Upcycling meets Design
From Old to New: When upcycling, design and creativity meet, then new great products are being created from discarded objects and waste materials. They are fun and set a sign against the throwaway society at the same time. Recycling instead of throwing away is the motto.
Upcycling meets sustainability
When upcycling energy is saved and resources are conserved. The volume of waste is reduced and the life of materials is prolonged.
Unique and cool upcycling furniture e.g. a beanbag chair produced from sorted out duffle bags or a coffee table from discarded Euro pallets give your own home an exceptional charm. Other designers in turn refine old furniture by giving each piece of furniture a new look and new features. A sewing machine table becomes a bar with a secret compartment or a once colourless dresser shines in pop art style. The seat of a stool is covered with inner tube or residues of synthetic turf. Useless spark plugs are found themselves as hook in a wardrobe or a key board again. The imagination of recycling is almost limitless.
Stylish bags, backpacks, cell phone cases made from recycled tea bags are as hip as handbags, wallets, iPad cases and accessories by French designers. For the popular upcycling bags and accessories worn-out bicycle tires, parachutes, jeans labels and fabric remnants are used and bicycle inner tubes are recycled. Often upcycling products are manufactured in social projects in the home country or in Asian countries. Thus, manufacturers and designers support projects in the various countries in which so-called NGOs (non-governmental organizations) counter poverty or marginalization of women and contribute to a fair remuneration of seamstresses in.
Competition for a Swedish furniture shop in terms of design and quality offer modular shelves made from recycled disposable boards, bicycle tube and metal clippings. From the used materials special shelves for conscious inhabitants are produced in sheltered workshops in loving detail. Every piece is unique with personality and character: individual and upcycling in its purest form.
Even coffee bags that have travelled around the world will be transformed in an upcycling process to rustic or cheerful cushions or a smart doorstop.
First-hand upcycling fashion
Upcycling fashion has established in the fashion industry. Creative designers frame from pants, dresses, skirts, shirts and other garments unique fashion that stands out from the mainstream. Skilled seamstresses and tailors sewing from a worn men's shirt or from the former favourite blouse contemporary shirts and blouses for boys and girls. An old tweed jacket can also quickly become a skirt that makes environmentally-conscious women happy for a long time. Even from ragged T-shirts that should be thrown away, skillful manufacturers crochet in small batches colourful and durable covers for small and large seat cushions.
And there is also something to be found for the little ones: funny cardboard comrades, wendy houses and other eco toys – made from recycled cardboard, of course.