For this project, I repurposed a recycled Karen Millen dress that I purchased from a charity shop. Everything used in this piece was either recycled or upcycled, from the Gutterman respun threads to scraps of material, ribbon, lace, leather, beads, and embroidery threads. Many of these materials came from scrap boxes and a well-known website where unused items were available, allowing me to create something entirely new from previously discarded elements.
The design was inspired by my fondness for the passion flower, a plant I’ve always admired for its long, delicate tendrils that twist and entwine as they grow. The flower itself starts as a soft, subtle bud before blooming into a large, iridescent blossom with an electric blue center. I envisioned this organic, winding quality of the passion flower working beautifully on the dress, imagining the design starting at the skirt, then spiraling up and around the bodice, over the shoulders, and cascading down the back.
To develop the design, I began by sketching in pencil, followed by experimenting with collage and ribbon stitching through paper to refine the concept and decide how to bring it to life. Once the sewing process began, I used a combination of techniques, including appliqué, hand embroidery, and creating 3D flowers from leather, accented with glass beads. These methods allowed me to capture the intricate beauty of the passion flower while integrating texture and dimension into the dress. The end result was a unique, environmentally conscious garment that blended the elegance of the original design with the creative possibilities of upcycling.
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