A group of resourceful Otago Polytechnic Design students have been rummaging through op-shop shelves as part of an upcycling project for charity.

The students have been collaborating with the New Zealand Red Cross Dunedin Op Shop as part of a three-week course elective, “Retooled”, which will culminate in a charity auction of upcycled products at Otago Polytechnic’s Hub on Friday 22 July.

Ellen Ross, who is completing a Postgraduate Diploma in design (Fashion), created a patchwork denim jacket from op-shop cast-offs.

"I decided to use denim because I’d always fancied doing some patchwork with that fabric.

"I really like that it’s quite robust and hard wearing, so I could make something that was hopefully going to have a long life."

Ellen says she was attracted to the project because it aimed to reduce the amount of items going to landfill.

"These things can be reused and can be upcycled into something desirable again."

Ellen and her fellow students’ work will be displayed in the Hub from Wednesday 20 July until Friday 22 July.  

“From clothing to accessories, furniture, artworks, homewares and other objects, the students have retooled, redesigned, recycled and re-used a range of existing products, focusing on design for social good, and incorporating the values of sustainable practice/kaitiakitanga and collaboration/kotahitanga,” says Tracy Kennedy, Principal Lecturer, Otago Polytechnic School of Design.

“All the re-designed works will be credited to designers, enabling them to profile their creativity and making skills in a public setting,” says Tania Allan-Ross, Principal Lecturer, Otago Polytechnic School of Design.

“The proceeds from Friday night’s auction will go to New Zealand Red Cross – to be used for social good.”

Read the Otago Daily Times article (and watch the video) here


Published on 20 Jul 2022

Orderdate: 20 Jul 2022
Expiry: 20 Jul 2024