In a world of fast fashion and throwaway clothing, a new generation of creative minds are pushing back! Upcycling clothing is the art of transforming old clothes into new and fresh, one of a kind pieces, and it’s gaining popularity in streetwear culture. Young designers on Depop are breathing a breath of fresh air into forgotten garments and redefining style on their own terms. Someone who knows a lot about this is Liv Carter, upcycling enthusiast and part-time barista: “I’ve always been into fashion. Little me was obsessed with all things hats and sunglasses and I remember thinking when I was younger I couldn’t wait to get my mum’s old clothes from the 90’s. Flared jeans and chunky belts were very appealing to me. Although, sometimes I’d find some of her things that didn’t quite fit me or felt a bit boring, so I started experimenting with DIY sewing and I just got really into it.”
“As I got older, and just living in a city like Manchester, I started noticing how expressive streetwear is and I think this just really resonated with me. I already loved self expression through clothes and streetwear just seemed like the perfect outlet. I think I liked the culture around it, it’s all about creating your own style and not caring what others think.”
“I’m obsessed with Depop, once I ran out of old hand me downs to play around with, I started searching on Depop and found that upcycling is a huge thing and there are a lot of talented people out there! Right now my pieces are just for me but, who knows, I might find the confidence to put my work out there one day and maybe earn a bit more money.”
Liv represents the ‘just for fun’, playful and personal side of upcycling, while Enrica, a fellow rework artist, enjoys uploading her work for Depop users to enjoy and purchase. She shares her love for fashion through creating pieces with a subversive and gothic edge.
Enrica shared her creative process and love behind fashion: “Creating reworked and upcycled streetwear stems from a passion for sustainability and subversive fashion. My inspiration comes from various sources, including personal style, subcultural influences, and the desire to give new life to garments destined for the landfill. When deciding which items to transform, I look for pieces with interesting patterns, textures, and fabrics that can be enhanced through reworking. The goal is always to make unique items for unique people.”
“The creative process always starts with assessing the garment—its condition, structure, and potential for transformation. Sometimes I instantly see what I want to do with it, but other times I let the piece guide me. I love using techniques like patchwork, distressing, dyeing, and adding unexpected details like hardware or beads. I want each piece to be original, something that feels fresh but still holds onto the story of the fabric.”
Unlike the nature of fast fashion where every piece of clothing is mass produced, finding the right garment to upcycle isn’t as easy as ordering something new. Sourcing the right quality, fabric and aesthetic sometimes proves to be a challenge: “Sometimes it’s difficult to find the exact garments I have in mind for upcycling. Second-hand items don’t always fit the desired aesthetic, and navigating the balance between affordability and quality can be challenging.”
Despite the challenges of selecting the perfect upcycle worthy piece, the demand for reworked streetwear is only growing. Whether it’s the newest generation of fashion-forward individuals turning their cheek to fast fashion or just the desire for a unique piece of clothing, shopping second hand and reworked clothing has become a key part of modern streetwear culture. Enrica has definitely seen the increased demand for the upcycled style: “There is a growing demand for reworked streetwear, as consumers increasingly seek unique, sustainable options over fast fashion items often produced by exploited workers. We’re already seeing more collaborations between rework artists and major brands, and I hope this continues to grow.”
While young designers are at the forefront of upcycled streetwear, industry experts are also taking notice of the importance of sustainability and how it intertwines with reworked and upcycled clothing. Sienna Ellis, a sustainability focused fashion consultant based in London, emphasises the importance of incorporating sustainability in fashion: “Sustainability is a necessary shift that all fashion brands should be taking seriously. The rise of upcycled streetwear that you mentioned is proof that the consumers of it are definitely sustainability conscious. Looking for ways to express themselves and not contributing to environmental harm. I spend my days as a sustainable fashion consultant trying to help brands go from ‘we want to be more green’ to ‘we’re really really green.”
“Upcycling is not just about slapping a patch or a few stitches on an old pair of jeans, it’s about sustainability. It’s about making sure every part of the upcycled process is sustainable. From sourcing materials to making sure the pieces are made to last. The whole upcycling process as it is is pretty sustainable as it is because instead of buying something new, they see what magic they can make from something old. Me and my colleagues used to joke that upcycling is pretty much adult LEGO, you stick a load of things together (and have fun doing it) and come out with something new for your wardrobe. I really hope everyone sees the magic that I see in reworked clothing one day because I think it’s everything.”
When asked how Depop fits into this sustainability movement, Mrs Ellis had a lot to say: “I think platforms like Depop are perfectly brilliant and modern, not just for making sustainable fashion more accessible, but for giving independent and creative people a space to grow. You’ve got 19-year-olds turning old tired fabrics into bright and stylish corsets and then selling them to people halfway across the world. That’s incredible in my eyes and for sure it’s innovative, and it’s proof that the next generation is completely flipping the fashion industry on its head.”
Sienna’s main role is working behind the scenes with brands, particularly small brands that want to start their business off on the right sustainability track: “The first step when working with brands is me asking them, ‘Do you actually want to be sustainable, or do you just want to give off the impression that you are?’ That’s a hard question for me to ask and for them to hear because being a sustainable brand is in no way easy. A lot of mistakes happen when brands treat sustainability like a marketing strategy instead of really caring about it and giving it a foundation in their business plan. A lot of brands will launch a ‘green’ collection made from recycled polyester, but it’s still produced by unethical factories and shipped from really far away. It’s like putting a sustainable bamboo lid on a landfill site. So my job is to make sure things are being done the right way.”
While Sienna couldn’t outline specifically what brands she worked with, she shared a few common mistakes that brands make when attempting to be sustainable: “I’m proud of all the brands I’ve worked with, big or small, I enjoy watching all of their sustainability growth journeys as I like to call it, whether they were relatively green to begin with or not, they hired me to help them get there and I’m honoured to do so. Saying this though, obviously brands have made mistakes, that’s perfectly normal. A few brands I’ve worked with, had a problem with leftover stock, that they considered throwing it out or giving it away for free, but I suggested the art of reworking, or even selling on Depop, to help them out of that problem, so by this I mean using the previous garments fabric to make something new.”
“When it comes to streetwear brands, I think with social media especially, people have really gotten into it. That’s good news for me because I love working with brands that are a bit different and a bit quirky. Eccentric even. Whether it be a brand that’s just trying to fit in with the trends or a brand that’s catering for a certain audience with a certain style, the process of sustainability is still the same and I think as long as brands are hoping to be sustainable one day, that’s enough for me to be proud of.”
The days of Depop and upcycling are here, and they might be here to stay. Fashion entrepreneurs are using sustainability to their advantage when thinking up new designs and they do it with flair and creativity. The sustainability movement in fashion may be becoming a DIY creative revolution, stitched up with a whole lotta attitude (and second hand denim). These designers are ensuring that the future of fashion doesn’t have to cost the earth, it can be expressive, sustainable and completely original. DIYers are redefining what it means to be sustainable and stylish, one upcycled garment at a time.
