How do you stay looking fresh with little dollar in the bank? Upcycle. Yup, instead of recycling, you turn something old into something new. Easy. Ah, but wait.
If you’re anything like me, you struggled getting the needle in the thread in your textiles class at school. Luckily, help is at hand, in the form of Bristol-based upcycling and wardrobe rescue squad Fix Up Look Sharp.
What’s FULS? Well, meet Ruth Stragnell (that’s her below).
Her thing is turning unwanted stuff into new, one-of-a-kind awesomewear.
In 2012, the fashion graduate started making clothes out of materials, such as curtains, that were donated to children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.
Before she knew it, she had launched a fresh income stream for CLIC Sargent’s shop, where she worked.
According to the charity’s website, the retail outlet on independent enclave Gloucester Road, in Bristol, England, was “attracting younger, non-traditional charity shoppers”.
FULS product marketing coordinator CLAIR JONES, pictured below, explains that Stragnell repaired damaged donated goods “to raise the most money from them”.
“Ruth then started using pieces of donated fabric and damaged garments and turning them into whole new pieces. Fix Up Look Sharp was then born!”
In our interview, below, I ask Jones how – from tees made from two different tees to jackets made from tents– FULS is continuing to take back fashion. So first off, how do we get over the barrier that most people out there might find this stuff a bit weird? She says….
Embrace and love the weird! There’s room for everyone under the sun, and we think there are plenty of fashion-loving, conscious shoppers out who are eager to support independent labels and upcyclers. At least it’s never dull!
And what kind of person wears t-shirts made from two different garments?
Someone who enjoys wearing one of kind clothing, and also someone who is keen to know who made their clothes and where the materials come from.
What reaction do people have when you tell them you’re wearing hybrid tees?
Always positive! It’s fun to see if people can guess what something was in a past life. Previous pieces such as the ‘tenket’ [a jacket made from donated tents with guide ropes for drawstrings] were popular because people could see the journey from the donation to end product.
Do you think people want to upcycle but are too lazy to do it themselves?
I think people generally want to make sustainable choices, but perhaps don’t know where to start or how easy it can be. We’ve run workshops with students turning t-shirts into headbands and crop tops. Lots of student who had never picked up a needle and thread before were amazed at how easy it was. They left with lots of ideas that they were going to try out.
‘Never dull': Still from Fix Up Look Sharp / YouTube
Do you think Fix Up Look Sharp is so great that it might stop someone running to their nearest H&M?
Of course we do. We love it, but also know that fast fashion shopping habits are very established and aren’t easy to change. There is a huge increase in the number of labels doing something similar and shouting about their sustainable credentials. Hopefully shoppers are starting to think more in-depth about their fashion choices.
How is upcycling taking back fashion?
It’s helping to put a stop to throwaway generic fashion by making a conscious effort to use unwanted materials, and turning them into something unique. Upcycling is also making the wearer much more involved in the process, either by consciously shopping with only upcycled or second-hand brands or, even better, inspiring fashion-lovers to make something themselves.
How can people get involved?
Lots of ways. We are always in need of donations of quality textiles and fabrics (especially 1980s and 1990s duvet covers). Our blog was recently relaunched and we are also on the lookout for bloggers with a keen interest in sustainable fashion to write for us.
You can also shop our new collection too.
Fix Up Tips: How To Make Half-and-Half Shirts
Step 1Take one denim and one plaid shirt of similar sizes (it doesn’t matter if they’re a little out).
Step 2
From the bottom, start unpicking the pockets on each shirt but don’t remove them completely – just flap them over and pin them down.
Step 3Starting underneath the armpits, cut the shirts from side-to-side. You’ll cut through where the pockets used to be, leaving you with two halves of each shirt.
Step 4Line up the edges of your corresponding halves, and pin them together to resemble a single shirt.
Step 5 Sew the two halves together, inside-out, ideally using an over-locker to keep everything neat and tidy.
Step 6To the ironing board: give your shirt a press, encouraging the seam to lie flat.
Step 7Top-stitch the seam down. Lay your pockets flat, back in place, and stitch them down.
Step 8Snip off any overhanging threads.
Step 9Bingo! You and a friend can hit the town in your snazzy, reversed half-and-half shirts.