As sustainable materials in fashion become more common in the industry, many fashion designers are starting to explore the concept of upcycling clothing. Slightly different from recycled fashion, upcycling is a process that transforms something old into something that is better and more valuable than it was before.
What Is Upcycling in Fashion Design?
Though the upcycling process is used in a variety of industries as a way to prioritize sustainability while leveraging innovation, it has become particularly common in the world of fashion design. It’s a technique that is being popularized by many of the most eco-conscious fashion brands and, as a result, trickling down through the masses.
Definition of Upcycling
The aptly-titled term upcycling combines the words “upgrade” and “recycling.” According to research published in the Journal of Comparative Social Work, upcycling is a strategic process in which an individual or industry evaluates an item that has seemingly reached the end of its lifespan, then transforms it into something more valuable or appealing to a consumer. It integrates social responsibility with innovation and creativity, and it often promotes sustainability.
H3: The Environmental Impact of Upcycling
Upcycling not only allows fashion designers to create new and exciting products using eco-friendly fashion materials, but it also has a significant environmental impact. According to research published in the Sustainability journal, a couple of key environmental benefits of upcycling in fashion include:
- Preventing old fashion products or clothing items from ending up in a landfill.
- Reducing the need for newly manufactured products.
Benefits of Upcycling in Fashion
While upcycling in fashion aligns with numerous sustainable fashion trends that are reshaping the industry, there are benefits that extend beyond the environment. Below are some top benefits that fashion designers will enjoy as they focus on sustainable fashion upcycling:
Promoting Sustainable Fashion
One of the primary reasons that upcycling is trending in the fashion industry is because it helps promote sustainable fashion. The reality is that the fast fashion industry has long had a detrimental impact on the environment, due to the fact that the fashion cycle is quick, with constant demand among consumers for the latest clothing items.
According to Earth.org, the fashion industry emits large amounts of greenhouse gases, drains non-renewable resources and uses a substantial amount of water and energy to manufacture clothing items. To minimize the impact on the environment, many fashion designers and fashion brands are working toward adopting sustainable fashion practices, and upcycling is one of the best practices available.
Encouraging Creativity and Individuality
While the environmental benefits are what lead some fashion designers to adopt upcycling practices, many also find that this approach provides them with more room for freedom and creativity when designing new garments. They can work with something old — that many people have seen before or have determined is too dated to use — and transform it into something better. This allows them to work with a wide range of eco-friendly fashion materials and employ their creative ideas to create a unique and authentic piece.
Cost-Effectiveness for Designers and Consumers
Additionally, upcycling is more cost-effective because it does not require fashion brands to manufacture or produce new items in order to create a fresh line. Therefore, fashion designers are able to pass those cost savings onto the consumers, who can purchase fresh, innovative upcycled products for a fraction of the cost of high fashion.
Techniques for Upcycling Old Garments into New Designs
On the surface, upcycling may seem like a fancy term for repurposing old clothes, but in reality, it’s a strategic fashion approach that requires designers to learn specific techniques. Several techniques you may use as you learn how to upcycle clothing include:
Deconstruction and Reconstruction
According to research published in the Art and Design Review journal, deconstruction and reconstruction are reliable techniques that can be used when upcycling clothing. Deconstruction in fashion design requires a designer to expertly take apart a clothing item to extract the materials that were used. From there, the designers will evaluate which materials are available and use their own creative eye to reconstruct the piece into something more beautiful, valuable and useful than it was before.
Dyeing and Printing
Dyeing and printing are often used to upgrade and reinvent the textiles that are extracted from an old clothing item. Techniques used to upcycle textiles and fashion materials include:
- Washing the materials thoroughly.
- Stripping the textiles.
- Bleaching the material.
- Dyeing the material.
- Printing a new design on the material.
This process provides the fashion designer with plenty of artistic freedom as they work to upcycle an old garment and create something fresh.
Adding Embellishments and Embroidery
Aside from repurposing and redesigning the raw textiles and materials extracted from the old garment, fashion designers have the ability to add embellishments and embroidery that will give the piece new life and direction. Through embellishments and embroidery, the designer can curate an entirely fresh look or feel. For instance, vintage denim could be embroidered with flowers to create a piece that is aesthetically romantic and elegant rather than casual and athletic.
Creative Ideas for Upcycling in Fashion Design
Although upcycling is a sustainable practice that can reduce the need to manufacture new products for the latest line, it also provides designers with an opportunity to get creative and think on their feet. The following are some of the creative upcycled fashion ideas designers are using today in order to breathe new life into old fashion items:
Turning Vintage Pieces Into Modern Styles
The fashion trends tend to be cyclical, with many vintage styles coming back en vogue several decades later. For example, the signature baggy jeans and clogs of the 1990s are currently dominating the fashion retail market throughout the country. Fashion designers who want to focus on upcycling will find that it’s fairly simple to take vintage pieces and repurpose them in a manner that offers a modern take on a classic style.
Patchwork and Mixed Fabric Designs
Patchwork design in upcycling is becoming increasingly common, particularly as fashion designers continue to harvest traditional fashion materials from previously worn garments that are no longer useful or trending. Even if a designer only has a small amount of fabric available, they can often use it to create patches on another garment or utilize mixed fabric designs within their collection.
Transforming T-Shirts and Sweatshirts
T-shirts and sweatshirts are two of the most common items manufactured within the fast fashion industry, largely because they are eternally popular and can be produced quickly and cheaply. Thus, there are often many old and previously worn t-shirts and sweatshirts available for fashion designers to work with, giving them the ability to repurpose them into higher-end, better-designed products that are more universally appealing to consumers.
Upcycling in High Fashion and Independent Brands
Those first beginning to explore the concept of upcycling likely imagined that it was a practice being used by up-and-coming fashion designers attempting to make a name for themselves. While this is true, numerous high fashion brands and luxury fashion icons are relying on upcycling to create innovative and impressive products in a way that protects and preserves the environment.
Notable Designers Embracing Upcycling
A few of the most notable and well-known fashion brands embracing upcycling include:
- Patagonia
- Urban Outfitters
- Outerknown
Indie Brands and Artisanal Upcycled Fashion
In addition to the major fashion brands prioritizing upcycling, independent fashion designers and emerging brands are using upcycling to establish themselves in the industry. According to British Vogue, some of the leading fashion designers who rely heavily on upcycling include Ugo Paulon, Hodakova and Tega Akinola.
Tips for Starting Your Own Upcycling Projects
If you are interested in utilizing upcycling to create your own innovative and creative garments, reference the following tips to launch your projects.
Finding Inspiration and Materials
The upcycling process begins with a bit of inspiration and plenty of materials. Start collecting old clothing items that include materials you can extract and that align with your vision for your next garment.
Basic Tools and Techniques for Beginners
Understanding fundamental tools and techniques will allow you to begin upcycling more successfully. You should first learn about deconstruction in fashion design, and invest in scissors and sewing tools that allow you to take apart each piece with precision. You also will want to become familiar with upcycling techniques such as reconstruction, printing and dyeing textiles and more.
Discover the Power of Fashion Sustainability at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
In the world of fashion, what once was old holds the potential to become new again. As you continue to prepare and develop a foundation for your career in fashion, consider a skills-based degree program that provides you with the practical and technical training required to succeed in this dynamic industry. At Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, we offer an on-campus Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design degree as well as an online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design degree, allowing you to select the program that aligns with your current needs and professional goals.
Request more information about our fine arts degree programs today.
