Melted plastic bags styled with lego bowties

Make your t-shirt a changing canvas for your Trashion Plastic Artwork! 10 minute fun with cutting plastic bags and melting them to t-shirts. This technique is not permanent. The plastic will stay on a few uses and should be removed before washing the garment (it will come off in the washing machine). Check out my tutorial on Fusing plastic bags to t-shirts and knitwear. This will look great with my lego-bowties! I´m planning to make a few of these bowties for sale in my Etsy shop.

Invisible Book Shelf and Suitcase Pet Bed

Invisible Book Shelf tutorial from Instructables.


A padded suitcase is the cat's meow -- and just the ticket for a contented kitty.

How to Make a Retro Pet Bed? from Natural Home. This pet bed uses the better half of a junk-store suitcase whose days on the luggage carousel are long gone. Simply remove the top of your vintage valise and tuck a feather pillow inside. An easy-to-remove flannel pillowcase makes laundering a breeze. This perch is the perfect curling-up spot for the discriminating catnapper.

Rolling socks with Sabrina Melis

Sabrina Melis of Alghero Sardegna Italy sews jewels from old socks and other materials. Her soft jewelry is 100% recycled and gorgeous! Like candy. Her rolling-technique is very god to use when doing crafts from woolsweater scrap pieces or other thick fabrics for clothing details, home decor (like pillowcases, floormats) and soft toys.


Via HauteNature blog.

Attention Trashion bag ladies!

(bag made by Post Scriptum)

Are you an upcycler? As in, are you into making stuff from things that others cast away? Now is your chance to show the world your trashy treasures. The Compai ladies — Justina and Faythe Blakeney (authors of 99 Ways To Cut, Sew, Trim And Tie Your T-Shirt Into Something Special) — are working on a new book about bags made from recycled materials.

Submit a hi-res image of an original bag (or bags) that you have made from old tires, nuts and bolts, candy wrappers, seatbelts, old clothes, plastic bags, vinyl records, etc. to justina@venuszine.com. Bags can be any shape, size or style so long as they are made from recycled materials. Along with the images, send us your name, occupation, age, URL (if you have one), location and a short paragraph explaining what the bag is made of and your design philosophy.

You could be chosen to be a featured designer in Compai’s upcoming publication (to be published by Potter Craft, a division of Random House), plus win two free copies of the upcoming title. The winner also will be featured on Venuszine.com.

Deadline: August 20, 2008, at 5 p.m.
Submit to: justina@venuszine.com with "Bag Book" in the subject line.


(Lace glove bag made by Flymissy)


(sweater bag by Brenda's bag)

Trashionista group in Flickr

As you know I´m admin of a group called TRASHIONISTA - Sustainable style and recycled fashion in Flickr. We have over 1000 members so far! I created this group to support sustainable fashion thinking and all you crafty trashionistas out there. If you have made, sewn, knitted, reconstructed fashion pieces, clothes or accessories from recycled materials or eco-friendly materials, this group is for you. Come and show us your talent! Thank you for all who have contributed so far. Below some of my favorites. Reduce Repair Reuse Recycle - TRASHION!

Dress and hat by Sunshine Loves You



Recycled fabric bunny called Betty by JunkerJane.


Patchwork dress by eviegreenpixie.


Reconstructed dress and zipper corset by LoriMarsha.



Knit reconstruction by -astronette-


String scarf by psarokokalo.



Converse belt by rachelyra.

Trashion light fixtures

My latest finds in trashion lighting fixtures made from recycled materials. I just wish I could do metalwork or electrical work.

Coffee filter sconce lamp


Propaine tank lamp by fringecollection.etsy.com


Tincan light fixtures by MariposaAvenue


WASTE NOT lamps made from recycled plastic utensils by BVBCollective





MILAN 2008: Fethi Atakol’s Functional Artwork


Lamp shade from recycled and melted plastic bottles by ThisGallery.

Discarded to Devine 2008 runway show pics

Discarded to Devine 2008 recycled fashion show was held in SF in April (previous post HERE). The organization has now released some runway and entry images of this fantastic event on their site. Click to "Design & Designers" and 2008 images. Definately worth checking out! Also keep in mind that Discarded to Devine 2009 is coming, so check back to the site for more info. Maybe some of your designs will make it to the 2009 show!

Thight fashion - Päivän sukkahousuvinkki

Pantyhose or thights are a big no-no for the eco-concious fashionista since they are made nylon (= polymere plastic). They brake easily and therefore are often thrown away after just few uses. I prefer to use only fish-net thights because I have noticed them to be more durable and therefore I buy maybe 5 pairs a year. Maria Lau makes jewelry and other werables from thights and other recycled material by braiding and binding them together with beads and luxurious pearls. She has worked with fashion houses like Michiko Koshino and DKNY to name a few.






In case you did not know, re-using pantyhose in new ways is a bit of a joke in Finland. A local food market chain K-Kauppa used to publish "today´s pantyhose tips" (Finnish "sukkahousuvinkki") in their magazine Pirkka. Hilarious stuff like "Slip a champagne bottle in a pair of pantyhose when popping the cork. This way the cork will not fly to anyones head and hurt them". People claimed to use thights for almost anything and I do not doubt that some meant what they wrote in. The magazine actually paid for good tips... Anyway, if you do make something from recycled thights and want to wear them in Finland, make them so well that people don´t realize them being thights and don´t advertise the original material... Some people just wouldn´t get the trashion aspect. I´m sure this is not the case in the rest of the world. We are a funny nation sometimes.

How to make a thights necklace, a tutorial by Smaggle Style. Made from thicker winter thights.


Thight dress in Discarded to Devine fashion show in San Francisco.




I remebered seeing this dress in the inside cover of Destenys Child´s album. Look at the middle dress. I think it looks exactly the kind of design I would go for when using recycled thights. Although nylon can be a very "hot" material to wear, since it´s plastic, the dress has to be lined with jersey. Even the pearls are not a problem! I have a box full of wooden beads at home. The beads were salvaged from a dumster, a thrown away driver´s wood bead seat cover. They have been waiting for a project like this. I think the worn down wood beads and skincolored granny thights would get a major facelift on this kind of a project. Now I wonder what metal zippers (canvas part cut out) would look like mixed and bound up with thights....? My friends will propably think I´ve gone insane if I ask them to give me their cast off thights...? Have to think of a diplomatic approach.

Maria Lau´s link found via Style Bubble fashion blog.

Recycled leather to punk jewelry by Janna Ambags-Alberts

Janna Ambags-Alberts makes incredible design jewelry from recycled leather. Her work has the right (stylish) kind of 80´s vibe but at the same time I see them as very modern wearables. They have a punk feel to them that will elovate any little black dress to gala status. Janna has also a Flickr gallery by the name of Artable.nl.





Since her jewelry cannot be bought online I recommend checking out Fleathers.etsy.com. She makes earrings from colorful leather.

More fab bags from recycled leather

I adore worn down secondhand leather and bags made from recycled or repurposed leather clothes. You just can´t beat vintage leather. My all time favorite bags designer in the sustainable fashion scene is Ashley Watson but recently I have also found other great designers and bag makers!


BAGGAGE recycled leather bags from Canada.


Recycled leather bags available at Amoosi.


Matières à réflexion bags by French designers Laetitia Azpiroz and Cyrille Railliet. Also check out their blog. Found via TheCoveted fashion blog.


Red leather bag sewn from a thrifted leather jacket. Made by a fellow Finn Jaana-Mari.


Recycled leather goods from thecraftydevils.etsy.com.



Charlott Vasberg inspires me with her bag designs. The Twiste bag from 2005 still looks new and fresh (zippers yey!).

Recycled belt design by Inghua Ting

TING is a small company that produces luxury products to sustainable, ethical principles. Inghua Ting established the company in 2000. Following her graduation from the Royal College of Art, Inghua worked in Japan developing innovative, futuristic fabrics. However, working at the forefront of fabric technology led her to considering sustainable issues, and the challenge of designing and producing a desirable, luxury product from recycled materials. Inspired by old leather belts, reclaimed seat belts, old braces, vintage leather saddles, salvaged fabrics and tie silks.

Car seatbelt cushion and vintage belt floormat, via Available at Branch Home


Ting produces three main collections: a range of luxury leather bags, belts and wallets; home and interior accessories and Orange Label, a range of bags made from seat belts. Belts, Bags, Wallets are crafted from vegetable tanned leathers and vintage leather belts. They are lined with bright vintage fabrics, tie silks and corduroys and have belt buckle fastenings.



Ting shoulderbag and coinpouch available from EcoBTQ.


Ting belt camera bag available from Ecocentric.

Trashion lunch

I love bagels. And here you see the perfect trashion-way to take your take-away lunch with you to work. Idea and instructions from Acorn Studios.

Geek-ware Trashion

Technology has gone supersonic in the past ten years. Our electronic devices expire faster and recycling centres are stuck with mountains of old computers, tv´s, dvd´s, phones, printers, VHS casettes and so on. Anyone who uses these discarded technologies as material for their projects or products is my idol. Geek-ware blog ("adventures of an e-waste recycler") is dedicated in finding new ideas and the people that gid through piles of computers and other tech-stuff to give them a new purpose or look. Artists have also come up with fab new inventions when studying our relationship with these everydaymachines. Recycle-retro-tech rocks!

Customizing your computer screen: Instructions HERE
How cool is this.. And did you notice the keyboard??


Recycling computer disks:

Floppy disc notebooks

Disc notebooks

CD-case:


Privacy-laptop sweater and other Body-Technology Interfaces.


Mac-jewelry:


Sheeps in technology heaven: Original post HERE

Discarded To Devine Fashion Show 2008

The Discarded To Devine 2008 fashion show and auction was held in San Francisco last Sathurday, April 26nd. Show designs can be viewed at Discarded To Devine Flickr photostream. Here are my favorites.

Reconstructed knitwear:


Dress from recycled nylon stockings: (Photo by Calmenda)

More pictures: AHEIDEN PHOTOS and CONCHANG PHOTOS

I think this dress is just genious and bautiful. I had to look at the large image up-close until I figured out what this was made from. Maybe add a few sparkling crystals/silver sequins and this would kill on the prom dance floor.

Fida avaa oman Outlet-myymälän Roihupeltoon

Fida lähetystorien uusi Outlet-myymälä avautuu Helsingissä 29.4.!

Outlet-myymälässä kaikki vaatteet maksavat vain euron. Uusi Fida outlet-myymälä Itä-Helsingin Roihupellossa juhlii avajaisia vapputunnelmissa tiistaina 29.4. Myymälässä myydään Fida lähetystoreilta poistettuja hyväkuntoisia käytettyjä vaatteita. Fida lähetystorien lajittelukeskuksessa outlet-myymälän yhteydessä toimii myös tukkumyynti. Tukkumyynti palvelee ammattilaisostajia asiantuntevasti.
"Tukkumyynti eroaa outlet-myynnistä siten, että tukkupuolella myydään vaatteita kilohintaan ja suurissa erissä, kuvailee tukkumyynnistä vastaava Satu Koivisto. "Tukkumyynnistä voi löytää myymälätasoisia tekstiilejä ja kenkiä, erittäin edullista kakkoslaatua tai vaikkapa puoli-ilmaista materiaalia tuunaukseen energiajakeesta. Tukkumyyntiin Roihupeltoon ovat tervetulleita sekä yritykset että yhteisöt, kuten teatterit ja käsityöyrittäjät.(Teksti Fidan kotisivuilta.)

Fida outlet-myymälä
Tulppatie 14, Helsinki
Myymälä avoinna: ma-pe klo 10-14.00
Fida tukkumyynti, Tulppatie 14, Helsinki

Make Art not Trash (trashion links)

Art for housewifes has collected a huuuge list of artists that use trash and recycled materials for their works. The site itself is a bit confusing, but the links are great. This should keep you busy surfing the interweb for a few afternoons.

Shoe chair by Willie Cole "Made In The Philippines"

Martin Margiela Artisanal SS08 collection

Maison Martin Margiela has released their new SS08 Artisanal colection on their website. Once again I find myself gasping. And belive it or not, I have been playing with the idea of creating "pixelated" prints/images to clothing and home decor by combining different colored buttons for the past two years... I should have done it then. I´m just happy to see Margiela´s studio and I seem to share thoughts. As always I love that they tell how the garment has been made + the work hours put into it.

Scream-button-dress: Vintage buttons are embroidered on a silk chiffon to create a bit-mapped effect motif. Two rectangular pieces of silk muslin are assembled to form a dress. The front is embroidered with various buttons of mother-of-pearl, metal, plastic to draw a mouth. Dress : 25 hours

Pixelated prints from buttons:

The plastron of a vintage shirt is embroidered with various buttons in mother-of-pearl, metal and plastic, composing the drawing of an eye. T-shirt : 20 hours

Mirrorpiece jacket:

Small mirror squares are assembled as a top. These small tiles like those found on a facetted disco ball are glued on an open-back top lined in black leather. Top : 45 hours

Pleated top:

An extra large T-shirt is partially slashed in bands to create a circular motif. The new armhole is made with a series of hand-made knots. T-shirt : 19 hours

Elastic Band Jacket:

A plaiting of elastic bands creates a jacket. Various widths and qualities of elastics are plaited directly on the dummy to make a jacket. The different types of elastics brings a particular colour to each garment. T-shirt : 29 hours

Necktie dress by Post Decadent Trashionista

Post Decadent Trashionista made a beautifull dress and stole by using my tie-feather tutorial. Well done girl! I´d definately wear this to a party :)

Unique shopper bags from plastic office file pockets and magazine clippings

These genious shopping bags made from clear plastic office file pockets. They are sewn together with a regular home sewing machine and you can decorate them with some magazine clippings. Etsy sellers note: This is the perfect (and fast!) stylish way to make bags for your DIY goods. Plastic file pockets are available propably from any recycling centre in your area. They will propably give some for free if you ask :) And if they have a company logo on them that you don´t want to be seen, just print a stickker with your details ext. and paste it over the logo. Simple as 1,2,3.

For more creative packing, visit Crafty Packages Group in Flickr.

I cannot remember anymore where on the net I first spotted these images. If you know who has originally made them, please let me know and I will credit you on this post.

Knitwear reconstructed from Preloved

Preloved has done some of my alltime favorite knitwear reconstructions in the past seasons. Their website is currently "under(re)construction" :) but they should be back up this summer. Here are some inspirational pics from their previous collections. This is the way knits need to be recycled! And notice that most of the pieces are created from diagonally/vertical cut pieces. They are much easier to sew together than a random s-seam...