From trash to treasure

Search ‘upcycled’ on Etsy and you’ll find over 200,000 bespoke, handmade crafts that started life as bottles, books, side tables… unwanted items transformed into desirable products. It’s a popular trend that’s standing the test of time – so now’s the time to start turning unwanted clutter into saleable crafts.

The term ‘upcycling’appeared in the 1990s when people started to realise the importance of using sustainable resources, and its popularity has grown as people become more environmentally), is an expert in making new from old. “There’s been a natural move towards sustainability in design,” she says. “We have all woken up to the fact that it’s not possible to continue consuming at the rate we have, but I also think that the public grew tired of things looking too perfect – a little bit of patina adds charm.” With the recession, we’ve started reusing even more, and the trend for nostalgia and vintage means that anything with a history is a winner.