The ByBye Converts Discarded Clothing into Rigid Flower Pots
Amy Duong — March 13, 2026 — Art & Design
References: yankodesign
The ByBye device is a countertop machine designed to transform discarded clothing into functional plant containers. Created by designer Kim Taehoon, the system processes worn garments by shredding the fabric into fibers before compressing the material with heat inside a mold. The ByBye machine then forms the compressed textile mass into rigid pots that preserve the colors and textures of the original garments.
The compact device is intended for domestic or small studio use, allowing people to recycle clothing waste directly into household objects rather than discarding it. Different molds enable the compressed textile fibers to take on various shapes and sizes, producing containers that can hold soil and plants. The visible layers of shredded fabric create multicolored surfaces that reveal the mixture of textiles used during the recycling process.
Image Credit: Gyeong Wook Kim, Sooa Kim, Gayeon Kim, Mingyeong Shin
The compact device is intended for domestic or small studio use, allowing people to recycle clothing waste directly into household objects rather than discarding it. Different molds enable the compressed textile fibers to take on various shapes and sizes, producing containers that can hold soil and plants. The visible layers of shredded fabric create multicolored surfaces that reveal the mixture of textiles used during the recycling process.
Image Credit: Gyeong Wook Kim, Sooa Kim, Gayeon Kim, Mingyeong Shin
Trend Themes
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Home Textile Circularity — Household-scale recycling systems enable textiles to be repurposed within the same living environment, reducing waste streams and creating new material loops for domestic goods.
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Fabric-upcycling Aesthetics — Visibly layered and multicolored surfaces from shredded garments introduce a design language that redefines value and storytelling in everyday products.
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Compact At-home Recycling Tech — Countertop devices that transform waste into usable objects condense industrial processes into consumer-friendly form factors, shifting material management to the point of use.
Industry Implications
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Consumer Home Appliances — Small-format recycling machines open opportunities to embed circular-material capabilities into common household appliances, altering product lifecycles and aftercare services.
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Urban Agriculture and Indoor Gardening — Plant containers made from repurposed textiles create a niche for sustainably sourced, design-forward pots that align with compact urban growing trends.
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Textile and Apparel Manufacturing — The visibility of reclaimed fibers in finished goods presents novel material blending and branding possibilities that could shift sourcing and end-of-life strategies.
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