Upcycling Services: One-of-a-Kind Solution to Reduce Waste

Upcycling is the art of repurposing unwanted materials from potential landfill waste into functional, quality products without the need for new raw materials. This practice keeps both the planet and its people in mind, aiming for a positive impact. Various brands have launched upcycling services as a measure to positively reduce waste and keep materials in the loop. We showcase innovative upcycling services giving a second life to discarded items, such as turning unwanted garments into bespoke pieces, repurposing kimonos into parasols that store memories in a new form, upcycling wedding dresses, customising football jerseys for fans, and reviving worn-out shoes.

NEWLESS

On-Demand Bespoke Upcycling

Newless, a newly launched UK-based upcycling service, aims to reduce the carbon footprint without the use of new materials. It offers customers the on-demand opportunity to have their pre-loved garments re-styled into bespoke apparel by dedicated upcycling designers. The service strives to make upcycling more accessible through an engaging, sustainable experience. They also host pop-up events featuring live upcycling to create bespoke garments with a price tag. Wanting to reduce the negative and harmful impact of fashion, the upcycling service encourages more people to get their clothes upcycled, customised, and keeps materials in a loop to divert garments from landfills.

(Image credit: Newless On-Demand Upcycling Service)

HANAMIZUKI

Upcycling Kimono Parasols

The long-traditional kimono garment, worn for centuries, gets an upcycled makeover from used or no longer in use kimonos into parasols, the umbrella-like devices used as sun protectants, through Kimono Remake Hanamizuki, an upcycling service in Japan. The unwanted kimonos get a second life as beautiful and attractive upcycled parasols. The label promotes this as a way to preserve your memories as well as give them another life in a different form, which is environmentally friendly and waste-reducing. You can have them online or booked at the prefecture, it's a never-before-seen product that's upcycled, storing favourite memories from favourite kimonos into a sustainable product.

(Image credit: Hanamizuki Kimono Remake - Upcycled Parasols)

UNBOX THE DRESS

Wedding Dress Heirloom

Unbox the Dress is an upcycling service that repurposes original wedding dresses into quality garments and cherished upcycled heirloom gifts, restoring memories for a lifetime. The team of redesign experts gets in touch with the consumer to discuss what the wedding dress can become, giving it another memorable purpose. Whether upcycling a mother's wedding dress, a grandmother's dress, or one's own, they upcycle in whatever way possible into another dress, customise it, or turn it into children's clothing or remake it into a purse or any other repurposed product. It's a unique service for keeping materials in the loop along with carrying forward memories.

(Image credit: Unbox The Dress - Repurposed Wedding Gown Heirlooms)

UNWANTED FC

Upcycling Fan-Favourite Football Jerseys

Keith Chan and Kevin Chan are the founders of Australia-based Unwanted FC, which is made for a circular economy giving unwanted football jerseys a second life. They make their own upcycled jersey products as well as offer a dedicated upcycle service for fans who can customise and upcycle their favourite football jerseys that are not used or are landfill-bound into bags, hats, or apparel. To ensure clothing doesn't end up in landfills, and to store fan-favourite memories, upcycling rework designers from Australia, the US, and Europe create unique, one-of-a-kind sustainable products.

(Image credit: Unwanted FC - Upcycled Jersey Collection)

GOLDEN GOOSE

Customised Footwear Repair & Care

The Italian luxury lifestyle brand, known for its footwear, has launched an upcycling service for worn-out sneakers into custom pieces, diverting them from landfills, with plans to expand to apparel as well. Their 1OF1 service offers a one-of-a-kind repair for footwear in a sustainable way to reuse and prolong the life of the shoes. They have co-creation methods for customising the pre-loved sneakers through graffiti, art, adding lace, mending, and repairing, collaborating with experts called the Sneakers Makers, all made to lengthen the product's lifecycle.

(Image credit: Golden Goose - 1O1F Repair & Care Customised Service)

Upcycling services offer an extremely efficient way to create one-of-a-kind products that intent to reduce waste. If the availability and commonality of such services were to increase, it could make upcycling more accessible and raise awareness about the conscious use of materials. As more services for repurposing are introduced, they can play a significant role in promoting sustainable practices and reducing the environmental impact of waste, thereby creating a more resource-conscious society.