#15 Skirt by from somewhere

from somewhere website
Personal comment: I just love their very creative fashion. Reusing once used fabric retailoring them into timeless fashion. That's playful, colourful and highly unique. I love it. If I ever decided to step back into the fashion industry, this is for sure the first place I would try to work. Keep up the great work!

My message to from somewhere: I would love to come around and have a look at your workshop someday soon. I wonder where these lovely creations are made! Please let me know if I may do that!

#14 Honest Kids Laptop Case by terracycle

terracycle website

Personal comment: What a nice, colourful laptop case! And its production saved on virgin material because it is made of used drink pouches. I'm all for it: reducing our impact on nature by reusing trash more often! What can be more creative and at the same time less destructive?

My message to terracycle: I have contacted you a few times... Would be lovely to hear back from you soon! I'd still love to invent upcycled products for the trash you collect. Since you are pretty popular already you have the power to spread your work most effectively.

#13 stool by ny-k.co.jp

NOyes website

Personal comment: I think this stool is pretty neat! And I know how it feels to have a pair of jeans that you can't wear any longer but also that you can't throw away because of all the memories attached to it. It really could become a lovely stool, don't you think?

My message to NOyes: Thanks for this creative idea reusing old material combining it with master crafts! That's the way forward!

#12 Wallet by milkmuny

milkmuny website

Personal comment: I can so much understand that milkmuny are making wallets out of beverage cartons because I do the same and it really is a material that is perfect for this purpose! I'm also very happy to learn that their business is running great, despite the fact that you can easily find the tutorial for this product on you tube. It's great that there are people out there who like these wallets but don't like to diy and even greater that milkmuny offers them! Honestly, that gives me a good picture about my products which are very similar. Just, compared with milkmuny, my marketing and point of sale still isn't good.

I got in contact with John, the entrepreneur behind the label. I would love to learn from him! He seems to ba a lovely guy with energy for 3 people - at least! He also works for the most valuable brands in marketing/product presentation. His experience is invaluable and I can see it with his upcycled wallets and the website.

My message to John: I know we are busy but if you hit London and if you have time, please give me a call. We were thinking of collaborating, remember? Maybe a meeting in real life would make clear if this could become reality despite the busy scedule we have and the geographical distance.

#11 Washbag by Elvis & Kresse

Elvis & Kresse website

Personal comment: I googled this enterprise and I loved the looks of their products. Before coming to a definite conclusion though I would have to touch the products, examin the details if not even test it. Unfortunately, I have never had the chance to get hold of one of Elvis & Kresse's creations. Using photoshop I know how one can tweak a photo to make it look stunnig, but I really have the feeling that also in physical materia these are top quality products and marketed as luxury high end items. They truely can as despite its former life this material has a sophisticated look. Well spotted! The fact that this enterprise can afford to give 50% back to a charity is another big plus!

My message to Elvis & Kresse: As you wrote me in an e-mail last year, we do have much in common. Let's meet next time you are in London and have 15 minutes! I'd love to collaborate!

#10 Sofa by squint

squint website

Personal comment: This sofa really brings colour into your living space. Squint's products (mostly furniture) are pretty self explanatory: squint turns old furniture into new, colourful design-art works. The new "dress" is made from different fabrics patchworked into a harmonic pattern. Squint is the enterprise of Lisa Whatmough, she used to be - and still is in a unique way - a London artist.

Personal comment: I just love the colours. Unfortunately, I'm far away from ever owning a squint piece - my flat is just not spaceous enough. Maybe one day it will be...

#9 Small organizer by rag-bag

rag-bag website

Personal comment: It's a while back that I learnt about this enterprise and its products. Rag-bag upcycles plastic bags in India into practical products like this small organizer. As far as I remember this company started off due to dutch social entrepreneurs (or designers) and now evolved. Today, they not only reuse plastic but also cotton for upcycled products. It's definitively a business to keep an eye on!

My message to rag-bag: Keep up the good work! Products like yours will be the most desirable ones in the future provided that more people become educated, wiser, aknowledge the big picture and desire to act with conscience. If ever I come to India, I'd love to visit - if that's possible!

#8 Art installation by Tim Noble and Sue Webster

about the artists on wikipedia

Personal comment: I love the magic and poesis of these artworks by Tim Noble and Sue Webster. They use trash found on London's streets to build "sculptures" which, if lightend up from a cerain angle, cast mostly self-portrait-profile shaddows. Do you see, here is the ugly trash, there is the romantic silhouette. You can't have one without the other. No more words from me. Just look and feel.

My message to Tim and Sue: I'd love to have a coffee with you or drop in your workshop if ever you get this message and have time to meet up!

#7 Laptop sleeve by hello rewind

hello rewind website

Personal Comment: I learnt about this enterprise and these lovely laptop sleeves made from old t-shirts a few days ago via twitter. I love the the big idea: the fact that these upcycled laptop protections are made by women who used to sell their bodies before hello rewind created by the longitude gave them the chance to put their manual skills and thoughts into such practical and personal products and the business that comes with it. Keep it up, it's empowering women and that's what we need now!

My message to hello rewind: If you ever need a professional designer and artist helping with developing new products please get in touch with me! I'm a serial upcycled products inventor and I'd love to work with you and the women in New York!

#6 Rag Chair by droog

droog design website

Personal comment: Droog design is design but almost art (or vice versa); their works are very conceptual. I love some of their products, especially this chair made from old clothes. Not sure how comfortable und practical it really is though - I never had a chance to test it so far. If someone has, please comment!

My message to droog: I love your conceptual approach to design. It really makes you think. Sometimes however, I'm afraid that the functionality or sustainability suffers from the art but maybe practicality was not intended in the first place. Could my design-art works become droog designs?

#5 Dress by goodone

goodone website

Personal comment: This is upcycled jersey fashion at its best! This dress is made from bits and pieces of no longer wanted tops, hoodys, t-shirts etc. It looks great on natural women - probably not on twiggy doubles. I like how the pattern emphasizes the female curves and the fact that many of the pieces I've seen are so colourful. This is the perfect dress for confident women. And each piece is absolutely unique.

My message to goodone: Nin and co., keep up the great work, you rock! Your fashion is really unique and I love your passion! Ps: I also love your busy, charismatic workshop;)!

#4 Shopping Bag by Doy Bags

Doy Bags website

Personal comment: I saw this bag for the first time at a special market in Zurich. I was drawn to them because of their happy colouring and graphic design. The bags looked familiar to me. It turned out that they are made in the Philippines from used juice packs. I remembered where I've seen them before: in Luzon's grocery shops!

And really, they make very sturdy shopping bags. Not only can you track back and see who made it (a women's cooperative in the Philippines), also the design and labeling (branding) makes clear who was using and producing the "raw material" before it ended up becoming a bag! Forget the shopping bags made from hemp or plastic or cotton or whatever, by whomever, wherever. Get these ones that reuse what has been produced anyways. On top of it you support skillful women in the Philippines managed by people in the UK who know what sells on western markets! I think investing in a business in poorer countries through a fair purchase is better than donating money to "you don't know what exactly - a charity" and worth the shipping - in the end, you also have something from it. Give and take makes harmony.

My message to Doy Bags: Thanks for these joyful and sturdy bags! Thanks for giving women in the Philippines jobs so that they don't have to go abroad to earn money for the family and miss seeing their children growing up! Thanks for taking a little bit of the rubbish off the streets in the Phillippines! Thanks for this great business model! If ever you could need a designer or any other help that involves design thinking and transforming waste, please let me know! I'm interested in this venture to be sustainable and grow steady and healthy - not only because I'm passionate about turning trash into treasure but also because I believe in the confidence, kindness and ambition of many Filipinas!

#3 Unisex Hoody Red Hot Air by Worn Again

Worn again website

Personal comment: I first learned about Worn Again in early 2007 whilst still at art school researching for a paper. At that time Worn Again was making upcycled shoes. Lots has happened and changed since then. Now, they make clothes and bags in collaboration with other brands. I got to touch this ex-Virgin Red Hot Air hoody last Christmas and I have to say the quality of the product is remarkable. It's a simple design, very lightweight yet very sturdy, wind and water proof. I love the quiet print they put on the used material (although the material doesn't look used - lucky them that balloons travel light and clean). I'd wear it if I could afford it!

My message to Worn Again: Being passionate about upcycling I have always been interested in working for you. Do you remember, nearly 2 years ago, (before I was able to work as a junior designer and freelancer for your friends at futerra,) I had an interview with you, Cyndi, but unfortunately becoming a designer at Worn Again has never happened so far. You were busy restructuring your business concept and I was busy finding mine... However, if you'd ever be up for collaboration, you know where to find me!

#2 Belt by velo::re

velo-re website

Personal comment: Velo-re makes beautiful belts from retired bike tyres. I met the initiator, a Swiss woman, in London where we are both based now. Her little workshop is adorable and her energy admirable. Not only does she make those belts, she feels as confident on her bike as an experienced pilot in his cockpit.

My message to velo-re: Thanks for these great alternative to belts made from animals. Also I know now that they are made under great conditions by passionate people underneath a train arch in South London. Who else can say that?!

#1 FREITAG BAG - their classic messenger bag

freitag bags website

Personal comment: This is the first treasure I post because it was when I was studying design in Zurich when their enterprise became a big success. Suddenly, I was able to see these bags all over the city and many of my friends were proud owner of such a FREITAG bag. I myself have never been able to afford it for myself, however I bought one for my bf. With confidence I can tell you that they are truely practical, very robust and despite made from heavily used materials their quality comes up with what you might expect from a Swiss product.

In fact, FREITAG are one of my great inspirations. They made evident that it's possible to win people's hearts with treasures made from trash. (At least many Swiss and Japanese people's hearts where they have their main distribution channels and success).

My message to FREITAG: Keep up the good work! Please contact me if ever you need a freelance designer-arist or design researcher/thinker based in London :)