TheRoundup is reader supported. We may earn a small commission when you make a purchase via links on this site, at no cost to you.
All products are personally reviewed and tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
Upcycled fashion brands create unique, long-lasting, and stylish items using deadstock, discarded fabric scraps, unwanted vintage clothing, and post-consumer waste materials.
We all know how much fast fashion harms the planet. The world produces 92 million tons of textile waste every year, and 87% of clothing fabrics end up in landfills or incinerators (UNEP, Ellen MacArthur Foundation).
But in 2025, it's cool to wear new clothes made from old clothes! Celebs like Emma Watson, Billie Eilish, and Rihanna all do it, and thanks to these trendy upcycled clothing brands, we can too.
Later, I'll explain exactly what upcycled clothing is, how it's different from recycling, and the many benefits to both you and the environment. But first, here are the amazing upcycled clothing brands that are rocking the sustainable fashion world this year...
Fanfare Label is a zero waste fashion brand founded in 2018 by former fashion buyer Esther Knight, which operates on circular economy principles to address fashion's waste crisis.
The brand transforms vintage pieces and deadstock materials into contemporary designs, with their unique patchwork jeans containing 20% recycled materials compared to the industry average of 5%. Each pair saves 9,500 litres of water and prevents 1kg of waste from reaching landfill.
Manufacturing takes place in GOTS-certified workshops in the UK and Portugal using water-saving laser technology, and all pieces are designed for full recyclability.
✔ 100% Upcycled Materials
✔ Free Repairs & Alterations
✔ Trade in Old Jeans
E.L.V Denim is a pioneering British luxury upcycled fashion brand founded by stylist Anna Foster in 2018.
The brand operates on a zero waste philosophy, sourcing discarded garments from vintage warehouses across the UK and breathing new life into materials destined for landfill. Their signature contrast-panel jeans exemplify their fabric-first approach, where each piece begins with the discovered material rather than a predetermined design.
Every garment is handcrafted in East London ateliers using traditional denim methods, with the brand emphasizing local production and fair labor practices.
E.L.V Denim has gained recognition in the fashion industry, winning awards including the BFC Fashion Trust Fund and Innovate UK's Women in Innovation Award. This proves that upcycling fashion can be a successful business model if done well!
ColieCo represents a new generation of sustainable lingerie brands that prove ethical manufacturing doesn't mean you need to compromise on style or affordability. Founded by Nicole Neaber and operating from a custom-built studio in Sagres, Portugal, the brand produces all garments in-house to ensure fair working conditions and living wages.
The company's eco-centric approach commits to using only fabrics that meet strict sustainability criteria: sustainable natural fibres, recycled materials, or reclaimed deadstock from fashion industry waste that would otherwise end up in landfill. Currently, their fabric mix comprises approximately 60% reclaimed fabrics, 30% sustainable natural fibres (TENCEL™ and bamboo), and 10% recycled materials, according to the brand.
What sets ColieCo apart is their made-to-order production model, which eliminates waste while offering extensive customization options, and their commitment to creating vibrant, fun designs that challenge the often boring aesthetic of sustainable fashion.
✔ Plus Size up to 3XL
✔ Upcycled & Recycled Clothing
✔ Zero Waste Production
Christy Dawn is a California-based slow fashion brand founded in 2014 that specializes in vintage dresses and clothing made primarily from upcycled and recycled fabrics.
The brand operates on a farm-to-closet model, rescuing deadstock fabrics and textile scraps from major fashion houses that would otherwise end up in landfills. Christy Dawn transforms these surplus materials into feminine and genderless pieces designed for longevity and versatility.
All Christy Dawn garments are made in Los Angeles with fair labor practices, ensuring workers receive living wages and health benefits. They also offer a pre-loved marketplace where customers can buy and sell secondhand pieces, promoting circular fashion principles.
The brand emphasizes transparency in its supply chain and environmental impact, with each garment designed as a wardrobe staple meant to be cherished for years rather than seasons.
Näz is a Portuguese sustainable fashion brand founded in 2018 by fashion designer Cristiana Costa with the mission of creating fashion that respects both people and the planet. The brand operates on upcycling principles, specifically rescuing textile off-cuts and deadstock clothing materials from other companies to minimize industry waste.
According to their sustainability practices, Näz utilizes a "zero-burden" approach when using existing materials that require no transformation, meaning they have zero environmental impact beyond the clothing manufacturing process itself. The company produces all garments in Portugal through a network of small family workshops with fewer than 50 employees each, ensuring fair working conditions and supporting local textile expertise.
Näz focuses on transparency in their supply chain, from material sourcing to production, and uses predominantly lower-impact materials, including organic cotton and recycled fibers. The brand's philosophy centers on creating timeless, minimalist pieces that contribute to a circular economy while maintaining democratic pricing to make sustainable fashion accessible.
✔ Handmade to Order
✔ Individual Custom Styles
✔ Zero Waste Philosophy
Kalaurie is a Melbourne-based sustainable fashion brand founded by designer Kalaurie Karl-Crooks that operates on a made-to-order manufacturing model to eliminate overproduction and waste. The brand creates modern heirlooms designed to last a lifetime, releasing annual limited edition capsule collections that prioritize quality, timelessness, craftsmanship, and environmental consciousness.
Kalaurie's sustainability approach centers on working predominantly with premium deadstock and surplus fabrics, which are often high-quality materials considered undesirable by other brands following fashion trends.
The brand focuses exclusively on natural and cellulose materials, avoiding synthetic fabrics derived from petroleum, and extends its waste reduction philosophy to packaging through the use of recycled tissue, deadstock ribbon, and recycled cardboard boxes.
All garments are handcrafted in the brand's Melbourne atelier, supporting local manufacturing and ensuring fair working conditions.
✔ Size Inclusive Lines
✔ Hand-Selected Fabrics
✔ Ethical Labor Policies
Paneros Clothing operates as a sustainable fashion brand that prioritizes circular economy principles. By sourcing the highest-quality and most luxurious deadstock as much as possible, they focus on repurposing waste materials into luxury garments.
Paneros ensures quality materials and clothes are recycled as feedstock to make new fibers, create new clothes, or repurposed to extend the life of existing garments. The brand operates under a comprehensive sustainability framework that encompasses both environmental and social responsibility, working exclusively with ethical manufacturers who provide fair living wages and safe working conditions.
All design work is done by Lauren in Los Angeles, and the brand works with manufacturing partners in Indonesia and Bali who specialize in traditional handcrafted techniques. Paneros positions itself as creating timeless, limited-edition pieces designed for longevity rather than fast fashion consumption patterns.
Upcycled clothes are brand new garments made from existing materials that do not require any further processing.
Websters defines upcycling as:
To reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.
Materials used by upcycled fashion brands include the following.
Upcycling is generally more environmentally friendly than recycling because it doesn't use any additional energy or water, while still diverting waste from landfills and creating unique, often higher-value products.
Strictly speaking, upcycled fashion and recycled fashion are different. However, in practice, they are often used interchangeably and technically incorrectly - even within the fashion industry itself!
But don't get upset if some people or brands confuse the two terms. At the end of the day, both are forms of circular fashion, and that means good news for the environment!
The main benefit of upcycled fashion is that it has a far lower environmental impact. But there are plenty of other, less obvious benefits to consider.
By its very definition, upcycling seeks to reduce waste by reusing raw materials that would otherwise be thrown away. It also generally uses far less energy and water than the fast fashion industry.
What's more, when brands upcycle, the clothing they produce is usually of far better quality. It's made to last, not to be thrown away. You will get much better value for money, and reduce textile waste at the same time.
Have you ever turned up at a party to find that one (or more) others are wearing the same dress or shirt? That's conventional fast fashion for you. When clothes are mass-produced, it's no surprise to find others have bought the same item as you.
But upcycled bohemian clothing is the opposite. Often, the garments are entirely unique, one-of-a-kind creations that literally nobody else will have, especially those that have been handmade from upcycled vintage fabrics.
Even if they're from a line, the fact that most brands of upcycled clothing and accessories are less well-known means it is far less likely that other people will have bought the same item you have.
As you'll have seen, many of the brands I recommended above offer the option to return their items when you no longer want them. They are either resold in a pre-loved collection, repaired, or recycled. And you get store credit in return!
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
TheRoundup.org - As Seen On
