THE CHALLENGE

Upcycling transforms discarded products and renews them, thus changing that same product into something new and even of higher quality. Upcycling is a sustainable and eco-conscious means of manufacturing and has a positive impact on the environment. It requires much less energy than recycling. It saves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions in the process. Slicing and stitching old clothes and other textiles to create new products is more manageable than breaking down old garments entirely.

Designing these Upcycled leather lace remnants for Michaels Stores under their Private Label ‘Art Minds’, was categorized within their Leather Craft department. This project re-routed all off-cuts (or normally trashed scraps) from a sizable leather shoe lace production into profitable remnant leather craft kits sold direct to their consumers.

Temescal Creative managed the entire Vendor set up and logistics for American Lacing Factory. Initially they had to be vetted as a Vendor, along with receiving support in organizing its shipments to each Distribution center. This included working with the provided Art Minds Artwork, managing corporate issued bar codes, calculating box and pallet set ups, along with packing and freight pick up requests.

This project closed the loop and allowed a new group of consumers, that they otherwise would not be able to use within their own designs and creations, access to raw materials.