Upcycling fashion is a process where old, unused or discarded fabrics are creatively converted into useful and artistic clothing. This repurposed clothing has been an age-old practice in our Indian household. Through generations, people have been mindfully executing this eco-friendly process of upcycling in various ways, like converting cotton sarees into beautifully knitted quilts, designing colourful door mats out of leftover fabric, making a tote bag, and the list is never-ending.

Upcycling is not just about cost-effectively recycling clothes; it has many layers to it, from being sustainable and eco-friendly to conserving resources like water, raw materials and energy. So, let's try to understand what is upcycled clothing all about.

Understanding the Importance of Upcycling Fashion

Upcycling fashion has become quite a popular trend recently because of its significant impact on the environment with its eco-friendliness and sustainability. Let's see some of the aspects of upcycled cloth that have made it the talk of the world of fast-paced fashion.

1. Revive Wardrobe

In this ever-evolving world of fashion, trends keep on changing frequently. So, keeping up with this fast-paced world, you can easily revamp your unused clothes into a completely new and trendy outfit, saving your time, money and energy collectively used for shopping.

2. Environmental Benefits

It is a well-known fact that one of the crucial advantages of this upcycle clothes is its environmental benefits as this process involves making over old and unused clothes. Hence, there is very little requirement for water and energy. It is a pivotal step towards having a practical and sustainable fashion.

3. Minimises Waste

A large chunk of abandoned clothes are found nowhere but in landfills, leading to a huge contribution towards garbage and burning, one of the main culprits towards environmental pollution. Hence, using clothes mindfully and thoroughly before dumping them can bring a huge change in our environment.

4. Supports Local Designers

When you want to redesign a dress, you will have to opt for a local designer, which is a great way to enhance their business by giving them a chance to exhibit their innovative creativity. 

Top 5 Upcycled Outfits from the Reborn Upcycled Edit

This is an era of repurposed clothing, where not only buying clothes made from natural fibres like cotton outfits, is important but also the ability to redesign it into a completely new attire is equally valued. So, following the trend, here are a few top upcycled outfits from Virgio’s Reborn Upcycled Edit that are meticulously designed to diversify your wardrobe with unique styles and the latest trends. 

1. Polka Dot Ruffle Set

An immensely stylish polka dot set in black is styled to a chic look. Raahika 2.0, a two-piece upcycled cloth from a pure viscose material with bare minimum carbon footprints, gives you enormous comfort with a quotient of elegance and a contemporary look. Pair it up with funky jewellery and sneakers, and there you go, looking no less than a celebrity.

2. Statement Bandeau Top

Ikrah 2.0 Ruffle Top bandeau top or a tube top that is worth the hype, carefully curated from a piece of luxurious viscose fabric, this quirky top is a fine example of how to upcycle clothing in a manner that it becomes an epitome of repurposed clothing. Crafted beautifully this animal print top can be an apt partywear that can accentuate your personality.

3. Floral Wrap Set

A floral dress is an unbeatable swank that has been trending for ages. Matching this evergreen trend, Amaira 2.0 offers a stunning floral wrap set that can get all the hearts. Elegantly redesigned from a viscose cloth, this stylish floral set will revive your wardrobe.

4. Baby Pink Ruffle Co-Ord Set

Zarah 2.0 delicately knitted from a fresh pink cotton dress can make you, with its beautiful colour and exclusively stylish patterns eye-catching. The gorgeous pink will help you shine bright, making it hard to believe that it is an upcycled outfits.

5. Baby Blue Printed Co-Ord Set

Kiana 2.0, a ravishing piece of upcycled cloth with botanical print, meticulously tailored for you to look like a diva coming alive from a beautiful painting. This stunning outfit is exceptionally soft and will transform your fashion sense to another level while keeping you comfortable. 

Unveiling the Environmental Benefits of Upcycled Cloth

The trend of sustainable clothing is back with a bang, which was a common phenomenon in yesteryears, but evolving with time, this trend has taken a back seat. However, these fast-paced fashion trends impacting negatively on the environment have made it clear that if humans want to survive on this earth, then being harmonious with Mother Nature is the only way. There are numerous environmental benefits of upcycled cloth; let's explore some of them.

1. Reduces Waste

Using upcycled outfits reduces waste, as it involves using the existing unused or discarded clothes that otherwise might have occupied a place at the landfill; resulting in the reduction of wastes that would have piled up in the city outskirts.

2 .Reduces Carbon Footprint

Production of new fabric always requires intensive energy leading to the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and some fluorinated gases. On the greener side, upcycling clothes does not require the production phase, thus resulting in a reduced carbon footprint.

3. Conserves Water

Manufacturing of textiles requires a huge amount of water for dying clothes and finishings. However, repurposing the clothes reduces the requirement for new fabrics, resulting in saving gallons of water.

4. Reduces the use of Chemical

The production of cloth material requires heavy usage of harmful chemicals and dyes that result in the contamination of water bodies and cause harm to our biosphere. On the other hand, revamping the clothes may require very little or no harmful chemicals and dyes, ensuring reduced usage of chemicals and less to no harm to the environment. 

Conclusion

Upcycling clothes is not an alien concept in our country. It has been practised for ages by our ancestors, so by learning from them we can start including this sustainable tradition in our routine. It can help save our ecosystem from the harmful effects of modernisation. 

Repurposing clothes will not just help with environmental issues but will also be economical. Giving a fair chance to the local designers to showcase their innovative and artful ideas can also get you a uniquely designed gorgeous attire. So, considering these things, practising sustainable clothing with upcycling can be one step towards peacefully coexisting with Mother Nature.

FAQS

1. What is the meaning of upcycle clothes?

Upcycled cloth is fine and premium quality clothes, designed using old, unused or scrapped fabrics. These upcycled clothes are tailored in a highly creative way, making them more worthwhile than their previous version.

2. How to upcycle clothing at home?

Since upcycling has been a part of our Indian household, we can never run out of ideas for upcycling clothes. There are numerous options you can make a beautiful quilt, a tote bag, a door mat, a small pouch or a cross-body bag from any old jeans. You can even turn your clothes into decor pieces by cutting and mending them in different styles. 

3. Are repurposed clothing durable?

Yes, repurposed clothing also emphasises durability and quality. It results in an extremely sturdy and stylish outfit that can last for a long time.