Braided Denim Upcycled Bag
Student Name : Sofia Valesi
Mentor Name :
Company : CHIMAR



Green Producer Diary
My Motivation
I wanted to show that an old pair of jeans can become something useful, beautiful, and contemporary instead of ending up as waste. My goal was to create an everyday bag that feels practical but also carries a clear sustainable message. Sustainability matters to me because it encourages responsible use of materials and proves that creativity can reduce waste rather than create more of it.
My Vetrine Journey
I started by looking at an old pair of jeans and identifying which parts could be transformed into the body of the bag. From the beginning, I wanted to use as much of the original garment as possible, so I carefully planned the cutting process to avoid unnecessary waste. The larger denim pieces became the main structure, while the visible seams and textures were kept to highlight the history of the material. One of the most interesting stages was working with the smaller leftover pieces instead of throwing them away. I turned these scraps into fabric strips and braided them to create the strap of the bag. The biggest challenge was balancing shape, durability, and aesthetics while working with pre-used material that already had its own form and wear. I overcame this by adjusting the design during the making process and letting the material guide some of the final decisions. In the end, the project helped me see old clothing not as waste, but as a starting point for a new and functional product.
|
Sustainability Aspect |
Your Actions / Explanation |
|---|---|
|
Environmental |
I reused an old denim garment as the main material, minimized |
|
Social |
The bag was developed through a transparent handmade process on |
|
Financial |
The production cost stayed very low because the main material |
A Message to Consumers
I would like people to know that this bag was created by giving a second life to a material that already existed. Behind it there is care, experimentation, and the belief that fashion can be practical, creative, and responsible at the same time.
A Message to Future Learners
Start with the materials you already have and let them inspire your design. Sustainable fashion does not require expensive resources – it requires observation, patience, and imagination.
Product Details
Product Name
Braided Denim Upcycled
Bag
Reference / SKU
VETRINE-SOFIAVALESI-
BAG-DNM-0001
Color
Blue Denim
Size
One size
Weight
380 g
Quantity (if multi-pack)
One
Materials Information
Composition
Upcycled denim fabric
from an old pair of jeans,
plus sewing thread
% Recycled Materials
approx. 95% upcycled denim content Reusability: Reusable as an everyday shoulder bag Recyclability: Recyclable through textile recycling after reuse
Traceable assets (materials origin IDs, fibers batches)
Main body – upcycled denim from one used pair of jeans Strap – braided strips made from leftover denim offcuts Additional materials – sewing thread
Manufacturing & Supply Chain
1
Location
Greece
2
Date
Material selection: 2026- 01-18 Design planning: 2026-01- 22 Cutting and deconstruction: 2026-01- 29 Braided strap making: 2026-02-03 Sewing and assembly: 2026-02-07 Final finishing: 2026-02-09
3
Type of processes
Material selection, deconstruction, cutting, design planning, braiding, sewing, assembly, finishing
supply chain map
Tier 4Raw material
Tier 3Material processing
Tier 2Component manufacturing
Tier 1Final assembly
Environmental & Social Impact
Upcycled, low-waste, reusable, repairable, durable
10 hours , 10€
Care, Repair & Lifetime Extension
1
Care Instructions
Hand wash cold or gentle machine wash, air dry, do not tumble dry
2
Repair Information
reinforce seams or re-stitch the strap if needed Discard: donate for reuse or recycle through textile recycling

