Homie Upcycling

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS

• Hamburg, Germany

WORKING CONDITIONS & WAGES

All production takes place locally in Germany, specifically at the FABRIC Fashion Future Lab in Hamburg.

The pieces are made by hand, making them handcrafted one-offs.

The cotton shirts used as raw material come from dry cleaners, private collections and Hanseatic Help, a non-profit Hamburg aid organisation that passes on donated textiles.

MATERIALS

• Cotton (shirts)
• Wool remnants
• Silk remnants
• Zips, buttons and other trims are reused from existing materials

PACKAGING

• The brand uses only previously used paper bags. Their original branding is painted over in white and then printed with the brand’s own logo, turning existing material into new, branded packaging.
• Old cardboard boxes are used for shipping, and the design work is also done using reused paper.
• No packaging is generated within the supply chain.

WATER USE & CHEMICALS

As no new raw materials are produced, energy-intensive processes such as growing cotton, spinning yarn and weaving fabric are avoided. This automatically saves water, chemicals and CO2 emissions. 
At the same time, textile waste is reduced, as garments that would otherwise end up in the bin are given a second life.

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN

The products are made predominantly of 100% cotton, which is positive for circularity. The brand also consistently opts for natural fibres when choosing threads, and interfacing and polyester inlays are avoided altogether, which considerably improves the later separability and recyclability of the pieces.

In some cases, wool remnants and silk are also used to increase the functionality and durability of the pieces. As a result, individual items may consist of material blends, which can make recycling more difficult.

Customers can send in their own discarded shirts, which are then made into new garments or accessories. This is complemented by the take-back and repair of pieces already sold, extending their lifespan and closing the material loop.

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODEL

The brand offers a repair service: pieces already sold are taken back and repaired where needed, actively extending their lifespan.

Customers can send in their own discarded shirts, which are then turned into new garments or accessories.

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN

• Hamburg, Germany
• homie upcycling is based in Hamburg, Germany.

TRANSPORT

• Thanks to locally rooted production in Hamburg, there is hardly any transport involved.
• Local postal services are used for shipping.

• Wool
• Silk

Wool and silk are used as remnants and therefore come from existing material.

PRODUCT DESIGN

The range includes modern tops, trousers, skirts, shorts, bags and accessories, and is aimed at adults.

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES

As every item is a one-off made from available materials, the range is naturally organic and grows continuously, without being tied to fixed seasons.

The brand also offers a made-to-measure and made-to-order service: customers can send in their own shirts and have a bespoke garment made to their own wishes and measurements.

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT

At homie upcycling, the entire value chain is in one pair of hands. homie upcycling makes every piece itself, by hand and locally in Hamburg.

Although no formal Digital Product Passport is used, the personal and complete traceability of this small, artisanal workshop offers a high level of transparency in practice.

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES

Overall, homie upcycling offers a high level of transparency, even though no formal traceability tools such as a Digital Product Passport are used. The reason lies in the structure itself: behind homie upcycling there is no complex supply chain, but a single person who makes everything by hand. Production takes place locally in Hamburg, and the materials come from dry cleaners, private collections and the non-profit organisation Hanseatic Help. This personal closeness and short, clear structure create genuine transparency in practice.

Customers can contact her directly or speak to her in person and ask questions at any time, so the origin and making of every piece can be traced first-hand.