What constitutes UPCYCLING?

[UPCYCLIST]

Hi all!

Very new to this site so just trying to get my head around it...

Basically, I run my own blog (Upcyclist) which reports on beautiful upcycled design.

I'd really like to get an idea of what people immediately think of when talking about upcycling. How would you define it? How does it differ from recycling? What is the future of upcycling?!

Recently I went to a fashion show where a designer used the fur from animals that had died in roadkill to make couture clothes. Is this an extreme form of upcycling or just bad taste!?

I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts!

Upcyclist x

[wendy]

For me, upcycling is taking something that has no worth or value and changing it in some way, making it into something somebody wants. Preferably something very lovely! Recycling, on the other hand, doesn't necessarily involve a creative process and doesn't always involve change (although when it doesn't involve change, it's more often called repurposing).

So, while the roadkill seems a bit extreme, it seems to fit my criteria, although I won't be investing in it!

I'm off to have a look through your blog!

PS: you might like my recent blog post on upcycling: http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/2011/06/upcycling-recycling-crafting-and-art/

[UPCYCLIST]

Hi Wendy

Many thanks for sharing the link - love the pallet projects.

I suppose it's all about upping an object's aesthetic or functional value - which can be subjective I guess. I do think there is something quite unique about the creativity that can be sparked by found objects.

On another (rather controversial) note, Lord of the Flies is currently on at Regents Park Open Air Theatre and they've used a genuine crashed plane for the set. I guess its case of re-purposing rather than upcycling, but in a sense also giving a piece of useless junk artistic value.

Upcyclist x
(@UPCYCL1ST)

p.s. If you do decide to experiment with driftwood and pebbles etc I'd love to the results!

[AmyDave]

I believe what I do is upcycling...taking old things and making them new again. I fix up and rework knitwear, make rags rugs and all the yarn I ever use is old, 2nd hand, reclaimed from old things etc...

I don't think there is any definite answer...just lots of imagination and looking at things differently before they are wasted!

[Christa]

For me upcycling means taking something that has no real value or purpose any more and turning it into something useful and /or beautiful thereby increasing its worth. I am a huge fan of that concept and incorporate it in some of my work.

The roadkill fur issues turns my stomach and I think it is in poor taste but I guess it could also be considered upcycling...I'll be giving that one a miss though

[UPCYCLIST]

Many thanks for your feedback! I completely agree it's all about imagination and innovation - and perhaps there shouldn't be a limiting definition. Although there are people out there (particularly those who aren't in the art/craft/design world) who still aren't familiar with the term, I'm pretty sure that this is set to change and that the term 'upcycling' will soon be as commonplace as 'recycling.'

[Sue Chambers]

Upcycling as I understand is taking an item whatever that is and turning it into something new, recycling is recycling it, eg - aluminium coke cans remelted and turned into more cans or whatever they want to use it for. For me recycling costs as there is a method involved to do this, upcycling cost less only time. :) I'm a veggie but if can see the side of using animals skins for other purposes, I use my chicken feathers when they moult. That's my idea on it anyway :)

[Sue Chambers]

For me, upcycling is taking something that has no worth or value and changing it in some way, making it into something somebody wants. Preferably something very lovely! Recycling, on the other hand, doesn't necessarily involve a creative process and doesn't always involve change (although when it doesn't involve change, it's more often called repurposing).

So, while the roadkill seems a bit extreme, it seems to fit my criteria, although I won't be investing in it!

I'm off to have a look through your blog!

PS: you might like my recent blog post on upcycling: http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/2011/06/upcycling-recycling-crafting-and-art/

Love your blog!

[Galls]

To me upcycling means making something pretty or useful (preferably both!) out of something someone has no need for/doesn't want anymore, and recycling means reusing an item for another purpose without changing it/altering it, at least in non-mass production terms - I'm only talking about what we do as individuals here, not what councils do with our old coke cans!
So from a crafting perspective, I upcycled a denim skirt my daughter had grown out of into a little bag for her, and I recycled old kilner jars into storage jars for dried fruit (oh, and buttons :P ) I also recycle egg boxes into paint pallets and upcycle them into ladybirds and caterpillars lol well at least it keeps the toddler happy!

I'm really getting into the idea of upcycling/recycling atm as a cash strapped mum!
I'd love to have a look at your blog but can't find it!

[Former Glory]

Agree with all of the above, reclaiming, restoring, recycling - upcycling! All pretty much interchangeable IMHO, although I think UPcycling has come to mean making more from less. Very satisfying either way, we make our living from it!

[Bluesilver]

i agree with wendy, my partner paints glass and is allways on the look out for free or recycled glass to paint and sell.

[UPCYCLIST]

I'd love to have a look at your blog but can't find it!

I'm a bit confused, am I allowed to have my blog address as my signature or is that not allowed until you've done 25 posts? Sorry very new to all this!

[UPCYCLIST]

Oooh has this worked?

[KayleighAnn]

Yes that worked :)

I have just recently cottoned onto the upcycling courtesy of this wonderful forum and kirtsies home made home believing it to be making something you would throw out into something useful or and beautiful. Im a sucker for anything pretty or interesting. Also I think of it as a way to re home something or re use an object in a different way. Currently Im hoarding for things I am planning to use in projects. I did see in York today some art works of animals and scenery made from scrap paper that were really cute and sold for about £70!

Some of what people consider making something useful however others disagree on with here, there was an intense debate on making something that is still use able and or considered art such as a record into a record bowl and therefore no longer a working record (which sound WAY better than any music produced in this digital age) and depriving someone who would really love to have listened to it.

Im still in the experimenting stage of this but have already understood you cant please everyone

KayleighAnn

[Galls]

I'm having this little debate with myself at the moment, too, about books. Is it ok to use the pages of a book in your crafts? I'm talking about using torn up pieces of it to decorate scrapbooks, cards etc. I just can't decide!
The reason I'm asking is that i have seen it used and it looks really effective, but literature itself is art and i would never throw books away even if i didn't enjoy reading them! And even tho the kindle app on my ipad is the best thing ever!

[UPCYCLIST]

I'm having this little debate with myself at the moment, too, about books. Is it ok to use the pages of a book in your crafts?

I've been wondering this too. However, books continue to get reprinted every year and apparently at the moment there is no system in place to recycle books because of the glue in the spines. Charity shops have to pay to send thousands of books to landfill! So in a sense, preserving the pages in a new work of art is a much better outcome. There is a really interesting book out called Book Art by Christine Antaya which is all about contemporary artists that have used books as sculptural, physical art objects. I think the actual stories chosen can also contribute to the meaning of the work as well.

I'm a bit of a magazine junkie and have piles of them stacked up in my room... keep wondering whether I could do something creative with them!

[KayleighAnn]

Im with you on that one! I have seen some fantastic uses for old books, there is always that inner turmoil that someone could find it useful but I think I finally decided if I wanted to use it to make it into something new using reasoning that it was given to charity who would benefit. After all you buy things to do what you wish (and I only get books from charity shops, bootfairs and church sales) so I re home it, re read it the re use it. I didnt know they spent money to actually send books to landfill! Waste!

KayleighAnn

[googlie-eye Designs]

Interesting info ^^ - I have usually introduced by business as "Handmade gifts & accessories from recycled materials :: giving new life to old discarded things" - so I guess while recycling materials, the products are now upcycled items? - I hadn't heard of upcycled-ness until searching around for places to perhaps sell my stock!!!