I still remember how my grandmother used to make floor mats, quilt covers and even my Barbie doll dresses out of old fabric scraps. It wasn’t a hobby. She just didn’t like to see things go to waste. That was almost 4 decades ago, but what she did was upcycling and she was a master of it. We just weren’t aware since the term ‘upcycling’ wasn’t even coined yet.
Upcycling has been around for a long time, even though the term was only coined in 1994 and not to be confused with recycling.
Upcycling is…
reimagining new possibilities for old things that will otherwise end up as waste. Waste is a taboo. Simply put, it is to reuse and repurpose old materials in a creative and innovative way instead of discarding it. An example would be using fabric scraps to make floor mats.
Recycling is…
converting waste into new materials to be used to create other products. For example, fabric waste(the clothes we throw away), are processed and made into new recycled fabrics.
Can jewellery be upcycled?
Definitely! In fact, upcycling jewellery is quite common among jewellery artisans since long ago. The precious metals are recast into new designs and the gemstones are reused in new settings. From heritage pieces to fast fashion jewellery, the possibilities are endless. Not to mention the thrill of have one-of-a-kind design.
There was one upcycling story which I came across, and it was about the fate of wedding rings after divorce. You know how in movies the wedding/engagement rings always end up in the sea or river after the divorce/breakup? Well, I thought, wouldn’t it be better to hide it till after all the emotional roller-coaster ended, then remodel it into something new?
Heritage jewellery can be upcycled, but there are things to be considered carefully. Consider if the sentimental values and the memories will still hold even after the piece is taken apart? Is it worth it remodel the jewellery? These are just two out of the many questions.
Fast fashion jewellery upcycling is also fast gaining its momentum. The jewellery pieces taken apart will be repurposed and used in a new jewellery design. It is the same as upcycling jewellery, except that the materials are different. Rejewel Collective is a collaboration of artisans that uses disposed fast fashion jewellery for their new creations. You can contribute your fashion jewellery to them too instead of throwing it away. Else, put on your creative hat and start making your own upcycled jewellery. Follow our journey here for inspiration.
If we look beyond all the hype and hashtags on social media, upcycling jewellery is not a trend. It is a ‘conscious style’, just like you will choose a pair of ballerina flats over stilettos. Upcycling jewellery will not fade away, it is perpetual as long as jewellery exists.