For my upcycle project, I plan on reworking a pair of old jeans into a toolbelt. For this project, I wanted to focus on sustainability when it comes to fashion and recycling old clothing into something new. Sustainability and fashion are two important things to me, however they rarely work together. Clothing waste is a huge contributor to landfill pollution and I wanted to focus on how to turn unused clothing into something cool instead of contributing to waste. So far, the materials I’ve collected include bits and pieces of scrap metal, old belt buckles, and scrap fabric. I gathered inspiration from some posts on Pinterest and plan to mix a classic toolbelt with something more wearable. My next goal is to source a pair of unused jeans and begin to deconstruct. I want to fully recycle the jean material, which I plan on either turning into more belts or creating wall storage with the remaining material.

Figure 1: Collected materials

 

The aesthetic I want to convey through this project is reworked industrial. The industrial aesthetic is known for designs inspired by old factories and industrial spaces. Key materials involved in this aesthetic are brick, concrete, metal, glass, and exposed structural elements. This design focuses on functionality rather than ornamentation and prioritizes a useful minimalistic look. A reworked aesthetic focuses on implementing modern design trends onto a preexisting aesthetic. This aesthetic is primarily seen in fashion when vintage clothing is reworked into something new. The combination of industrial and reworked aesthetics focuses on repurposing old materials into something new while keeping the design minimalist and functional.

Figure 2: reworked industrial aesthetic

 

Sources:

Featured Image: https://rebelle-upcycling.blogspot.com/2013/09/wahl-die-waffen-werkzeuggurtel.html, 2013

Figure 2: Metropolis Factory, The Junction Toronto https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1114922451490425238/

1 Comment. Leave new

  • Arjun Ramachandran
    February 3, 2025 11:05 am

    Great idea! The upcycled buckles and fasteners provide subtle aesthetic character in addition to raw utility. Excited to see the final product!

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