This work explores upcycling with a focus on unconventional materials and craft techniques/DIY. Today, countless designers are working with upcycling, yet there are many directions of it that have not been explored. The motive behind this work lies in the importance of finding and presenting sustainable ways of working with fashion. However, the main focus is on the aesthetics, meetings between materials, shape, techniques and contexts. It was important to add something new to the field of upcycling. Hence, a focus has been on finding and working with materials and techniques that have not been used for upcycling in a fashion context before. All different kinds of materials are considered and they are all treated equally, whether it was plastic trash or crystals, textiles or non-textiles. Potential is seen in everything. Another thing that differs this work from others in the area, is that the whole collection is made without using any machines. The focus is on the handicraft. Similar to materials, techniques are not seen as something that is intended for a specific purpose. The motto is that anything can be made out of everything. Through careful craftsmanship and detailing and with a focus on decorative materials, context crossing and meetings between material and technique, the hope is that this collection will present a new and fresh take on upcycling.

Discarding valuable material such as textiles and garments is common in everyday life without reflection, perhaps even more so with the letting go of valuable unmaterials such as memories and emotions. The aim of this master’s degree work WITH(OUT) YOU is to explore nostalgia as a storytelling design method within fashion design. By interpreting, translating, re-capturing and upcycling unmaterial human interactions from photographic, written and auditorial mediums, combined with traditional upcycling of materials, this work aims to evoke feelings of identification and/or empathy in dress. All in order to highlight the importance of unmaterial and material memory as social and environmental values. The research was conducted using developed methods from creative writing applied to pronto mediums which directed the practical work. The work resulted in 12 stories communicating a range of memories, relationships and events, showcasing presence and absence on and by bodies through a variation in garments, materials, textures, colors and placements, using hands for both shape, display and symbolic meaning. By contributing to the development of the upcycling field of fashion design, this work does not only broaden the perspective of what upcycling can involve, but also adds to the discussion of what fashion design could be by blurring the line between design and art, questioning the purpose of garments by exploring its therapeutic values.

Doctor of Philosophy / Enhancing and recycling plastic are two important focuses in plastics research. In this dissertation, enhancing the property of polyetherimide (PEI) is first discussed, and two methods are introduced. Later, a new recycling strategy, the degradation-upcycling (Deg-Up) strategy, is presented. The potential of Deg-Up is evaluated on three plastics: polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP). These plastics serve broad applications in daily life, such as Styrofoam, food containers, shopping bags, garden decorations, and furniture. PEI, a powerful plastic resilient to high temperature and strength, is broadly used in aerospace, defense technology, space exploration, and transportation. However, PEI can only be processed at high temperatures, and PEI films can be easily dissolved or compromised in many solvents, such as solmethine, chloroform, and furanidin. Water is not permeable in PEI, and therefore, it is strongly demanded to modify the PEI structure, giving PEI new and improved properties for water filtration and purification. We have investigated two methods for modifying PEI. Influencers affecting the PEI film's performance are also studied. Plastic upcycling, which converts low-value wastes to high-value chemical products, is a vital technology that mitigates the environmental crisis and the plastic recycling problem. However, effective plastic upcycling improving waste value with good selectivity toward products with ten-fold or even greater value is uncommon due to the lack of upcycling theories/methodologies. This dissertation presents a new upcycling strategy; the degradation-upcycling strategy (Deg-Up) comprises degradation reactions yielding preliminary chemicals and upcycling reactions converting the preliminary chemicals to desired high-value products. Based on the Deg-Up strategy, PS is converted to fragrances and drug precursors, and PE and PP are Deg-Up to fats and soaps. The economic and industrial possibilities are also discussed through a preliminary industrial design and an economic analysis.

Upcycling is the process of repurposing discarded materials into new products of higher value, and holds significant potential for sustainable waste management. This thesis explores the challenges and opportunities involved in expanding upcycling practices in the city of Stockholm, with a specific focus on craft classes in public schools. The goal of the study is to identify key success factors and propose strategies for scaling up upcycling initiatives. A mixed method approach, including literature review, semi-structured stakeholder interviews, attitude surveys, and material flow analysis, was employed to gather insights and data. The findings reveal various challenges within the upcycling value chain, such as the need for efficient collecting processes, limited storage space, and financial feasibility. Despite the sechallenges, the research identifies several success factors, including cost-effectiveness, regulatory support, and the availability of discarded materials. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of upcycling practices in public schools’ craft class and provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and practitioners seeking to implement and expand sustainable waste management strategies. By addressing the identified challenges and leveraging the opportunities, upcycling practices can be effectively integrated into public school curricula, fostering environmental consciousness and promoting a circular economy mindset among students. / Upcycling är förädlingsprocessen att återanvända avfall för att skapa mer värdefulla produkter. Det har en betydande potential för hållbar avfallshantering. Detta examensarbete undersöker svårigheterna och möjligheterna med att bredda metoderna för upcycling i Stockholms stad, med särskild uppmärksamhet på hantverkskurser som erbjuds av offentliga skolor. Målet med studien är att identifiera avgörande faktorer för framgång och ge förslag på metoder för att öka storleken på ett upcycling-projekt. För att inhämta information och data användes en blandning av tekniker, som inkluderade litteraturgenomgångar, semistrukturerade intervjuer av intressenter, attitydundersökningar och materialflödesanalyser. Resultatet visar på flera utmaningar inom värdekedjan för upcycling, inklusive krävande insamlingsprocedurer, begränsat lagringsutrymme samt villkoren för ekonomisk genomförbarhet. Trots dessa brister och utmaningar avslöjar denna studie även flera framgångsfaktorer. Dessa inkluderar kostnadseffektivitet, kommunalt stöd samt tillgången till avfall. Sammantaget bidrar denna studie till förståelsen av återanvändningsmetoder i offentliga skolorshantverkskurser och ger värdefulla insikter för beslutsfattare, utbildare samt andra praktiserande som vill implementera och utöka strategier för hållbar avfallshantering. Genom att ta itu med de påvisade utmaningarna och utnyttja möjligheterna kan praxis för upcycling effektivt integreras i den offentliga skolans läroplaner, öka miljömedvetenheten och slutligen främja ett tankesätt för cirkulärekonomi bland skoleleverna.

The core of the project lies in upcycling. From the start of the research, I wanted to find new creative ways of upcycling garments and textiles.However, upcycling is a part of a greater whole which deals with addressing the problem of fashion waste. It gives new value to the clothes and prolongs the life span of the clothes. It is a craftivism act since it plugs into an existing system and shapes it towards a more sustainable direction. Thus this project wanted to take a larger approach and include consumers into the process. The purpose of the project was to explore one of the ways to encourage consumers to upcycle their clothes. This was done through an upcycling workshop. In the upcycling workshop, the consumer visualized the way they want their clothes to be upcycled. Their garments were then upcycled using DIY methods such as stitching, patching, and painting. The process was recorded in details. The whole process was then translated into a craftivist zine. The zine demonstrates how to do your own upcycling workshop and how to upcycle three garments. The upcycling workshop and the zine want to encourage the consumer to upcycle by giving them the necessary skills to do so.

Kan en möbeltapetserare arbeta med återbruk av modernt producerade möbler? I vårt examensarbete har vi arbetat med återbruk av några utvalda produkter ur Ikeas sortiment. Vi har med vårt yrkeskunnande som möbeltapetserare och vår miljö som utgångspunkt velat skapa uppgraderade möbler av det människor tröttnat på. Resultatet av detta arbete är en liten kollektion redesignade möbler. Möbler att älska och att slita på under många år till.

Till följd av överdriven konsumtion av textil är textilavfall ett växande problem. Det finns utrymme att utveckla metoder för att kunna ta tillvara på överflödet av textilavfall på ett resurseffektivt sätt och upcycling är en metod för detta och en växande trend inom textilindustrin. Att arbeta med upcycling kräver dock en annan process än konventionella textilföretag och det finns behov av att utveckla nya affärsmodeller i textilindustrin som kan baseras på upcycling. Syftet med studien var att undersöka textilföretags affärsmodeller baserade på upcycling och respondenter från åtta företag intervjuades. Respondenternas data tillsammans med tidigare forskning inom området affärsmodeller för hållbarhet och dess lönsamhet ligger till grund för diskussionen och slutsatsen. Diskussionen och slutsatsen innehåller data som är teoribyggande för områdena vilka förutsättningar det finns att bygga sin affärsmodell på upcycling, hur textilföretag kan arbeta med hållbara affärsmodeller för att lyckas med upcycling och hur de kan arbeta med detta på ett lönsamt sätt. Det har genom studien identifierats potential för textilindustrin att implementera affärsmodeller baserade på upcycling för att skapa nya möjligheter till en mer hållbar textilindustri. / Textile waste is a growing issue and there is capacity to develop methods for taking care of the textile waste in an effective way, upcycling is one of these methods that is a growing trend in the textile industry. However, upcycling is made through another process compared to the conventional textile confection, which requires development of new business models that can be built upon upcycling. The intention with this study is to investigate textile companies business models based on upcycling and eight respondents get interviewed. The discussion and conclusion in this report is built on earlier research in the field sustainable business models and profitability compared with the data from the interviews. The report aims to build theory in the field about which conditions there are to work with a business model built on upcycling, how textile companies can work with sustainable business models to success with upcycling and how they can do this with profitability. Through the study there has been identified potential for the textile industry to implement business models based on upcycling. This is to build sustainable opportunities for the textile industry.

Detta examensarbete inom grafisk design behandlar ämnet hållbart handlande med fokus på second hand. Idag konsumerar vi stora mängder nyproducerat vilket har en negativ påverkan på miljön. Med mitt arbete vill jag inspirera människor att tänka ett steg längre när de handlar. Frågeställningarna som utforskas är om vi med hjälp av grafisk design kan inspirera till ett mer hållbart handlande? Men också om vi kan få fler konsumenter att i första hand välja second hand? Det resulterar i en bok för nybörjare inom second hand där jag ger tips,inspiration och handledning om ämnet. Boken är menad att inspirera och öppna upp kreativitet för läsaren men på samma gång informera om vikten av hållbart handlande. / This graphic design thesis deals with the topic sustainably, focusing on second hand. Today we consume large quantities of newly produced, which has a negative impact on the environment. With my work, I want to inspire people to think a step further when shopping. The questions that are explored are whether we can, with the help of graphic design, inspire people for more sustainable action? But also if we can get more consumers to choose second hand in the first place? It results in a book for beginners in second hand where I give tips, inspiration and guidance on the subject. The book is meant to inspire and open up creativity for the reader but at the same time inform about the importance of sustainable action.

Upcycling in today’s society is still relatively rare, with most upcycling occurring in works by artists and product designers. This ‘creative reuse’ is a form of minimising waste products in a more effective process than recycling. This study deals with the design of an upcycling centre and how interior architecture is a framework for the upliftment of the host building in the Pretoria CBD, the model inhabitants (namely waste pickers and crafts people), waste materials and the surrounding environment. Many people perceive the self-starter occupation of streetwaste picking as being dirty and inferior. However, those who practice waste picking usually do so as a means of survival, and can offer valuable assistance in environmental sustainability. Waste pickers are often isolated as a social group – unable to reach higher income levels or living conditions. Ignorance around this informal economic sector has led to a divided and fragmented society, particularly within the Pretoria CBD (identified as the location for the intervention). Finding sustainable solutions to waste reuse and job creation, such as this proposed upcycling centre, which actively engage various members of society (in this case, waste pickers, crafts people and the broader community) is important. This is because such programmes can be beneficial to communities living in dense neighbourhoods, as they can provide the key blocks of cohesiveness and symbiosis for building a prosperous future. The interior architecture discipline is relevant here as being a tangible framework to enable cultural production of new objects, environmental sustainability, cultivation of human capital and a support system for model inhabitants. Waste material and discarded products can inform the character of an interior space, and reflect user intervention with built forms that echo the activity and daily routines within the community. As a facilitator, the interior architecture has been imagined to stimulate, inspire, revive and be perceived as a cyclic journey of renewal. This is the concept which governs the experience, activity and process for users entering the proposed upcycling centre. This proposed intervention of the identified Minty’s Tyres building utilises three theories to guide and inform its responses. Firstly, environmental psychology theory guides the alteration of the building to respond to community and social inclusion strategies. Secondly, adaptive reuse theory informs the alteration of the building in response to the new programme as a form of upcycling and improving the building’s user experience and resource efficiency. Finally, regenerative design theory based on restorative actions and technology is consulted to produce a system that is both efficient and sustainable. The architecture itself (i.e. the physical building, materials and structure) is developed alongside the actual site and ecological surroundings. / Mini Dissertation MInt(Prof)--University of Pretoria 2018. / Architecture / MInt(Prof) / Unrestricted

This degree work is investigating nostalgia and the social and environmental sustainable aspects of upcycling. It aims to explore nostalgia as a progressive design tool, through storytelling, by means of upcycling materials and memories. It is developed by using creative writing methods with trigger words, translated to a visual fashion design process. To gain understanding and depth in the storytelling, different memory triggers have been introduced in each example. It suggests a multidimensional take on nostalgia and highlights its importance in everyday life, as well as in the design and art fields, and how storytelling can be actively used in a fashion design process. It also looks at communication in dress and the relationship between the private and the public identity. The importance of this investigation has been to look beyond today’s upcycling field of fashion, in order to develop it further and broaden the perspectives of the field. With the theme of ’the act of eating’, this degree work is seen as an abstract comment to the fashion industry’s influence on bodies and eating habits.