Project 03 / 2026 / Upcycled
| Category | Upcycled puffer vest, menswear |
|---|---|
| Role | Design, materials research, construction |
| Shell | Fused plastic grocery bags, 4–6 layers ironed together |
| Fill | Shredded grocery bags |
| Trim | Denim, for binding and pockets |
| Stage | Prototype 01 — as made, raw edges |
A puffer built entirely from plastic shopping bags — ironed and quilted until the printed text reads as a camouflage pattern from across the room. The joke only works if the construction is clean: trash to luxury, not trash as costume.
Styled with a trucker cap and camo — upcycled workwear rather than runway stunt. Low stand collar that zips up, deep armholes to layer a hoodie underneath, fat baffles at about 3 inches each.
“Trash to luxury: the joke only lands if the construction is clean.”
Materials stayed honest on purpose — it should still read as bags up close. Printed text ("thanks for shopping with us") lands deliberately at the hem and across the back, rather than being hidden.
Open questions going in: how many bags per vest, and whether the construction rips at the armholes under stress — tested directly in the first prototype.
Variations
The construction stays constant — what changes is the binding and trim, from raw as-made through a workwear denim finish to a branded version with a receipt chest label.
All bag, raw edges.
Collar, armholes, hem.
Binding + patch pockets.
Plus a receipt chest label.