OPPORTUNITY
Project Upcycle was a weekend-long project runway themed Competition where seven other designers and I “took a bin of everyday Goodwill items and elevated them to fashion runway-worthy outfits through tireless cutting, sewing, dyeing, printing and painting in only 48 hours” (2)
The weekend-long Competition was concluded with a runway featuring each of the designers “eclectic and stylish ensembles.” But it was the conversation that each piece created that was the true reflection of Project Upcycle’s purpose: “the celebration of, promotion of and education about sustainable clothing.” (1)
INSIGHT
The competition really inspired me to ask whether upcycling is truly sustainable? Thrifting and upcyclying exist because of the excess of ‘stuff’ generated by consumerism. Our challenge was successful in the sense that each designer was able to create something new and of greater value through artistry and ingenuity. My greatest learning was that people connect to story. Even though the process of thrifting goodwill disguises the “human cost” of fashion, there are people who can understand the dilemma of consumerism through the artistry of story.
DESIGN STRATEGY
I chose to connect to the judges and audience through Story. I Chose a “where the Wild Things Are theme” for my outfit As an homage to my model, who had multiple tattoos of Maurice Sendak’s work on his Body. Connecting his outfit to his own life journey also helped us to better work together to expand on the narrative for his runway walk, which featured three reveals and Seven handmade pieces.
