Hannah Ernst

The upcycling movement is gaining momentum and for a good reason. Aside from serving environmental purposes by reusing garments, upcycling adds value and new meaning to clothes. In an era of fast fashion and throwaway culture, don’t we all crave a more emotional connection to our clothes? These ten upcycling designers show us how fashion can be wearable art, history, and the future of fashion.

Upcycling challenges our take-make-waste society and allows us to express our individuality by wearing truly unique pieces. Inspired by this approach, we are featuring ten upcycling designers who believe in quality over quantity, rendering the decision between style and sustainability obsolete. They breathe new life and surprising layers of meaning into discarded textiles through creative visions and careful craftsmanship. By avoiding sourcing raw materials and combining unusual elements, their garments tell nostalgic tales of the past, raise issues of the present, and look into a more conscious future.