From 11–15 August 2025, EKA hosted the practical workshop “Recrafted: A Workshop for Shoe & Bag Upcycling”, where discarded denim found a new life as unique shoes and bags. A total of 23 students from 8 countries participated.
The students were divided into two groups: one focused on shoemaking, the other on bag design. Denim leftovers were provided by Uuskasutuskeskus, the Reet Aus studio, and Guild store. The starting point for the workshop was the material itself. Students selected suitable remnants based on finish and quantity and developed their own designs. Some combined smaller scraps, while others used entire pairs of jeans—for example, one student’s bag was made from six pairs of jeans.
The workshop was led by shoemakers Kelian Luisk and Marika Jylhä and bag designers Merle Visak and Sirle Rohusaar, with an introduction by EKA Senior Researcher Reet Aus, who explained the principles and importance of upcycling in fashion.
Student feedback was very positive—they learned about upcycling methods, various craft techniques, machine use, and the construction of shoes and bags. Since the participants came from diverse backgrounds, ranging from animation to programming, it was fascinating to see the variety of working methods and final results.
EKA’s “Creative Circularity” summer school took place as part of T4EU Summer School 2025 and are organised as ERASMUS+ BIPs. There were two courses: “Green Transformer Student Challenge” and “Recrafted: A Workshop for Shoe & Bag Upcycling”. This year’s program focused on sustainability and the upcycling of design materials, offering practical workshops and creative challenges.
For more details about both workshops.
