What are upcycled fabrics?

"Upcycling" refers to using discarded materials to make new products. The term was coined by William McDonough and
Michael Braungart in their 2002 book, Cradle to Cradle, and has come to suggest not just recycling, but creating something
of greater value than the sum of its original parts.

I use cast-off clothing as the source for my Reborn Couture pieces. It is enormously satisfying to take things that are at or
near the end of their useful life, and make something new and exciting from them. It is also an act of environmental
kindness. From the production of fibers to the discarding of old clothes in landfills, the textile and garment industries are
enormously hard on the environment. I am pleased to make my own small contribution toward living more gently and
treating the earth with greater kindness.

Many of my source garments for Reborn Couture come from Goodwill stores. I am proud to support Goodwill Industries,
which is North America's leading provider of education, training, and career services for the disadvantaged.