Upcycling in Chile
Upcycling, the English term for super-recycling, is a technique in which materials are reused or recycled, transforming them into a new product, thus prolonging its useful life.
The power to reuse garments such as jackets, pants, skirts, among others, to then give continuity and thus create value to those garments and textile materials that no longer had a use, is a very important action when creating more sustainable products, since among some of its benefits , it helps to reduce the waste generated by the fashion industry in a more creative way, since as we know, the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry on the planet.
In Chile, we can see that new brands focused on this technique are increasingly emerging, as well as brands that have rethought some of their processes and have gradually incorporated upcycling into some of the garments in their collections.
Here are some national brands that make garments created from upcycling.
- Antúnez Ketterer: Utilizes quality raw materials from leather garments that have already completed their fashion cycle, creating handcrafted handbags and purses.
Discover their new Bucolic mini collection on our website, where you can see seven models from this new mini collection.
Meet Antúnez Ketterer at:
- Website: antunezketterer.cl
- Instagram: @antunez.ketterer
- Ente Upcycling: A Chilean brand that specializes in manufacturing pieces with 100% recycled denim, creating exclusive, high-end, and designer pieces.
Meet Ente Upcycling at:
- Instagram: @ente.upcycling
- Francisca Tornero: This Chilean designer's design is based on the principles of sustainability and fair trade, creating garments through upcycling, where you can find garments made from recycled linen and ties.
Meet Francisca Tornero at:
- Website: Franciscatorneronovias.cl
- Instagram: @franciscatornero
- María Jesús Jofré: Like many of us, when the pandemic hit, in addition to generating a lot of uncertainty and anxiety, it also forced us to make changes and rethink what we were doing at the time. María Jesús was no exception. After difficult times, the Calma collection was born, which you can find available on our website.
This is a collection in which the designer decided not to buy fabrics, so she could reuse party dresses, linings, and products she had in stock, but that due to the crisis we were experiencing, could not be sold.
Meet María Jesús Jofré at:
- Website: mariajesusjofre.cl
- Instagram: @mariajesusjofre.cl
Lorenza Bas: A Chilean brand focused on creating clothing for authentic and versatile women, which works under the concept of NO collection, producing garments with leftover materials from other collections.
This new concept began to be implemented in 2020, launching "Collection not collection," a project that seeks to contribute to more sustainable fashion.
Meet Lorenza Bas at:
- Website: lorenzabas.com
- Instagram: @lorenzabas.brand
In addition to these six brands that are part of our platform, there are also many Chilean brands that are dedicating themselves to using these types of techniques in their garments.
Here we share some of them with you:
- Fran Montecino: A self-titled brand dedicated to designer fashion with a humanistic spirit, fashion seen with artistic, historical, and artisanal value, emphasizing Latin American influences.
In order to make the most of textile waste and the reuse of unused clothing, Fran Montecinos works primarily with upcycling , creating compositions of fabric scraps which are transformed into garments with a Latin American sense.
Meet Fran Montecino at:
- Website: franmontecino.weebly.com
- Instagram: @fran_montecino
- Re Must: Constanza and Carolina are behind the upcycling brand, Re Must.
Their mission as upcycling clothing manufacturers, in addition to operating through the circular economy, is to strengthen our connection with consumers. Their creators believe that promoting sustainable living must be based on its viability; the exclusivity of their garments simply means they are unique, but not inaccessible.
Meet Re Must at:
- Website:www.remust.cl
- Instagram: @remust.store
- Green-E
Clothing brand by designer Valentina Greene.
Jeans clothing, made from recycled garments.
The project is based on rediscovering and repurposing unused garments and materials, following the concept of slow fashion. Each garment is unique , and some designs can be pre-ordered.
Meet Green-E at:
- Instagram: @soygreene