Upcycling
Development & manufacturing.
Our CLO develops upcycled products that can be reproduced worldwide. We design and produce samples in our Upcycling Lab in Štip, Macedonia. We have our own local manufacturing facility for smaller volumes and larger capacity in Turkey. Our network of upcycling companies covers the UK and Europe and has expanded into the US, enabling brands to maintain consistency across territories, while simultaneously driving employment in this emerging circular industry.
You can shape the future.
Even with the best will in the world there will come a point where a garment can no longer be restored into a valuable product. The options then are either to recycle, which is energy intensive, or to upcycle where instead value can still be captured from the textiles. Upcycling is a new and challenging area that requires collaboration between brands and individuals in order to make this section of the market, not only viable but also desirable.
Here’s how.
Design.
Upcycling is the ultimate in creativity requiring an open mindset, a willingness to push the boundaries and the ability to answer many questions. How can the textiles be repurposed? What will the new garment set out to achieve? How can desirability be created? What innovations can be derived from the project?
Create.
By answering the questions posed from the design analysis we can create the product in our Upcycling Lab with sorting, grading and cutting all done onsite. This provides an opportunity for experimentation and Live analysis, adapting the new product to an ever questioning design brief.
Inform.
The upcycling process is about design and creativity but most importantly about learning. Each project helps inform how the design process can be improved. Not just for upcycled clothing but also new products. Ones that are designed for upcycling at the end of their life so they are better suited to the circular economy.
Taking it back to basics.
Before we design any new products we completely disassemble the backpacks, identifying parts that will be best used in templated products we have created. We also build stock of fabrics and trims that can be used further down the line in other products. The aim is to recycle as little as possible and to make use of what is available.
