I'm sure most of you have heard the word up-cycle tossed around, I certainly use it a lot when talking about my jewelry.
To up-cycle means to create something new from discarded materials by repairing, refurbishing, or repurposing them.
The practice of up-cycling emerged from concern about collective waste. It is now an outlet of creativity for many people who are focused on keeping things out of landfills.
Up-cycling helps to create a circular economy, where materials can be constantly reused and not turn into waste. It is a practice that has been used throughout history as means to reduce waste in an inexpensive way.
I practice up-cycling by turning leather and cork scraps from other artisan such as purse makers and bookbinders into lightweight jewelry.