A No Bull Cause We Can Get Behind
Last year, After began supplying textiles to Felix Toohey for his label, No Bull Cause, to further challenge the perception of used apparel, demonstrating the hidden value that would otherwise go to waste.
The Ethos and Impact of No Bull Cause
Felix’s approach isn’t just about recycling, it’s about reimagining waste to demonstrate its true value.
“The No Bull Cause is a design-first concept that explores ways that value can be added back to waste. I want to prove to creatives and business owners that it’s possible to express yourself whilst also conserving the resources of our precious planet.”
From Uni Project to Sold Out Designs
The name has been around and evolving for the past few years, through these evolutions, however, the business has stayed true to its mission of highlighting the value in waste and a commitment to sustainability.
“The No Bull Cause started out as a university project whilst I was studying at RMIT. The name had been around before though, as a final project for my first degree in graphic design. It was originally an initiative I designed to bring awareness to the milk on tap service found in Melbourne.” (a theme you can trace through some of the designs today.)
“It was during this project, in 2023, that I completed my first real-world product with Into Carry. We designed and produced a bag for holding reusable milk containers constructed of recycled milk cartons.” The product went on to be successfully produced and retailed at Green Collect.
This spurred Felix’s desire to understand how waste can be repackaged and sold. “I learnt a lot from this first product and I realised that it was not going to solve the problem,” he shared. In 2024, he successfully pivoted No Bull Cause toward a focus on combating fashion waste.
Refining the Process
No Bull Cause has gone through three major eras (not including the milk on tap campaign that shared a common name) From the University project, to the concept realisation & first sales, to today’s iteration with After at Fisherman’s Bend.
“When I was first realising the concept in July 2024, I would source clothing from personal donations (friends and family) and thrift shops like Savers. After let me use some of their clothes last year as a test. I could see the potential immediately and the range of fabrics was impressive.”
“Before After came onboard, I produced everything in my bedroom. I would source unwanted clothes, clean the garments, dye them, screen print No Bull Cause designs onto them, heat set, sew new labels on, document and then sell at local markets. Now I have a new space and better equipment plus a constant stream of unwanted clothing I can transform thanks to After. “
Early Success
“Last year I was able to show some pieces created from After’s donated clothing at two separate Melbourne Fashion Week events. The series of featured black crew necks were previously merchandise for a horse racing team, of which I cut the original logos out of and stitched screen printed fabric behind.”
Looking Ahead
“Pretty much all the clothing for the next year will be sourced from After, so everything is a collaboration. I think it would great to do some collaborative designs too”
We asked Felix what excites him the most about his upcoming projects, having the space to ramp up production stood out, “As mentioned I started printing in my bedroom. It’s messy. There’s no way of getting around that, so being able to ramp up the quality and scale of production to re-imagine more fashion waste is very exciting.”
With several collaborations also in the works 2025 is going to be a year to watch for the label.
Felix shared he’s working with artists to create new designs and looking into releasing homeware made entirely from recycled and found materials.
“One product, that I have been working on with a very talented designer for the last 4 months, will be crafted from recycled seaweed and ink waste and will mark No Bull Cause’s first explorations into product design since the No Bull bag in 2023.”
Collaboration for a Circular Future
The major sentiment of No Bull is about reimagining waste, but parallel to this aim is the collaboration and connection essential to this field.“You can only do so much alone. Eventually you will have to outsource or work together to facilitate the sustainable trends you want to see.”
After is on a mission to empower Australia's participation in waste to value solutions and the circular economy more broadly by reinventing ethical textile disposal, we’re proud to partner with designers, artists, and creatives like No Bull Cause who share a common passion for innovative and unique textile waste pathways. We have big plans to drive this recycling pathway forward, so if you're interested in sourcing textiles more information can be found here, or otherwise keep up to date with our latest updates here.