I love what you do! Upcycling cost a bit of time, and lots of creativity, but its something more people should do. A few years ago, I run a few projects, upcycling mostly merchandise of brands (event organisers) into laptop sleeves, wallets and bags. We made small production cycles working together with shops in the city employing people who have difficulties to find jobs. We wanted to try and see if we could make something sustainable from it, a little (project) company which could be paid by the income. Unfortunately we didn't succeed in that; Partially due to one of our partners decided to leave us to enjoy after life. Since then, I from time to time thinking of reviving this project, but not really have the time to re-launch again, and make sure we getting enough projects done. But maybe, sometime in the future.
You are viewing a single comment's thread from:
I'm so glad to hear about your business and sad to hear it's not functioning anymore. Those products must have been nice. I'm a huge fan of recycling, upcycling, reusing and all that and can appreciate creativity.
I believe transforming something into something else needs a lot of creativity.
Now it's late here but tomorrow I'm going to check out your blog for sure 😊
I still think I'll startup upcycling projects again. Maybe later than sooner, but that doesn't matter :)
Two years ago I published something around my projects and products that time. Below that post, a link to another post with some prototype products: https://esteem.app/upcycle/@edje/upcycling-or-or-or-create-products-of-value-from-waste-or-or-or-my-new-project
Those are very cool things and I'm glad you're thinking of working on the project again. I wish you good luck and thank you for posting me the link.
And the fun was with the laptop sleeves; We even made a little profit (not counting out own time spend on the whole project though). I do believe when taking merchandise from companies, especially in the entertainment and fashion industry, and turn their brands into something new, their fans will actually pay some good money for it. Like they did with the laptop sleeves. The problem with Fashion is the marketeers who don't want their brand to be toughed by others. The entertainment industry is easier, but this industry is very fragmented and how relatively low budgets. That said, there is a potential to turn around upcycling into something sustainable in the sense it can be done in such a way, it'll also feed those working on the projects.
I totally agree with you. Especially on the fact that not everyone is happy to see their products turned into something else. I've been staying out of using labels till now, I've only used one s'Oliver shirt label so far, however I've got a Levi's jeans and I'm going to use that entirely. Let's see what people are going to think of it.
Sorry for the late reply but with all the covid-19 madness I'm busier than ever and have less time for myself.
I was thinking of creating a tag on hive #upcycled and post our creative work. If you care to join, I'd be happy to see your creative work. This is fun and I'm going to do more in the future.
No worries being later; At HIVE nothing is ever too late :)
I think such a tag would be great! Don't have too much products myself to actually put onto that tag though. Am more a project /product manager and business guy rather than the designer :) But I'll will visit that tag for sure! Maybe you like to create a community? Maybe also a bit too early, probably not to many users into upcycling, dont know to be honest.
I've thought of a community but unfortunately I don't have the time to do it. I'd rather spend my free time creating new things and learning to create.
However, a tag is a great idea and I'm going to do a post about it, let's see if we can get this started and encourage people to do upcycling.
Thanks for being positive about it and supporting the idea 🙂