UpCycling: Transforming Old into New through Apparel and Furniture Design
Exhibition: Tuesday, April 2nd - Monday, April 22nd, 2013 (Earth Day)
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 4th, 5 - 8 pm
Upcycling is a process of converting discarded materials (‘waste’) into new products, resulting in a decreased use of raw materials. Upcycling extends the life of a product and the salvaged item gains renewed value. The damaging impact of waste on the environment is reduced simply through strategic collaboration of people working together, especially in businesses and through community organizations. Together we can avoid an endless production and disposal of items which ultimately crowd our landfills. Efforts in our community to collect and redistribute, repurpose, repair and if needed- recycle (to breakdown objects into their base materials), and to refashion all used goods to avoid waste, is an urgent philosophical adjustment to our mainstream culture. This exhibit hopes to alter the perspective of old clothing, used tablecloths, plastic bags, cardboard, found lumber, wire hangers and most everyday materials, as still necessary items that when recovered and upcycled contribute to a more sustainable world.
The exhibit displays innovative examples of reuse to encourage awareness. Items considered 'trash' are transformed into garments, accessories and furniture. All pieces are created by SFSU Apparel Design & Merchandising and Interior Design students and affirms the viability and need for upcycling in our society.
A FEW FACTS:
-For every ton of textile products diverted from landfill and re-used, an estimated 20 tons of CO2 is saved.
-Americans discard an estimated 68 pounds of textile products, per person a year.
-Over 70% of the world’s population uses secondhand clothes, so your old clothes can be used to help people in need.
-Americans discard an estimated 1,609 pounds of trash, per person, each year.
-The average time it takes for plastic bottles in landfill to decompose is 700 years.
-Styrofoam products such as foam core, coffee cups, and packing materials may take over 500 years to decompose.
-San Francisco diverts 80% of all waste generated in the City away from landfill, however we still send 440,000 tons of materials to landfill yearly, enough to fill the Transamerica Building nine times.
-Waste sent to landfill produces methane, a greenhouse gas 72 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
EXHIBIT ACTIVITIES:
Swap Rack - A Clothing Swap
Come by and swap something old you absolutely hate for something new you utterly love. Bring any clothing or accessory item still in usable condition.
Bit by Bit - A Collective and Participatory Art Installation and Experiment
Visitors are asked to contribute in creating a garment on a single mannequin. Old fabric and embellishments, as well sewing materials provided. The community project will stay up throughout the exhibit, and the final product/garment will be photographed and cataloged as part of our show.
--
Curators: Constance Ulasewicz and Carolyn Ho
Student Instructors: Gus Vouchilas, Adrian Leong, Gail Baugh
Co-sponsored by the San Francisco State University Department:
Consumer & Family Studies/ Dietetics Department - Apparel Design &
Merchandising and Interior Design Programs
UpCycling: Transforming Old into New through Apparel and Furniture Design
Exhibition: Tuesday, April 2nd - Monday, April 22nd, 2013 (Earth Day)
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 4th, 5 - 8 pm
Upcycling is a process of converting discarded materials (‘waste’) into new products, resulting in a decreased use of raw materials. Upcycling extends the life of a product and the salvaged item gains renewed value. The damaging impact of waste on the environment is reduced simply through strategic collaboration of people working together, especially in businesses and through community organizations. Together we can avoid an endless production and disposal of items which ultimately crowd our landfills. Efforts in our community to collect and redistribute, repurpose, repair and if needed- recycle (to breakdown objects into their base materials), and to refashion all used goods to avoid waste, is an urgent philosophical adjustment to our mainstream culture. This exhibit hopes to alter the perspective of old clothing, used tablecloths, plastic bags, cardboard, found lumber, wire hangers and most everyday materials, as still necessary items that when recovered and upcycled contribute to a more sustainable world.
The exhibit displays innovative examples of reuse to encourage awareness. Items considered 'trash' are transformed into garments, accessories and furniture. All pieces are created by SFSU Apparel Design & Merchandising and Interior Design students and affirms the viability and need for upcycling in our society.
A FEW FACTS:
-For every ton of textile products diverted from landfill and re-used, an estimated 20 tons of CO2 is saved.
-Americans discard an estimated 68 pounds of textile products, per person a year.
-Over 70% of the world’s population uses secondhand clothes, so your old clothes can be used to help people in need.
-Americans discard an estimated 1,609 pounds of trash, per person, each year.
-The average time it takes for plastic bottles in landfill to decompose is 700 years.
-Styrofoam products such as foam core, coffee cups, and packing materials may take over 500 years to decompose.
-San Francisco diverts 80% of all waste generated in the City away from landfill, however we still send 440,000 tons of materials to landfill yearly, enough to fill the Transamerica Building nine times.
-Waste sent to landfill produces methane, a greenhouse gas 72 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
EXHIBIT ACTIVITIES:
Swap Rack - A Clothing Swap
Come by and swap something old you absolutely hate for something new you utterly love. Bring any clothing or accessory item still in usable condition.
Bit by Bit - A Collective and Participatory Art Installation and Experiment
Visitors are asked to contribute in creating a garment on a single mannequin. Old fabric and embellishments, as well sewing materials provided. The community project will stay up throughout the exhibit, and the final product/garment will be photographed and cataloged as part of our show.
--
Curators: Constance Ulasewicz and Carolyn Ho
Student Instructors: Gus Vouchilas, Adrian Leong, Gail Baugh
Co-sponsored by the San Francisco State University Department:
Consumer & Family Studies/ Dietetics Department - Apparel Design &
Merchandising and Interior Design Programs
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