UPCYCLING DESIGN
turning your waste into new valuedeveloping new and unique quality pieces from production waste
and initiating a sustainable production pipeline.
Reduce waste and gain value!
Why upcycle my company's waste?
The current linear model of production relies on new, virgin materials a percentage of which are simply wasted during the production itself. While zero waste design offers a solution for this problem by eradicating waste alltogether, it’s not always feasible to quickly change the production pipeline. Here is where circular design comes in, and by extension upcycling.
Circular design extends a product’s lifespan to keep it out of the waste stream for a much longer amount of time and ideally allows it to be repurposed after its time of use. This process can also be applied to pre-consumer waste however by upcycling!
Upcycling your production waste is not only the more environmentally friendly option, but also allows you to utilize more of your virgin material. Don’t let its potential go to waste, use it for new products, promotional material, merchandise or even teambuilding events.
A win for the environment and for your company!
Past Projects
a selection of upcycled products designed by Woodcabin
While there is currently a major focus on fashion and textile design in this portfolio, Sarah has experience in working with a lot of different materials and access to a wide range of experts in different fields. Woodcabin is constantly looking to grow, so don’t hesitate to approach us with non-textile projects as well!
2020 – 2023
Workshop Prototypes for Planet Upcycling
material: rubber boat, magazines, bicycle tube, packaging, toilet rolls…
Woodcabin regularly supports Planet Upcycling with their workshops and often comes up with new ideas and prototypes from the materials available. For remote workshops, Woodcabin will provide illustrated instruction manuals, as well as prototypes.
2019
Collections from you the flowers grow and from ashes diamonds are made
material: used clothing, deadstock fabric, production waste
The two collections follow different approaches to upcycling. While from you the flowers grow focuses on pre-consumer waste, from ashes diamonds are made was created from secondhand clothing.
2017
Poncho Collection Muses
material: deadstock fabric, production waste
Woodcabin’s first entirely upcycled mini collection, made entirely from pre-consumer waste.
2015
Planet Upcycling x AWISTA
material: AWISTA uniforms, used clothing
As an intern at Planet Upcycling, Sarah assisted in their collaboration with AWISTA, Düsseldorf’s waste management company. Used uniforms were combined with secondhand clothing to create a range of accessories and utility items. There was a special focus on utilizing the reflective material to create items that contribute to traffic safety.
2020 – 2023
Workshop Prototypes for Planet Upcycling
material: rubber boat, magazines, bicycle tube, packaging, toilet rolls…
Woodcabin regularly supports Planet Upcycling with their workshops and often comes up with new ideas and prototypes from the materials available. For remote workshops, Woodcabin will provide illustrated instruction manuals, as well as prototypes.
2019
Collections from you the flowers grow and from ashes diamonds are made
material: used clothing, deadstock fabric, production waste
The two collections follow different approaches to upcycling. While from you the flowers grow focuses on pre-consumer waste, from ashes diamonds are made was created from secondhand clothing.
2017
Poncho Collection Muses
material: deadstock fabric, production waste
Woodcabin’s first entirely upcycled mini collection, made entirely from pre-consumer waste.
2015
Planet Upcycling x AWISTA
material: AWISTA uniforms, used clothing
As an intern at Planet Upcycling, Sarah assisted in their collaboration with AWISTA, Düsseldorf’s waste management company. Used uniforms were combined with secondhand clothing to create a range of accessories and utility items. There was a special focus on utilizing the reflective material to create items that contribute to traffic safety.
Why Woodcabin?
more than 7 years of experience in upcycling design and a vast network of collaborators
Sarah Neuwirth completed her education in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design and has since worked on her own upcycling fashion, as well as as freelance workshop instructor. After concluding her practical semester in 2016 she continued working as a freelance designer for Planet Upcycling, exceeding the bounds of fashion design, as well as focussing on developing individualized workshop concepts since 2021. In the past years, Sarah was able to form an interdisciplinary network of experts and makers, so she’s an ideal candidate to not only develop high-quality products from a variety of materials, but also to initiate a sustainable production pipeline.
