Cara Schrode - Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin

Grow and Fit – Mitwachsende Kleidung als nachhaltige Designlösung (WLD ROOTS) – Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin

WLD ROOTS explores how children’s clothing can transcend its purely functional dimension to become a medium for sustainability, storytelling, and emotional connection. The starting point is the observation that children outgrow their clothing particularly quickly, while the fashion industry is simultaneously characterised by ever-shorter product life cycles. WLD ROOTS responds to this by developing a modular outdoor clothing system designed to be worn for up to two years. Thanks to an innovative construction, the garments can be adjusted by up to 12 cm without compromising comfort, protective function, or design quality.

The collection is based on a multi-layered system comprising an outer shell, an insulating layer, and an inner layer, which can be worn individually or in combination. The outer material consists of durable oilskin, renowned for its water-repellent properties, longevity, and ease of repair. The insulation uses Biopuff, a plant-based and biodegradable alternative to conventional synthetic fillings. The inner layer is made from soft, GOTS-certified organic cotton teddy fabric to ensure a high level of wearing comfort.

A central conceptual element is repairability. High-wear areas such as the knees, elbows, and hems can be reinforced or repaired using interchangeable patches – which serve not only a functional, but also an emotional and educational purpose: children collect them by completing small environmental tasks, turning their garments into a visible record of their experiences and engagement.

WLD ROOTS understands clothing as a long-term companion that not only protects, but also educates, inspires, and encourages a more active and conscious relationship with one’s environment.

Cara Schrode’s work bridges the worlds of fashion, storytelling, and social design. As a mother and fashion designer, she explores how clothing can create emotional value and be approached with greater sustainability in mind. She completed her bachelor’s degree at HTW Berlin, focusing on natural dyeing techniques and fat studies. During her master’s programme, she specialised in sustainable, adjustable children’s clothing and developed the WLD ROOTS collection from this work.

With WLD ROOTS, she designs a modular outdoor clothing system for children that aims to make sustainability tangible not only functionally, but also emotionally. Inspired by nature, childhood memories, workwear aesthetics, worlds of adventure, and playful forms, her collections celebrate repair, longevity, and individuality.

At the heart of her practice is the question of how clothing can convey knowledge, attitude, and a sense of belonging. She combines modular design concepts, sustainable materials, and narrative elements such as comics, patches, and environmental missions into a distinctive creative world that bridges fashion, education, and a vision for the future.

Fotograf*in: Darja Jakushevich  @darja__jak

Model: Quentin Schrode  –

Styling: Cara Schrode  –

Kommunikationsdesign: Lara K. Hortmann  @lakiho_