What is Upcycling?
Eco-friendly fashionistas should be well aware of a technique called “upcycling.” This process allows individuals to reuse their garments, rather than having these clothes thrown away and contribute to growing landfills. A great example is using a floral bridesmaid dresses again as a floral sundress or floral bridesmaids robes as a beach or pool cover up. One may see the word and confuse it with “recycling,” however, there’s a significant difference.
While both terms contribute to the environment, one can increase value of the material, and the other simply allows for another use cycle before getting sent to a landfill. As you may have guessed, Upcycling is the process that allows for potential value increase. A great example is Southwestern Airline’s partnership with Looptworks. The two have partnered together to convert worn down airplane seats into purses and bags. Ironically, they’ve named this the “In-Flight Collection.” A prime example of “recycling” is converting junk mail into another paper material. Typically recycling allows for reuse of a material as the same product, like mail, newspapers, etc. Upcycling reuses material, however, such isn’t made into the same product again. While some Plum Pretty Sugar pieces don't currently use upcycled material, other garments, like their bridal party pjs, can be reused time after time.
When Did Upcycling Start?
Though there is evidence that upcycling has been around since the late 20th century, the procedure has become more apparent now. Upcycling, or “creative reuse,” was first introduced by Author Gunti Pauli in 1998. Later, the concept was pursued by William McDonough and Michael Braungart in their 2002 book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. With the concept being introduced to the fashion world, the authors went on about how efforts can be made to prevent wasting still-useful materials. With this idea at hand, upcycling began.
Why Upcycle?
Many often throw away perfectly good clothing, whether it doesn’t fit anymore or for whatever reason. Unfortunately, too many individuals are throwing away garments, which contributes to an overflow of clothing in our landfills. Fast fashion, textiles, baby clothes and many other garments are thrown away before giving them the chance to be upcycled. By upcycling, we not only take a step toward a better future for our environment, but allow garments the opportunity to be recreated into something of better quality.How Can We Upcycle?
Plum Pretty Sugar is well aware of this situation and is pursuing the best options possible for our planet. The following are several ways Plum Pretty Sugar strives to upcycle and protect the environment:
- Donate unwanted clothing to their partner, ThredUp, for the chance to be creatively reused,
- Recycle overstocked items to their anti-domestic violence partners,
- Create timeless slow fashion clothing with quality that will last greater than fast fashion items; and
- Produce garments using minimal water waste and eco-friendly tactics.
By understanding the problem, the Plum Pretty Sugar plans to pursue more and many options to help minimize the effect. This includes creating pieces that can be worn over and over again like our classic bridesmaid dresses. Other versatile pieces like our bridesmaid robes or bridal party pjs can be worn for every occasion (even if it’s just for those lazy days at home!).
Creative reuse is a great alternative to just throwing away perfectly good clothing. For more information, check out our Environmental & Sustainability mission.
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