/r/upcycling
Upcycling is reusing waste or unwanted materials without destroying them in order to create something new.
What is the difference between Recycling and Upcycling?
Recycling takes waste products, breaks them down, then forms them into something new. Upcycling is reusing waste or unwanted materials without destroying them in order to create something new, which makes upcycling more energy efficient than recycling.
- Example of recycling: Taking plastic bags, breaking down the materials, reforming it, and turning the used plastic into a new cup.
- Example of upcycling: Transforming old clothes into a new outfit, bag, or stuffed animal.
More About r/Upcycling
This subreddit is for people who have come together to turn waste or unwanted items into something useful. We encourage reducing, reusing and recycling waste in the traditional fashion, but there are some things that don't recycle well, or would otherwise be thrown away. For these types of materials, we encourage re-purposing the materials.
This space is for anything upcycling. All relevant posts are welcome.
Challenge of The Month
Each month we will have a challenge on the sub. This month's challenge can be found at the top of the page as a post. You will need to upcycle something in the theme we give you and then post a picture of it in the comments of the post
All participants will get a special flair that will get updated when you do more challenges.
Posting Policy
We have a very simple posting policy. We realize that some Redditors have relevant blogs or Etsy shops. It's OK to post them here, but only if you are contributing to the Reddit community more than you are posting and cross-posting your own content.
Where did my post go?
Reddit has an aggressive system for weeding out spam, especially if you're new or cross-posting the same content throughout many subreddits. If you notice your post is missing and doesn't get any responses by the end of the day, just feel free to message the mod to bring attention to the spam trap.
Related Subreddits
/r/upcycling
196,573 Subscribers
Bunny pillow I made several days ago from old stockings
22:44 UTC
Aquarium -> Terrarium
10:10 UTC
Chest
Give me suggestions please
04:28 UTC
The button vest! Made from 100% secondhand materials! ♻️ buttons all thrifted.
00:48 UTC
Upcycled fabric scraps: landscape with ladybug!
00:30 UTC
Curso online GRATIS: Cortador de botellas 🔥 de vidrio cuadradas casero y artesanal con resistencia de calor por LANCHI DE GREEN GLASS
Lanchi, el reconocido Artista en Vidrio fundador de Green Glass Argentina, te enseña para que puedas aprender a cortar Botellas De Vidrio cuadradas de manera casera y fácil. Utilizando un cortador de vidrio marca la botella para luego ponerla en una resistencia de calor y que éste se quiebre para la creación de un Vaso Reciclado ♻️ premium. Más info curso online completo en https://greenglass.me/
12:16 UTC
Found an old chandelier had my way with it! (more info in comments)
08:36 UTC
Reversible tote bag from vintage Japanese fabrics
Hi! I'm a french seamstress living in Japan. (Okinawa).
I mix modernity and tradition in my creations. I use vintage Japanese fabrics like kimono and mix them with modern fabrics (also mostly from thrift stores, second hand or "fin de série).
My motto is to minimise waste so I try to use the maximum of each piece of fabric. So I follow the fabric and my creations have irregular shapes. I believe in the beauty of imperfection.
So I infused every creation with love and chaos. I have fun when I made them and I went people have fun when use them.
These tote bags are the perfect example of my work and my vibes. I made them with all the small pieces of fabrics from other projects. They are a big patchwork of mismatched fabrics. And they are also reversible (with also crazy patchwork)
When I'm in a market, people love these bags and love my way to show them how they are reversible (I feel like I am some medieval merchant)
Anyway I hope you like them too and they give you some ideas to use small pieces of fabrics
If you want follow my adventures you can find me on Instagram @french_fanfreluches or on Facebook Fanfreluches
(Photo in process of editing)
Have a amazing day everyone!Hi! I'm a french seamstress living in Japan. (Okinawa).
I mix modernity and tradition in my creations. I use vintage Japanese fabrics like kimono and mix them with modern fabrics (also mostly from thrift stores, second hand or "fin de série).
My motto is to minimise waste so I try to use the maximum of each piece of fabric. So I follow the fabric and my creations have irregular shapes. I believe in the beauty of imperfection.
So I infused every creation with love and chaos. I have fun when I made them and I went people have fun when use them.
These tote bags are the perfect example of my work and my vibes. I made them with all the small pieces of fabrics from other projects. They are a big patchwork of mismatched fabrics. And they are also reversible (with also crazy patchwork)
When I'm in a market, people love these bags and love my way to show them how they are reversible (I feel like I am some medieval merchant)
Anyway I hope you like them too and they give you some ideas to use small pieces of fabrics
(Photo in process of editing)
Have a amazing day everyone!
07:52 UTC
Festival Season on That's Not Rubbish!
It's festival season, baby! New, really cool episode on That's Not Rubbish! podcast on upcycled rave wear, thrift flips, and festival fashion with Controlled Chaos. 🪅🎧🎹🎡
You may have seen her on your Tik Tok feed or at your local festival, Brooke Karasack has been gracing us with one-of-a-kind upcycled festival looks all while giving us a look into the process. Plus, did you know Julia Fox started a new upcycling competition show?! We have lots to talk about, let’s get into it.
Spotify - https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/cNUcAHHBzJb
Youtube - https://youtu.be/D0YNATMOzSM
20:09 UTC
Using old pill bottles for laundry
I'm disabled so two things: i've got a ton of meds and i can't lug around powder/liquid in addition to my laundry. my laundry is not in my apartment and i relied on pods for a while (don't like blueland). enter, my trick: pre-portioning powder into pill bottles (i do this 1x/month) so when i need to do laundry it's contained, light, and ready to go to the machine!
16:17 UTC
Tights, odds and ends, and some old underwear repurposed into a cat pillow
06:29 UTC
Scrap yarn project!
16:49 UTC
Reworked denim jacket.
I wish it fit me. Lol
13:30 UTC
Some of my favourite garden upcycles
I recently posted about a suitcase too. I've used that to store preloved bras which I use to support my pumpkins
00:32 UTC
New life for old overalls
I enjoy upcycling clothing & accessories. Check out this fire breathing dragon embroidered on these overalls that I got for $1
16:44 UTC
What can I recycle/DIY before I move to a new place?
Background: I am going to move within the next few months into a new, completely bare place, save for basic furniture and amenities (shower, table, bed, a chair, stove, fridge, washing machine). I am VERY on a budget (as in "I only have money to buy the new place and not much else except groceries") and want to minimize the shopping list of stuff to the bare minimum. So far I DIY'd the following:
- curtains
- rugs
- tea towels
- washcloths
- all bedding and blankets
I am good with textiles, but draw a blank when it comes to other stuff. I'd love to get tips or suggestions what else can I recycle or DIY, with the emphasis on the "recycle" part. I won't be able to buy anything new really for the next 2-3 years and tbh don't want to. And I really think here about functional, usable items, rather than home decor.
12:26 UTC
Upcycling my old bike?
Not going to get rid of or sell because of nostalgia. Bike I’ve had over 20 years. Want to turn it into something new? Any ideas?
18:03 UTC