Upcycling: make something new out of something old

As Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier so aptly put it, "Nothing is lost, nothing is created: everything is transformed". This quote defines (almost) perfectly the principle of upcycling. It's a powerful trend, full of promise and well worth taking an interest in.

One object, lots of possibilities

The basic principle is childishly simple: an old object, whether obsolete, unused or broken, can be transformed, reused and even given a whole new added value. Whether it's clothes, furniture or utensils of all kinds.

We all remember Martin Margiela's fashion show, in which his models wore tops made from Franprix plastic bags! It's one of the most striking examples of the interest and desire for upcycling: creating something new from something old, something beautiful from something ugly, something interesting from something banal, giving a new dimension to an object, giving it a new purpose... What a programme!

There are some superb examples of this in furniture too: ultra-design tables made from old trestles, seats made from pallets, hanging lights made from old jars... There's no shortage of examples, and creativity is the only limit to this practice.

In 1989, Martin Margie organised a fashion show in a Parisian squat.

Photo: Jean-Claude Coutausse

A stylish act of citizenship

Not content with being an excellent way of going green, upcycling is also an aid to creativity and inventiveness... And it can be bought! Anglo-Saxon retailers and designers have been offering upcycled items for a long time now, and have turned it into a lucrative, daring and planet-friendly business.

Even the great house of Hermès has proved that luxury and upcycling can go hand in hand, with this composition made entirely from things we tend to throw away (broken porcelain, old tyres...).

The "Petit H" workshop line from Hermès

Don't throw things away, create them!

So now let your imagination run wild! When you see something in your home that looks like it could be thrown away, think about what you could do with it... Your husband's shirts could become dresses, your wife's old handbag could become a flower pot, and that old coffee table would probably make a superb shelf.

And if you don't use them, your creations could make other people happy. The back of your garage, cellar or attic can be transformed into a treasure trove with a little imagination and elbow grease, so think about it!