHL Express Hong Kong and Macau, stated: “Underlining our commitment to the development of sustainable fashion in Hong Kong, we are extremely excited to give retired DHL uniforms a second life through Angus Tsui’s creativity. This initiative contributes to DHL’s mission as a leading logistics partner in the fashion and retail industry, enhancing sustainability awareness. Moreover, we are proud to put the limited-edition fashion pieces up for sale, supporting a charitable cause in collaboration with Redress, and aiming to further promote a positive change in the industry.”
The Process – From Waste to Upcycled Product
Transforming retired DHL uniforms into a high-quality product line required more than just creative flair. It called for strategic thinking, technical expertise, and a strong understanding of circular design principles, all of which were applied throughout the development process.
The retired uniforms, approximately 400 garments, included waterproof combi jackets, raincoats, cargo trousers, and quilted liners. Made from synthetic textiles in DHL’s signature red and yellow, the materials posed limitations but also offered a distinct identity. For sustainable fashion designer Angus Tsui, the challenge was to create functional, desirable accessories while working within the constraints of corporate workwear and staying true to DHL’s bold brand identity.
“The biggest limitation was the material, with heavy use of colour blocking and logos. But that’s also what made the challenge interesting.” Angus said.
Deconstructing for Recovery: Salvaging Zippers and Structural Components, Credit: Angus Tsui Studio
Angus began by deconstructing the garments and salvaging usable components like zippers, pockets, and brand labels. This required technical expertise, especially when handling thick seams, coated fabrics, and curved shapes, to extract usable parts while preserving structural quality. Staying true to his zero-waste philosophy, he avoided introducing new fabrics and minimised the use of virgin trims, directly applying circular design principles by reducing waste and maximising material recovery.
Preserving Identity: Reclaimed DHL Branding Elements, Credit: Angus Tsui Studio
Rather than hiding DHL’s bold visual elements, Angus used thoughtful design choices to reimagine them into a new aesthetic. Logos were repositioned, and color blocks were rearranged to create graphic visual interest.
“I approached it as a puzzle,” he explained. “How do I celebrate the uniqueness of each garment while making something coherent and useful?”
Designing with Purpose: Sketching a Functional Product from Salvaged Materials, Credit: Angus Tsui Studio
The Impact – Outcomes, Insights, and What’s Next
The DHL x Angus Tsui collaboration resulted in a limited-edition series of three upcycled accessories — the DHL Upcycled Voyager Shoulder Bag, the DHL Upcycled Versatile Sling Bag, and the DHL Upcycled Journeyer Wallet — designed for longevity and everyday practicality. Features such as contrast linings, modular compartments, and durable construction techniques reflected circular values like adaptability and extended use, while showcasing Angus’ technical precision and creative restraint.
Design 01 / DHL Upcycled Voyager Shoulder Bag, Credit: DHL
Design 02 / DHL Upcycled Versatile Sling Bag, Credit: DHL
More than a product launch, the initiative serves as a model for how brands, NGOs, and designers can co-create designs by turning a consistent waste stream into a circular solution. With DHL providing access to retired uniforms and committing to production and promotion, and Redress supporting the design brief and development process, the project demonstrated how aligned efforts can help bring circularity from concept to implementation.
It also demonstrated how design can play a key role in unlocking the potential of branded textile waste and applying circularity on a practical level. Reflecting on the collaboration, Angus said, “This project has pushed me to think beyond aesthetics. Working with DHL’s retired uniforms made me reconsider how design can be a tool for transformation, not just of materials, but of systems and mindsets.”
Design 03 / DHL Upcycled Journeyer Wallet, Credit: DHL
To emerging designers, this case study is a reminder that creativity extends beyond drawing or ideation. It includes the ability to think critically, adapt to constraints, and respond to real-world challenges. It shows how designers can drive meaningful change in the fashion industry — all while keeping creativity at the core.
About the Contributor: DHL
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.
DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 84.2 billion euros in 2024. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero GHG emissions logistics by 2050.
About the Contributor: Angus Tsui
A Redress Design Award alum, Angus Tsui is known for his visionary, avant-garde designs that fuse sustainability with futuristic aesthetics. Since founding his namesake label in 2014, he has received numerous accolades, including being named one of the Global Top 100 Designers and receiving the DFA Design for Asia Award. Through brand collaborations and his educational charity initiative ANCares, which organises workshops, seminars, and sustainability-focused projects, Angus continues to lead as a pioneer in sustainable fashion.
Footnotes
¹WRAP, Corporate Workwear Arisings and Opportunities (Case Study – Textiles Reports and Trials), 2016.