Upcycling as a way of life

Never in history have clothing, accessories, homewares and furniture been so affordable, bringing a culture of disposability and cast-offs going prematurely to landfill. All that is changing with coronavirus disruption of global supply chains and renewed focus on local, natural, handmade and upcycled things that bring meaning to our lives. Upcycling and refashioning clothes is a way for us to be engaged in the making process and begin to appreciate the resources, skills and time that go into the clothes we buy. By learning to repair and restyle, we extend the life of our clothes as we reduce our material footprint. As a lifelong slow fashion practitioner, Slow Clothing author Jane Milburn upcycled her career in 2013 to set up Textile Beat and be at the vanguard of change. Through her love of natural fibres, patina and wabi-sabi style, Jane shares insights and ideas to inspire creative reuse of existing natural resources.