Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 462,935 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,243 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,972 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,243 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,972 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,215 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 462,935 cutting edge ideas.

45 Upcycled Items

From Climbing Rope Leashes to Copper Couture

— March 12, 2010 — Eco
Making art form garbage has always been a popular art form, but when the recession hit, it became a frenzy. People wanted items as cheap as they could get and upcycling was one way to ensure you didn't break the bank. I present to you these upcycled items to inspire you to seek out some for yourself, or if you are feeling really ambitious, you can try making some scrap art.

I bring you these upcycled items not just to showcase budget-conscious items, but to bring to mind the idea that just because we want something nice doesn't mean it has to be new. Help out Mother Nature and next time you're shopping, pick up some upcycled stuff.
5.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
45
Upcycled Octopus Sculptures
Upcycled Octopus Sculptures
Acoustapus by Nemo Gould Rocks Harder than a Rock Lobste
<
44
Upcycled Rain Hoods
Upcycled Rain Hoods
Recycling Zychal is Made from Umbrellas and Vintage Materials
<
43
Upcycled Trash Kites
Upcycled Trash Kites
The Uttarayan Kite Festival Embraces Eco-Friendly Fun
<
42
Golden Upcycled Art
Golden Upcycled Art
Barclay Douglas Uses Plastic Bags to Make Fools Gold
<
41
Garbage Animal Art
Garbage Animal Art
Trash Menagerie at Peabody Essex Museum is Thought-Provoking
<
40
Pre-Consumer Waste Apparel
Pre-Consumer Waste Apparel
Looptworks Sustainable Clothing Line is Ecotastic
<
39
Upcycled Vintage Bags
Upcycled Vintage Bags
Forest Bound Specializes in Sweet Sustainable Bags
<
38
Climbing Rope Leashes
Climbing Rope Leashes
Upcycled Rope is Made into Eco-Friendly Canine Control
<
37
License Plate Belts
License Plate Belts
Randi Tannenbaum Redefines Upcycled Street Style
<
36
Traffic Cone Stages
Traffic Cone Stages
Hedgehog Concert Pavilion Raises Awareness to Youth Homelessness
<
35
Fire Hose Accessories
Fire Hose Accessories
British Company is Upcycling Fire Hoses for a Fashionable Effect
<
34
Upcycled Plywood Creativity
Upcycled Plywood Creativity
Blue Fence Project Will Recycle 2012 London's Olympic Enclosure
<
33
Copper Couture
Copper Couture
Emma Whiteside Goes Eco-Victorian With Upcycled Gown
<
32
Chairs From Old TVs
Chairs From Old TVs
Upcycling Retro Televisions Into Comfortable Seating
<
31
Upcycled Live/Work Spaces
Upcycled Live/Work Spaces
The Mobile Office Changes to Suit Your Needs
<
30
Upcycled Oxygen Cylinders
Upcycled Oxygen Cylinders
Real Everest Canisters as Art
<
29
Rad Recycled Records
Rad Recycled Records
Obsolete Records & CDs Find a New Life
<
28
Upcycled Rave Bars
Upcycled Rave Bars
The Ikea Storage Box Bar Combines Old Materials with New Ideas
<
27
Upcycled Container Art
Upcycled Container Art
The Gestaltkunstwerk Vases Put Your Trash to Good Use
<
26
Upcycled Charity Denim
Upcycled Charity Denim
Recreated Designer Jeans to Support Oceana
<
25
Upcycled Totes
Upcycled Totes
The HO:LO Freeway Bags
<
24
Hats Made of Upcycled Coffee Sacks
Hats Made of Upcycled Coffee Sacks
Trilby Hat by Ataahua
<
23
DIY Tee Upcycling
DIY Tee Upcycling
Megan Nicolay Transforms Tees into the Next Best Thing
<
22
Urban Upcycled Lamps
Urban Upcycled Lamps
Super Guppy Street Light Takes Upcycling to a New Place
<
21
Starbucks Card Mosaic Coasters
Starbucks Card Mosaic Coasters
Upcycled Art by Flawed Frock
<
20
Upcycled Couture
Upcycled Couture
The Baroque Creations of Ziad Ghanem
<
19
Scrap Felt Seating
Scrap Felt Seating
The Kamasutra Bench by Malgorzata Pekala
<
18
Upcycled Accessories
Upcycled Accessories
Upcycled Looptworks Laptop Sleeves Turn Trashed Neoprene into Cash
<
17
Qwerty Notebooks
Qwerty Notebooks
The Recycled Keyboard Notebook is for Keyboard Kids
<
16
Auto Rim Sculptures
Auto Rim Sculptures
Car Parts Get Upcycled into Art Pieces
<
15
Upcycled Gymnastics Equipment
Upcycled Gymnastics Equipment
Refurbished Sport Furniture Makes a Sweet Eco Statement
<
14
Cookie Wrapper Backpacks
Cookie Wrapper Backpacks
TerraCycle School Supplies are Upcycled from Snack Packaging
<
13
Upcycled Ancient Architecture
Upcycled Ancient Architecture
Japan's Plus House Channels Syles from Centuries Past
<
12
Upcycled Shipwreck Watches
Upcycled Shipwreck Watches
Romain Jerome Creates Watches From Pieces of the Titanic
<
11
Upcycled Runway Jewelry
Upcycled Runway Jewelry
LITTER SF's Recycled Accessories Impress at Christian Cota's S/S '10 Show
<
10
Gas Can Luggage
Gas Can Luggage
Upcycling Jerry Cans for the Stylish Traveler
<
9
Upcycled Furnishings
Upcycled Furnishings
Studio JSPR 'Plastic Fantastic' Re-Skinned Collection (Update)
<
8
Pencil Jewelry
Pencil Jewelry
Maria Cristina Bellucci Upcycles a Childhood Pastime into Cute Jewelry
<
7
Necktie Necklaces
Necktie Necklaces
Ties Make Even Better Necklaces and Wallets
<
6
Upcycling Expired Contraceptives
Upcycling Expired Contraceptives
Fashion Designing Student Creates Condom Couture
<
5
Dripping Faucet Lighting
Dripping Faucet Lighting
'Light the Night' by Michael Allison is a Beautiful Take on Lamps
<
4
Upcycled Fashion Tags
Upcycled Fashion Tags
Undone Clothing Jacket
<
3
Upcycled Bullet Jewelry
Upcycled Bullet Jewelry
Esprit-Mystique Sells Eco-Friendly and Pretty Jewelry
<
2
Upcycled Hearts
Upcycled Hearts
Recycled Beer Can Jewelry and Starbucks Keychains by KatieAnnCreations
<
1
Upcycled Suitcase Pet Beds
Upcycled Suitcase Pet Beds
Etsy Artists Make a Cute Eco Case for Cats
<