Created from the wrappers of Bumboo toilet roll and cardboard... Displayed in our charity shop window in Swansea to demonstrate recycling, sustainability, imagination and highlight our charity Greyhound Rescue Wales, every month we use items that would go to waste to make outfits that wow! Customers love them nearly as much as I enjoy making them!

@greyhoundwales

This two-piece set was created by transforming a thrifted trench coat into a bomber jacket and matching skirt. Black bias tape was added to give it a bold, sporty aesthetic inspired by classic athletic wear. By reimagining a pre-loved garment, the design extends its lifespan, reduces textile waste, and demonstrates how creativity and craftsmanship can turn discarded clothing into a stylish, contemporary statement.

@simplymilly

Woven Legacy transforms discarded denim into wearable art. All materials were sourced from thrift stores during the pandemic, giving forgotten garments a second life. The handwoven sando is made from denim side seams, the mermaid skirt from reclaimed denim waistbands, and the dramatic cape from denim patchwork. Every detail celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and sustainability—turning waste into timeless couture.

@nard_redoble

For decades, office shirts and trousers have symbolised structure and conformity. I reimagined them as confidence. Five discarded men’s office shirts and one damaged trouser, originally thrifted for my now-retired father, became a five-piece ensemble: a cropped hoodie, bralette, boned underbust corset, patchwork balloon trousers and a zero-waste tote made from scraps. Through deconstruction, pattern drafting, corsetry, precision topstitching, patchworking and reconstruction, I carefully placed every print for harmony. The Under-bust corset took two attempts to perfect its structure and fit. No new fabric was purchased and nothing usable was wasted. This was not made simply to look good, but to be wearable, functional and genuinely desirable. Designed for creative workplaces, fashion events and fashion-forward settings, it redefines professionalism as expressive, sustainable and confident-proving discarded clothing can become something people truly want to wear.

@yaps

Vanmade only works with clothes that are thrown away. Like these jeans trousers. I picked them from the street just before the garbageman took them. There were huge holes at the knees and a stain a little way down the leg. I decided to make two chickenpatches from denim and free styled machine stitched them including all the tiny details. Then I covered the stain with a broken egg and the two chickens are discussing this issue together. There are many ways to prevent garments from going to the landfill and I try to do my best to do my part and with that I use a bit of humor!

@vanmade

This piece was salvaged from a textile waste site in São Paulo, where unsold secondhand clothing often ends up on the streets and are sent to landfills. To enhance the piece, studies of forms and textile interventions were conducted on the knitwear, using donated yarns and a tank top, also rescued from the street. The entire piece was handcrafted over approximately 30 hours. Designed to be worn at music festivals, this outfit gives people the freedom to express themselves and show their personality through fashion.

@lunna_luyet

“Ethnic Futuristic Warrior” is a unique upcycled denim set inspired by the strength of a warrior and the richness of Indonesia’s cultural heritage. Crafted from discarded jeans, the piece creatively combines deconstruction, patchwork, and the repurposing of original denim elements. The hooded vest features repurposed waistband sections as accents on the chest and back, Sashiko stitching, and original denim buttons for the front closure. Thick side seams from the jeans were cut lengthwise and transformed into adjustable side straps to shape the waist. The skirt features a wavy hem, layered panels, functional details, and visible stitching. Hand-drawn Batik with Papua-inspired motifs is applied directly onto the denim, lending a distinctive Indonesian identity to the futuristic silhouette. Together, these elements transform discarded denim into a functional, expressive, and wearable work of art.

@untari-ruze

When I first found these ukay-ukay (Filipino thrift shop) bags, they were old, damaged, wrinkled, and full of holes—the kind most people would simply leave behind. But I saw something worth saving. I brought them home and spent thousands of hours hand-sewing them, stitch by stitch, turning what was once discarded into a one-of-a-kind multi-pocket jacket. I added a detachable hood, a detachable backpack, and details that make the piece both playful and functional. Every stitch, scar, and imperfection tells a story. And in many ways, so do I. This jacket was inspired by the everyday struggles of my own life. It reminds me that things—and people—can be overlooked, worn down, or left behind, yet still have value. I didn’t just make a jacket. I gave something forgotten a new life.

@abykilo

This one-of-a-kind dress was created by transforming discarded denim jeans and second-hand shirts into a dramatic corset-inspired silhouette. The structured bodice features exposed denim seams that enhance texture and shape, while metal studs below the bust add a bold, edgy detail. The sides are finished with eyelets and lace-up closures, allowing the fit and skirt volume to be adjusted. The asymmetrical skirt combines different denim washes and repurposed shirt

@mel_upcycling

Sin Patrones - #thriftflip This look was created entirely by hand, using different repurposed fabrics and giving each material a new life, turning this normal trench into one of a kind piece. I wanted to experiment with contrasts in texture, structure and color, combining denim with lightweight outerwear fabrics to create a complete outfit from pieces that were never originally meant to belong together. For me, upcycling is not only about giving materials a second life. It is also about giving people the freedom to reinterpret what already exists and turn it into something personal, confident and unique.

@sinpatrones

Convertible Clothing with Cordilleran Inabel (Retaso). This is an award winning piece which is made out of scrap handwoven Inabel textiles and mostly handsewn especially the patchwork; also thrifted clothing or "ukay" for the base. This piece was showcased in Impakabsat 2024, RNG News Luzon, Habing Katutubo 6, and Mabika Inabel Showcase. It is entitled as "Tagpi-tagping piraso ng Pagmamahal" whereas it's a collaborative work of a mother who's a weaver and a child who is an emerging fashion designer. It simply wanted to show how a child appreciates the work of a mother no matter how big or small it is.

@hartbit08

This colourful blanket has been sitting in my father's closet for more than 10 years, waiting for someone to use it. But nobody wanted it, 'cause we already have so many blankets. I thought " what a waste!" and decided to rescue it and transform it into my new sweater! I cut the pieces following the Mood fabrics sweater pattern, sewed them together with my sewing machine, installed a zipper, added some cute pink armcuffs, and decided to make it "cropped" with an elastic waistband which was more my style. I couldn't believe how this piece would come out, becoming one of my favourite! I love to wear it in autumn and winter 'cause it's the coziest thing ever! I'm so glad it's not sitting in a closet collecting dust anymore! I'm Katy, from Rome, Italy. I rescue and recycle textile materials around the Eternal City, host swap parties and advocate for an ethic and fair fashion world. Thanks for having me!

@katyalessandri

DEVORA is the materialization of my artistic self: a purple, urban monster, hungry for creation. The piece was constructed from approximately 15 pairs of jeans, sourced from thrift stores and donated by friends and family. I took each pair apart and reconstructed its fragments onto a donated denim base. The entire piece, including the hood, was sewn entirely by me. I live in Bom Retiro, a neighborhood known for its garment factories and intense textile production. With sustainability in mind, I also collected discarded materials from the streets, such as tulle, ropes, rivets, and other notions, incorporating them into the piece. Each pair of jeans and every fragment represents a part of me: a self shaped by the neighborhood, by the city of São Paulo, and by the experiences that have molded me as an artist.

@maryzanah

Giving production remnants a second life & the planet another chance Reimagined through thoughtful design and skilled craftsmanship, what was once considered waste becomes a garment with purpose and lasting value. A new story to tell. Crafted from reclaimed mosquito netting, reimagined as a versatile vest that moves effortlessly from casual daytime wear to an elevated cocktail look proving that sustainability and sophistication can exist in the same piece. #thriftflip

@isabela

This vest is made out of discarded 100% wool fabric swatches , featuring a polyester old towel inner layer that provides softness and helps retain body heat and velvet trim around the neckline from an old kids dress I like to repurpose quality materials designed to last and give them the chance to tell a new story #thriftflip #sustainability #repurpose #trashformingdesign

@isabela