The term upcycling has been around for a long time, but it has only recently started to gain traction in popular culture. It is the process of turning old or unused items into something new and useful. Upcycled products are often more durable than their mass-produced counterparts because they're made with attention to detail and care. When you upcycle, you're not only making something new, but also keeping old materials out of landfills. How can this be a bad thing?
At HEW we believe upcycling is here to stay as we battle our way through the over consumed, mass-production world. Not only does upcycling teach us the importance of being resourceful, it also helps us put our creative minds to work. That's why we are decided each week to feature 'Upcycle Sunday' where we come on to show you tips, tricks and techniques to help and inspire you.
If you are new to upcycling here is some information about upcycling:
Upcycling is not just for the environment but also for learning new skills and solving design problems. If you have some time on your hands and want to create something useful, we've got some great ways for you to get started. Join us on Instagram live every Sunday at 12pm to learn new tips and tricks for upcycling.
Upcycling can be done in a variety of ways: from redesigning clothes to creating new household goods from scratch using found objects. The best part about upcycling is that you don't need any special materials, just your creativity and some time! So now that you know how easy it is, go ahead and give yourself an assignment: find one item in your home that needs a little love - then get creative!
The Benefits of Upcycling
The benefits of upcycling include repurposing items that potentially would be thrown out, saving money and boosting creativity. The most obvious benefit of upcycling involves saving materials from ending up in a landfill. It's estimated that over 50 percent of our landfills are composed of discarded clothing and other textiles. Reducing your impact on the environment is not just good for Mother Earth, but it can also be good for your budget. The top-notch fabric and materials that are often thrown out can be repurposed to create a unique piece of clothing or accessory for yourself. Not only will you be saving money, but also you'll have some fun in the process.
How to get started with upcycling
The first step to get started with upcycling is finding an item to repurpose. You will need to determine what material the item is made out of and if it can be reused or recycled in some way. Items such as shoes, purses, jewelry, scarves, belts and hats can all be upcycled into something new and/or functional. There are many different ways that you can reuse and recycle items-from turning a broken necklace into earrings or cutting up a shirt for a tote bag or mask. techniques can be applied to the fabrics such as tie-dyeing, screen printing and pleating.
Before starting an upcycling project, you should research how to turn the item into something new. This will determine if you can cut it in a specific way or use it in a certain material. Try to look for projects that use things that are frequently discarded-it's possible
Tips for getting the most out of your time when starting a new project (e.g., make sure you have the right tools)
Upcycling can be a tedious process, especially if you are just starting out. Make sure that you're well equipped with the equipment and materials that you need before starting your project. For example, do you have needles and thread for sewing? do you have markers and a ruler? Is your oven ready for hot-glue? If not, don't start yet-you'll want to make sure that everything is in place before getting started!
More importantly, make sure the safety precautions are in place! Equipment such as goggles, gloves, masks etc will help keep you safe during some dangerous tasks, especially if these tasks include heat and chemicals.
Try to plan your project in phases, rather than one quick go-through. If you have multiple steps to complete, split them up into two or three different days so that you don't overwhelm yourself by cramming all of the work into a 24-hour period. This will not only help with efficiency but it will also
Another thing to consider is making and keeping a budget. This will help you figure out what you have on hand that fit the requirements of your project. Will I need more materials than I thought? Is this going to cost me a lot to complete this project?
The world is changing and so are the ways that we live. If you believe in upcycling, then now is the time to start! It doesn't matter if it's something simple like turning a t-shirt into an evening gown or something more complex like crafting your own furniture out of found objects - anyone can do this with only a little bit of creativity. You'll be making our planet cleaner while also learning new skills at the same time! Join us on Facebook for more information about how you can get started today!
Join us on IG Live each Sunday at 12pm to discover our 'Upcycle Sunday' Tutorials- We hope to see you there!