With the growing interest in ecological subjects and sustainable development, interest in upcycling, in addition to recycling, is growing.
In a society of overconsumption where we accumulate, or we throw away to buy the same and where planned obsolescence is part of our daily lives, new practices are emerging to prove to the world that making something new out of old, it’s possible and inspiring.
By the way, what is Upcycling?
Upcycling is recycling “from above” and consists of recovering materials or products that are no longer used in order to transform them into new materials or products of equivalent or higher quality.
Unlike recycling, upcycling offers to add value to the upcycled object, because this practice combines ecological commitment and the notion of creativity and innovation.
Why is this approach important?
The English word “upcycling” was first proposed in the mid-1990s by Reiner Pilz, a former engineer converted into an interior designer. He wanted to go beyond the generic concept of recycling by distinguishing downcycling from upcycling: the first is in a dynamic of loss of value, while the second aims for “unused products to gain value instead of losing it”
When we upcycle, we transform materials that have been abandoned or intended to be thrown away to give them a second life . This saves them from the trash, which reduces pollution, extends their life cycle and reduces the need to produce new raw materials. It triggers a chain reaction, becoming a link in the circular economy.
Ultimately, the impact of Upcycling could contribute to a profound transformation of production methods, as much as classic recycling.
Many sectors can be concerned: textiles, fashion accessories, decorative objects, furniture, paper, tires, glass... there are an infinite number of materials just waiting to be revalued!
In a culture still very attached to the principle of throwaway, fashion accessories such as jewelry are as affected by the Fast Fashion phenomenon as clothing where more than 4 million textiles are destroyed each year. It seems necessary to find sustainable solutions here too for creating jewelry.
Reuse a broken bracelet found at the bottom of a drawer, bring up to date a baptism medal or a family piece of jewelry, or even use materials from other sectors to make a piece of jewelry: this is the principle of upcycling in jewelry that transforms the old into the new, thus creating pieces that are often unique and always original.
Why did you choose an Upcycling approach?
Upcycling is a way of bringing back to light objects or materials that are sometimes forgotten: artisanal know-how, engraving or gilding techniques from the last century for example, but also local traditions, artistic trends, fashions or somewhat forgotten beliefs. The reuse, in particular, of pocket watch chains, which no one wears anymore since the spread of wristwatches in the 1930s, is full of meaning for me.
There is a notion of cultural transmission to which I am attached, in addition to ecological commitment and the creative approach.
Upcycling also requires reversing the creation process. We no longer start from what we want to create, but we create based on what we have. Every time I look for raw materials, at a flea market or garage sale, I never know what I will find! surprise, discovery and diversity are part of this creative approach and force me to look beyond the primary function of the object or material. The raw material sourced determines the upcycled jewelry that will be created and in what volume it will be produced. It is as stimulating as it is challenging.
The creative possibilities are immense in upcycling, in particular because this practice invites us to rediscover the rich history of jewelry and to move away from tendencies to free ourselves from habits and standards, by mixing materials which should never have been meet: eras, styles, beliefs, origins are found equally on the same recreated jewelry.
For BLISS, I select chains, clasps, pendants, pearls or other elements that I have found and reassemble them to give them a second life. All my jewelry is made with reused materials and sometimes entirely from upcycled elements. Some elements are old, found at flea markets or garage sales, others are recent, from samples or prototypes recovered from dormant stocks. Around 25% of the raw materials used in my jewelry are new, they are mainly chains, rings or clasps. They are selected from European manufacturers, and of superior quality, in silver or goldfilled only, to ensure lasting creations.
Some fashion, accessories and decoration brands?
Brands, mostly on the fringes of the trend, are betting on timeless cuts, colors and styles by using upcycled raw materials, in small series or unique pieces, with a truly committed message.
The prize for chic, pioneering and committed Upcycling goes to Hermes, which in 2013 imagined a creative laboratory that gives a second life to the house's precious materials. In the petit h workshops, we do everything in reverse or, rather, , across. The object is born from existing matter and it is this which breathes life into it. At the crossroads of the house's know-how, artisans, artists and designers work hand in hand. Their challenge: take a fresh look at the material, reinvent, innovate, to create new dream and use objects.
From the 90s, even before we were concerned about ecological approach and we could imagine that the fashion industry could be responsible for environmental disasters, Martin Margiela presented a collection made from Franprix plastic bags . Subsequently, it even launched a completely recycled “line 0”.
Sustainable, free and joyful fashion that offers eco-responsible fashion collections designed in particular from upcycled fabrics. Part of the collection is based on the sourcing of existing fabrics, reused locally and depending on the quantity recovered, in a short circuit and in mini-series. A concrete and coherent global approach, going against the grain of the industry and trends.
A BLISSxMOUNTAINGIRL Collab seemed obvious to us! Around twenty colorful pieces inspired by mountain flora, all the components of which we chose together.
“It’s from old curtains that we make the most beautiful Kombi-shorts! ", is the offbeat state of mind of this Parisian ready-to-wear brand, which in turn recovers and transforms vintage floral curtains, overalls that do not comply with the manufacturer's specifications, stock fabrics from Caroll, each time with a lot of femininity.
Clean embroidered designs and little phrases that feel good, on natural fabrics. In particular, she offers a collection of sweet words in old frames and vintage medallions, which contain, thanks to her, new secrets and beautiful declarations.
For lovers of the sea, a collection of bags, cushions and accessories made in Lorient, from boat sails. The sails are collected from sailors and sailmakers, then sorted and carefully identified. A creative approach unlike fashion and decoration collections: The brand uses the collected material to imagine new products. In each product, a certificate attests to the origin of the sails, traces the history of the recycled sail and indicates the part number as well as the number of products made from this sail.