How does upcycling originate in fashion history? From Queen Victoria's Court to Tommy Jeans' The Refresh Sessions

On April 3rd, the project The Refresh Sessions by Tommy Jeans will start again with a new edition that will see the creative workshops of the brand engaged in a tour in three stops in Rome, Naples and Bari. The Sessions' theme is upcycling, which will be represented by the co-host of the three appointments, the stylist and consultant Silvia di Grazia, who will transform the items brought by the participants into objects for the home or hats. And on the occasion of the launch of this third edition of The Refresh Sessions it will be good to clearly distinguish between two terms that the public has heard and felt hundreds of times in recent years: recycling and upcycling.

In recent years, with growing concerns stemming from advancing climate change, the fashion industry has begun to implement increasingly comprehensive measures to reduce its footprint on the planet and implement new, more sustainable production models. The push started not only from the top of the corporations but also from the public who, during the DIY boom that occurred during the lockdown, popularized creative reuse and upcycling techniques spread through socials like Instagram and TikTok.

It is precisely in response to this need that Tommy Jeans, as part of its more general sustainable initiatives, has not only begun to implement a circular model for the production of its 15 million pairs of jeans per year, but has also brought together local independent designers and the public with initiatives like The Refresh Sessions that erase the gap between those with the technical know-how and those with the desire to learn in order to promote positive attitudes toward sustainability. A first result of the new approach was the brand's FW20 collection, the first of its kind to be produced from completely recycled materials, but the most enduring one is The Refresh Sessions, now in its third year, with an ever-growing community.