Here is something wild for the paddock: Formula E and Heron Preston are joining forces to completely rethink motorsport fashion through sustainable design, performance, and materials. Previewing at ComplexCon, this creative partnership connects material-led design with racing innovation.
Now, the logic behind the pairing makes total sense. It is rooted in what both achieve through reuse, as Preston turns recovered materials into desirable design, while Formula E turns recovered energy into racing performance. Through eX-Ray, textile waste becomes new fabric, and through regenerative braking, energy is recovered and used again.
This creative partnership is about rethinking what motorsport fashion can be,
Speaking of eX-Ray, it is Heron Preston’s concept for looking at every element of a product with X-ray vision, from the materials and how they are made to the people and processes behind them. Rather than simply selecting existing fabrics, eX-Ray takes a more considered approach to how materials are developed and used. For the Formula E preview, this means using recycled cotton made from pre-consumer factory off-cuts and production scraps, which are sorted, shredded and re-spun into new yarn before being developed into a heavyweight, tightly woven fabric.
The partners will offer a first look at their direction at ComplexCon Los Angeles through an exploration of eX-Ray materials, alongside a GEN4 car featuring an exclusive Preston-designed livery. Preston's past work includes the 2016 UNIFORM project upcycling decommissioned New York City Department of Sanitation uniforms and second-hand garments, as well as transforming Mercedes-Benz crash-test airbags into garments that retained the material's distinctive physical qualities.
The long-term ambition for the partners spans across performance, fashion, fan merchandise, accessories and products made from upcycled materials drawn from the sport. The GEN4 car provides a tangible example of Formula E's approach, designed to be 100% recyclable or reusable, with at least 20% recycled materials across key components, alongside Formula E being the world's first Global B Corp Certified sport.
“This creative partnership is about rethinking what motorsport fashion can be,” Heron Preston said. “I’ve always been interested in taking materials, processes and ideas from unexpected places and finding new ways to give them purpose. Working with Formula E gives me the opportunity to bring that approach into a world where performance is everything. We’re looking at how apparel can be thoughtfully designed from the material up, balancing function, quality and a more considered approach to how things are made.”
