BICYCLE WASTE INTO WEARABLE ART: THIS DESIGNER IS RECYCLING WITH STYLE
By: Erica Commisso
Alixandra Klein’s process for creating the jewellery on offer at ABD Culture starts with dumpster diving. She’s looking for discarded bicycle tubes, pieces of waste from local shops that she turns into chic, small-batch jewellery. The phrase someone’s trash is another person’s treasure may be cliche for some, but it’s Klein’s reality. “I bring them home, clean them, and cut them into 16-inch lengths. Using a vacuum table, I secure the rubber on my laser cutter and precision-cut my designs. Afterward, each piece is cleaned, assembled, and finished to create lightweight, waterproof, and stunning jewelry that’s comfortable to wear.”
It is estimated that nearly ten million used inner tubes are discarded into landfills each year in the United States, according to reports. During her time at the Pratt Institute in New York, Klein realized she could take some of that waste out of landfills and turn it into something beautiful. “I couldn’t justify making another product from raw materials when so much waste already exists,” she says. “That’s when I saw a friend wearing hand-cut rubber feather earrings, and the light bulb went on—discarded materials could be transformed into something beautiful and meaningful.”
Source: ABD
One tube from a landfill goes far in terms of jewellery creation, offering a ton of promise and possibility - depending on the length and size of the final piece, one discarded tube can produce anywhere from 20 to a whopping 150 earrings. The practice, she says, can offer many lessons, beyond the clear benefit.
The most obvious positive is that upcycling literally removes waste from landfills rather than adding to it. “With fast fashion fueling overproduction and excessive waste, it’s more critical than ever to use what already exists,” Klein says. “Our planet is drowning in discarded materials that don’t easily break down. By extending the life cycle of these materials through upcycling, we reduce waste, lessen our environmental impact, and prove that sustainability and style can go hand in hand.”
But, she says, the practice can also challenge mindsets - upcycled pieces challenge consumers to look at waste differently. “Instead of seeing discarded materials as useless, view them as untapped resources with creative potential,” she says. It also allows consumers to connect with an authentic transformation, adding value and meaning while storytelling. Upcycled pieces are also designed with longevity, Klein says, created to last using eco-friendly sources. Lastly, they challenge the norm, teaching the industry that fashion doesn’t have to rely on traditional materials. “Innovation happens when we push past what’s expected and explore new possibilities,” Klein says.
Now based in Vermont, Klein was inspired by brands like Youer, Suay, Birdie Blue, and Patagonia, all of which she says offer examples of a commitment to high-quality materials, transparent storytelling, sustainability, and upcycling. They prove, she says, that sustainability and style can go hand in hand. They drive her to take her eco-friendly ethos even further, to prove that upcycling can be high fashion, performance-ready, and uncompromisingly cool. “My long-term vision is to upcycle and recycle as much waste as possible, creating a closed-loop system where materials don’t just get used once and discarded. I’m constantly exploring new recycled materials to diversify ABD Culture’s designs and make an even bigger impact.”
Source: ABD
Despite the global movement into more sustainable practices and making more processes eco-friendly, Klein says she hasn’t seen much growth in terms of upcycling within the fashion industry. “While there’s growing awareness about sustainability, upcycling remains a challenge because recycling materials is expensive and labor-intensive,” she says. “Sourcing sustainable materials is becoming increasingly difficult. That’s why more brands need to commit to the movement - together, we can drive real change.”