Upcycling in pictures. The story of an everlasting leather jacket

If you thought “what on earth?” when we mentioned upcycling, here’s an opportunity to learn more! And there’s a lovely story too, with Claire in the starring role.
You may remember Claire: she’s the talented stylist joining us to prepare the Paris 2045 collection. You’ve seen her on Instagram; she also does body painting... Naturally, we’re very fond of her.

A family story of creativity

Claire’s grandmother introduced her to sewing by making her dolls, blankets, and one day even a pair of pajamas together. Claire’s grandmother was an expert in the art of repurposing, having grown up during the war. With her gifted hands, she turned shirts with holes and scraps into cushions, sheets into rags, and so on. She also adapted clothes to fit the children as they grew.

Claire also remembers making a bag for art class in middle school. It was her favorite subject. She has always loved painting, tinkering, and creating.
One fine day during a major spring clean, Claire’s father unearthed an old-fashioned leather jacket. Claire reacted like a vigorous meerkat and jumped at the opportunity to transform it into a leather pencil case. The challenge was on. Leather pencil cases were fashionable, very classy, and pleasant to the touch. After arguing her case so the jacket wouldn’t end up at the recycling center or a flea market, far from her eager little hands that wanted to shape it, she spent a day making her pencil case. She also salvaged the jacket’s zipper.

“But she’s showing off; she didn’t make it herself!”

After several practice attempts on fabric and a few tries, the result was remarkable. Claire already handled the sewing machine well. She was very proud of it. Her pencil case looked as though it had already lived through all kinds of adventures: “Oh, come on, she’s showing off; she didn’t make it herself!” her classmates said. Ha!

Claire still uses her 37-year-old pencil case, if we count the age of the jacket. This leather jacket was made to last, it seems.
What’s more, it had offspring: she made other pencil cases as gifts, notably one for her brother when he started middle school. It’s vintage with a known history. We also love the mysterious vintage pieces found in thrift stores.

Upcycling means transforming a material that has already been used or a garment we no longer want into something desirable: here, the pencil case carries the sentimental value of her father’s jacket, even though it no longer looks much like it.

Encouraged by this success, she also made bow ties and cotton balls from fabric scraps to give to new parents. Today, she still creates from surplus fabrics, combining them with new materials.
Honestly, wearing something upcycled is already cool, but when you made it yourself, can tell its story, and know it’s unique, it’s even better!!