Upcycling could be referred to as “trash to Treasure” where items normally thrown out are repurposed into something new and more useful. Upcycling is taking something that has, or had, a use but no longer is needed for that purpose and then recreating that into art or even a useful item.
Here at Zina Designs, many of our products are upcycled or repurposed. Old jewelry is disassembled and used as components in new pieces. Discarded or forgotten tableware becomes Plant Knives or other garden whimsy. Scrap pieces of cloth, leather or ribbon are combined with other items to become Bookmarks. Even old jewelry can be given a makeover to become a more modern, useful piece.
We find these items at everything from garage sales, flea markets and even discards from contractors and manufacturing shops. None of what we use has been garbage as such, we aren’t dumpster diving for materials, and many of these items have been purchased from individuals and groups supporting various charities. We take them and make them into functional art pieces for the home and garden.
We enjoy not filling landfills with waste that has a use, even it is simply an artistic use, though we certainly can’t claim to be environmentalists or part of some green movement. We believe in a reduce and reuse philosophy which, while it does work in a minor way to save the planet, is more based on saving costs that would be born by our customers.
Not to mention that, after we have worked with them, upcycled materials are just so cute.