Global Directory of Designers + Re-Makers

The Upcycling Atlas is a global, community-built directory, searchable map and resource for textile reuse, upcycling, repair and circular re-making.

It brings together upcycling designers, re-makers, studios, repair practitioners, educators, reuse businesses and micro- and small-scale re-manufacturers working primarily with textile waste and existing materials.

Growing out of years of research and practice in upcycling, the Atlas exists to make this movement visible, connect people and practices across borders, and support local systems of reuse and re-making.

The Atlas includes repair, reuse, remaking, visible mending, creative reuse and upcycling—including longstanding cultural and community practices.

Upcycling is the fastest growing sustainable fashion movement across the globe. It is an active response to the growing issue of textile waste today, yet there is no single platform identifying and connecting — across the world — who is doing what, where, and with which materials.

Existing re-making and upcycling directories focus on furniture, community repair networks, or visible mending, but there is no equivalent global map for textile and fashion upcycling designers and re-makers. This is how the Upcycling Atlas came together.

As policies around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Digital Product Passports (DPP) for textiles and clothing come into reality, there is a gap in identifying real reuse capacity, skills and local partners on a domestic and global level. Although there are many regional examples available, there is no connection showing the scale at which this is growing globally.

Without a clear map of who is already working in upcycling, it is harder for brands, policymakers, educators and researchers to connect with experts and practitioners, and for re-makers to find each other, collaborate, share knowledge and connect.