While studying Materials Engineering at Johns Hopkins, I spent a summer building an extruder machine in my garage to recycle plastic into yarn. I took it back to school and kept tinkering. Being on a college campus, you’re surrounded by party cups in just about any social setting and that’s what inspired me to begin recycling them.

Fast forward 4 years, and we are launching our first products: the Party Sweater & Party Beanie! By purchasing this garment, you support The New Norm and our recycling, yarn manufacturing, fabric, and apparel knitting partners in North Carolina, Virginia, and New York.

Together, we can transform plastic waste into something beautiful. Together, we can become The New Norm.

Lauren Choi

Founder, The New Norm