What the %$#! is Upcycling, Anyways?

Upcycling is one of those indie cultisms that gets batted about the blogosphere with very little explanation. If you don’t know what it means then your eyes probably glaze over when you read it and your mind replaces it with the word recycling, right? Well, don’t feel stupid, because that’s pretty much what it means.

Upcycling, technically, means that you take something that is disposable and make it into something usable. I say “technically” because in the indie fashion world most of the time  it means making new clothes out of old ones, and since clothing is not technically “disposable”, this practice is not technically “upcycling”. But we are not semanticians, and it sounds pretty catchy, so let’s just go with it, mmm-kay?

Upcycling can look as formal as this grey taffetta party skirt by DramaGirl, or as plain as an old tee shirt with some ric-rc sew on it. I love this skirt because it sort of veers away from the hippy-dippy reputation of upcycled clothing, and makes it a bit more elegant. Plus, how hot would it be with a shiny cami and stilettos? Available for $45 from DramaGirlDesigns.

Then there’s this adorable Penelope Dress from JaneIsPlain. It has more of a traditional upcycled vibe, but with some good twists. It is made from a 70’s dress that probably was shaped similarly to now, but the sweet lace edging and blue squirrel silhouette were added to make it a little more modern. Not that this look is particularly modern, I’d call it retro-modern, but that’s another vocabulary lesson. Available for $42 from JaneIsPlain.

I love it when designers take inspiration from one kind of clothing and make it into something totally new, like this 50’s style bombshell dress by Captain Apricot. It was inspired by a pair of pants owned by the designer’s grandpa (awww), and made out of actual men’s trousers, but it’s a dead sexy reconstruction. Available for $75 from Captain Apricot.

So, what have we learned today? Well, besides the new word, you might have noticed that all these clothes are pretty cheap for handmade originals. That’s because designers can sell clothes a lot cheaper when they can buy their materials at thrift stores, or better yet, use something free that they’re about to throw out.

This post is brought to you by the letter “U”.

Photo Credits: DramaGirlDesigns, JaneIsPlain, Captain Apricot