9 upcycled clothing brands that use recycled textiles for menswear.
“It’s a new era in fashion - there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together.”
As online shoppers and fashion advocates alike increasingly gravitate towards unique, eco-conscious alternatives, the surge in demand for upcycled men’s clothing has become unmistakable.
But what exactly is upcycled clothing, and why has it become such a pivotal tool in steering clear of the pitfalls of fast fashion?
In essence, upcycled fashion transcends mere style; it embodies a profound commitment to removing textile waste from the environment.
Rework fashion designers offer a real change toward minimizing our ecological footprint in local communities and expanding fashion design thought.
So, regardless of your individual aesthetic preferences, embracing the ethos of reworked fashion through upcycling clothes is not just a statement of personal style but also a tangible step towards preserving our planet for future generations.
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Upcycling Clothes
Upcycling Menswear
Seam Ripper & Fabric Scissors: A seam ripper allows for careful removal of stitches without damaging the fabric, a necessity for disassembling and reassembling garments accurately. Meanwhile, high-quality fabric scissors are crucial for cleanly cutting various fabric types, trimming seams, and refining garment shapes. Consider investing in a durable pair with sharp blades for precise cutting and minimal fraying.
Sewing Needles & Machine: Having both a hand-sewing needle and a sewing machine is essential. The hand-sewing needle allows for detailed and precise stitching, perfect for small repairs or intricate embellishments. On the other hand, a sewing machine expedites larger sewing tasks, such as altering garment sizes or constructing new pieces.
Recycled Fabrics: Seek out recycled fabrics from thrift stores, vintage shops, or even your own wardrobe to use as the foundation for your upcycling projects. Old shirts, jeans, and jackets can be transformed into patchwork designs, embellishments, or even entirely new garments with a bit of creativity and ingenuity.
Upcycling Techniques
Patchwork: Classic upcycling technique that involves piecing together fabric scraps from various sources to create a unique and visually dynamic design.
Sashiko Embroidery: A traditional Japanese stitching technique that adds beautiful and intricate patterns to fabric. Incorporating Sashiko embroidery into upcycling menswear projects can elevate the aesthetic and create unique, personalized garments.
Appliqué: Creative upcycling technique that involves attaching fabric shapes or designs onto a base fabric to create decorative embellishments. Appliqué allows you to experiment with layering, texture, and color to customize your menswear pieces.
Upcycle Clothes Ideas
Shirt Reconstruction: Give old shirts new life by altering their silhouette, adding embellishments, or combining multiple shirts to create a patchwork effect. Experiment with sleeve length, neckline shape, or hemline to create custom-fit shirts or transform them into trendy button-up vests or jackets.
Sweater Upcycling: Repurpose old sweaters by unraveling the yarn to create new knitwear items or cutting them into patches to add texture and warmth to other garments. Combine sweater pieces with contrasting fabrics to create cozy winter accessories like scarves, hats, or mittens.
Upcycle Denim Suggestions
Suit Transformation: Turn outdated suits into contemporary pieces by altering the fit, updating the lining, or adding unique details like contrast stitching or decorative buttons. Repurpose suit jackets into vests, blazers into bomber jackets, or trousers into shorts or even bags.
Accessory Creation: Utilize scraps of fabric from old clothing to craft accessories such as ties, bow ties, pocket squares, or belts.
Outerwear Repurposing: Transform outdated jackets or coats by adding patches, embroidery, or fabric panels to refresh their appearance. Convert oversized jackets into fitted coats, or deconstruct them to create new garments like vests or hoodies.
Upcycled Clothing
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Never Too Much Basic
Never Too Much Basic (NTMB) is an artisanal reworked vintage denimwear brand.
Their sustainable ethos drives them to create oversized, deconstructed, and asymmetrical pieces that defy conventional fashion norms.
Through intricate manipulations, bold lettering, and hand-painted designs, they breathe new life into vintage fabrics, challenging the monotony of mainstream fashion.
NTMB's narrative extends beyond denim; it's a story of relentless curiosity, continually pushing boundaries to redefine what fashion can be.
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Zemi Oro
Zemi Oro specializes in reworked utility garments created with upcycled textiles.
Founded on the principles of environmental responsibility and artistic expression, Zemi Oro is a testament to creativity and resourcefulness.
Through interactive drops and custom orders, customers are invited to engage with the brand's process.
All Zemi products are more than just clothing; they are collectible multimedia art pieces meticulously designed by the visionary D.R.A.
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Brandon Josh
Brandon Josh has a keen eye for exaggerated plays on bottoms and outerwear, bringing a fresh perspective to upcycled streetwear.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of entrepreneurship, Brandon's ultimate goal remains simple: to live life to the fullest, to have fun, and to inspire as many people as possible along the way.
Join him on this extraordinary journey, where authenticity reigns supreme, and being yourself is the only way to truly shine.
Zemi Oro
Never Too Much Basic
Brandon Josh
Brandon Josh
Never Too Much Basic
Garments + Footwear
Shop Replacement Parts
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By Michael Angelo
By Michael Angelo is an American sustainable designer from Indiana.
His focus is on the reuse of old clothing, woven, home goods and more to reimagine a sustainably sourced 1 of 1.
Currently Co-Owning Anngelos Salon & Workshop with his wife, he offers walk-ins for commission works as well as clothing alterations.
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Guap
Guap offers a unique blend of custom footwear and garments handcrafted with recycled materials.
At Guap, every shoe is a masterpiece, hand-stitched with recycled fabrics and materials sourced personally by the founder.
From iconic Timberlands to classic Air Force Ones, each pair is a one-of-one creation, made to order to ensure a perfect fit and a personalized touch.
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Zero Waste Daniel
Zero Waste Daniel is a New York based clothing designer and zero-waste lifestyle pioneer who uses pre-consumer waste sourced from New York City’s garment industry, as well as other hard-to-recycle materials, to create his line of genderless clothing and accessories that send nothing to landfills.
Daniel continues to inspire change and make headlines by growing the mission of ending waste culture and redefining the meaning of “sustainable design” as a call to action for all who wish to participate.
By Michael Angelo
Guap
Zero Waste Daniel
By Michael Angelo
Guap
Replacement Patches
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Sublime Remains
Sublime Remains is a custom bag, garment, and accessory company based in Chicago.
Each limited edition bag, garment, wallet, and accessory feature a custom-made design that tells a story using recycled leather.
Sublime Remains assembles every piece by hand; each creation is wearable functional art.
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Bandulu
Known for paint splatter embroidery, Bandulu is:
Recycled
Handmade
Constructed in NYC
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Studio Ü UK
Founded by the dynamic duo Justin Umeh and Unai Telleria during the 2022 lockdown, Studio Ü goes beyond standard rework collections.
They believe in crafting standout silhouettes that resonate with a diverse community, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity.
Every reworked garment is handcrafted within their London workshop, championing artistry, innovation, and playfulness in every stitch.
Bandulu
Studio Ü UK
Sublime Remains
Bandulu
Sublime Remains
Replacement Charms
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Jonathan Baffi’s early passion for estate and yard sales burgeoned into a talent for procuring and vending thrifted goods online, culminating in the establishment of his own custom design manufacturing enterprise. Today, fully engrossed in the numismatic coins business, he continues to pursue his passions for thrifting and design, molding his career journey into a multifaceted expression of interests.