That's Not Rubbish! Upcycled and Circular Fashion.

Welcome to Vintage Wasteland. Home of the suede, no-sew upcycles, ducks, and queer cowboys. The leading lady and our upcycler of the week, Alex Kelley, has honed in on illustrating and stamping tattoo-esque charactures of nature and folklore onto thrifted pieces. Let’s talk about our favorite materials to work with and wear, the western history of fashion trends, and shall we go as far as make some winter trend predictions?? Yeehaw!

SOURCES MENTIONED

Vintage Wasteland on IG

Good News: Eco-Chic Oyster Yarn

Exploring the Queen History of the Old West...Yeehaw

Ep01: Upcycled Then, Now, and What Could've Been

Ep10: An Ode to Summer 2k23, Cottage Core, and Bringing Bonnets Back

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Why the Medieval Aesthetic Never Dies: The History of Medieval Revival Fashion

Winter Trend Predictions - Elle

Your best friend who’s never heard of upcycling. Your grandma who loves to sew. Your pet fish. Chances are, you’ve all had an After Always Apparel thrift flip pop up on your TikTok feed. Meet Zach Thoeny, the upcycler turning blankets and towels into viral statement pieces. From conquering the algorithm to an upcoming upcycled wedding, Zach shares what he can’t fit into a 30-second process video. So, listen up. 

SOURCES MENTIONED

After Always ⁠Instagram⁠

After Always ⁠TikTok⁠

⁠Good News:⁠ Black Men with Gardens

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

⁠South Dakota: Facts, Figures and Famous Faces⁠

⁠THE NORTH DAKOTA CONSPIRACY⁠

Welcome to the world of Janelle Abbott, also known as JRAT. A complete zero waste enigma and maximalist dream. While her artistic, intricate pieces dance, move, and radiate the energy and creativity behind the scenes, we don’t know much about JRAT herself. For all we know, she could be a unicorn with a sewing machine. Let’s uncover the inspiration, story, and process underneath JRAT’s works of art to confirm she's real, shall we?

SOURCES MENTIONED

JRAT 

JRAT Wardrobe Therapy

Good News: England bans single use plastic 

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If you're in the secondhand scene of Boston, you know MICH. A flea market regular with stickers scattered all over New England, MICH is a zero waste designer that offers a little bit of everything - from tapestry blanket crewnecks to sleeping bag puffer vests. Not to mention, with roots in Salem... And it being October... we simply must delve into the mysterious history of the Salem witch trials and what modern day witchcraft looks like (*cough cough* upcycling).

From Harvard to Hogwarts, this one's for you.

SOURCES MENTIONED

MICH's IG

Good News: Algae based ice cream

20+ Famous Witches In History You Should Know About

History of Witches

Shindig Studios in Salem

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Women Weren’t the Only Victims of the Salem Witch Trials

It’s October. Sweaters or sweats? Halloween gear? Thanks to Julia George, the founder of Something Made Custom, we can have it all.

We’ve talked towel shorts, reworked denim, and this episode we’re drooling over another upcycle trend: Patchwork sweat sets. And who better to talk easy and ethical Halloween costumes with than a than a self-proclaimed horror movie geek and zero waste fashionista? Oh, did I mention Julia may or may not have spilled on her experience as a designer at NYFW… Ah!! 

SOURCES MENTIONED

Something Made Custom

Good News: The Ban on Plastic Water Bottles at LAX

Tie Skirt DIY

Spray Painted Old Costume Revamp

Fast fashion haunts the Halloween season

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Cue the That’s Not Rubbish! back to school commercial! 

As students and teachers are officially Back 2 School, I’m taking the ultimate teacher’s pet, stationery princess, AND founder of Upcycler Enchantments, Jess Fernandez back to the classroom for a Spelling Bee. Meanwhile, exploring upcycled back to school supplies and reminiscing over Scholastic book fairs. Which book cover design was your go-to? Lisa Frank or 5 Star?

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SOURCES MENTIONED

Upcycled Enchantments

Good News: The Man Who Fought Deforestation By Opening a Box in The Sky

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I Know Which Weather Condition Matches Your Mood Based On The Back-To-School Supplies You Purchase

More Back to School Buzzfeed Quizzes

Newsflash: we're bringing bonnets back! As summer is wrapping up, we need to soak up the sun and prepare for the fall. So, I teamed up with the epitome of summer and cottage core herself, Erin McComb, to celebrate the highs and lows of summer 2k23 and highlight some summer to fall transitional styles. Trust me, you wouldn't want to go fruit picking in anyone else. 🍓

Along the way, we learned the unique roots behind Erin's historical silhouettes, dainty florals, towel shorts, and quilted bonnets. We're talking cottage core, grandpa core...colonial core?

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SOURCES MENTIONED

Good News: Taiwanese couple in their 80's become secondhand influencers with clothes left at their laundromat

Ribbon on shower curtain tiktok

Styling Hacks: Episode 04 with Ruby Webb

Cointel: 1:1 Jacket Bags

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9 WAYS TO TRANSITION YOUR WARDROBE FROM SUMMER TO FALL

6 Outfits for the Transition From Summer to Fall

Recapping the craziest summer pop culture moments

Pinterest Lookbooks: Cottagecore Fashion

GrandmaCore Aesthetic 101: Your Guide to this Cozy Lifestyle Trend

About 6,200 weddings occur every day in the United States alone. And in the UK, over 275,000 a year. But, what exactly happens to the wedding dress after the big day? And what would a wedding between Dolly Parton and Cyndi Lauper look like? This episode, we invite the vibrant and 90's inspired UK-based upcycler and weaver, Ashley Jess Knight, to blow our minds by explaining how she saves bridal waste by shrinking these big, extravagant dresses into thread to weave waistcoats/vests, bows, and wall art. 💒👰🏼‍♀️

Announcement: The That's Not Rubbish! podcast will be scaling back to every OTHER Monday as we build up on some exciting projects that will make upcycled fashion accessible once and for all. Through rich or poor... Stay tuned?

("I do.")

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SOURCES MENTIONED

Ashley Jess Knight's Instagram / Website / Workshops

That's Not Rubbish! IG Post on Bridal Waste

Good News: Turkish Garbage Collectors Open Library of all the Books Thrown Away

Irregular Choice Bride/Groom Heels - (to be seen at Ashley's future wedding) 💒

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ADDITIONAL

Guide to Bridal Waste + Recovery
What To Do with Your Wedding Dress After "I Do"

Zero Waste Sustainable Wedding Dress Shopping

Intro Song: "Here Comes the Bride" piece written by Wagner for the Opera Lohengrin

We're in Detroit for a studio tour by Raya Sacco, luxury upcycler and founder of RAYA (@hausofraya). This sunlit and plant-filled studio is the home of the Vendetta Top and T-Skirt.

But, what makes a studio a studio? And an upscale brand an upscale brand? This episode, we’re going heart to heart with Raya to uncover the secrets behind curating the perfect space, upscale secondhand brand, and a closet packed with both longevity and intimacy. Look good, feel better, and listen to Raya’s zen voice talk about reworked leather and Feng Shui. There's nothing like it.

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SOURCES MENTIONED

@theRayabrand or ShopRaya.co

Good News: Free Food: Geneva’s community pantries use the sharing economy to prevent food waste

Babyface Ray - Donda Bag (Official Video) featuring RAYA and more Detroit rappers

T-Skirt Tutorial

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Detroit: The Comeback City

Detroit’s Upcycling Kitchen ramps up free meal program

Luxury branding: How to build a strong luxury brand

the impact of luxury / are designer goods more sustainable than fast fashion?

Are Luxury Fashion Brands More Sustainable?

Feng Shui Tips for Beginners

Not Sure What Houseplant To Get? This Quiz'll Help You Decide

DETROIT CIRCULAR FASHION MENTIONS

@boats.and.clothes

@iselljawns

@thevelvettower

I couldn't take up the chance to pick the brains of 18 year old upcycler, Anthony - founder of Wäne Forever - on all things menswear today. Learn more about Anthony's brand, his stunning use of videography and creative direction to speak to his generation, and how exactly this generation *fashions*.

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SOURCES MENTIONED

That's Not Rubbish! IG Post on Masc/Unisex Upcyclers

Wäne on IG

Good News: Ochis Coffee Eco Glasses

Ochis

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