In 2021, fashion designer Freya Rabet launched sustainable women’s clothing brand Freya Simonne - named after her beloved grandmother - and targeted at the elegant women of the world that happen to find themselves in love with sustainability and aching for an alternative way to give back to people and the planet.

Boasting 13.2k followers online, Freya has sold over 100 Freya Simonne designs to green fiends all over the world, and has now turned her sights to supporting the growth of sustainability amongst her community, Her first task: releasing the untold secrets of 5 top sustainable brands.

On Saturday 22 10am-3pm, and Sunday 2310am-4pm January, Freya and a handful of the UK’s most talented sustainable business will gather at The Lab E20 in Stratford for two days of nothing-but-upcycling. 

“The event came about quite organically! I pass by The LabE20 most days if I walk into work and so emailed them to see if there was something we could work on together. I knew that I wanted the event to showcase upcycling and remaking across all categories from homeware to fashion and accessories, and I knew exactly who I wanted to reach out to to show that it's not just clothing that can be upcycled, and the possibilities really are endless!”

In this quirky little creative workspace over the course of two days, Hermit London, The B Happy Studio, Lydia Bolton, Ecru London, Harlie Briggs Art and Freya Simonne will share their top tips on upcycling inspired by their own businesses, while encouraging their communities to also take part.

Freya herself - who can be found turning her hand from delicate slip dresses to puffin jackets at the drop of a stitch on any usual day - will be turning what some would consider a good-for-nothing dressing gown into a georgian-inspired jacket and skirt set. By giving a crowd of attendees a glimpse behind the scenes of one of her most sought-after transformed designs, Freya hopes to show the potential that exists in everything we are already surrounded by.

Left with a stain-drenched top that you can’t live without? Tiresome to take an old, worn tote bag out for a night on the town? Alongside Freya and four other brands, the luxuriously slow and sustainable designer that is Lydia Bolton will be making an appearance to offer her top tips on how to revive old garments. 

Renowned by readers of The Face and Vogue, applauded for her masterclass in Starting Sustainable with Reebok in 2021, and tirelessly hailed as the provider of the nation's favourite frilly prairie collared check shirts, Lydia will be joining fellow advocates to show attendees how to revive your tired treasures.

“I'm excited to show people how to embroider with scraps as it’s a great way to reduce waste and upcycle an item that may need a bit of extra excitement like a tired tote bag or over a stain on a pair of jeans,” Lydia said before adding, “I’m most looking forward to meeting other people who are interested in upcycling and hope the audience go away feeling excited by the endless possibilities to reusing rather than buying new! Valuing what we have already produced is so important in building a more sustainable future and I think this event will help spread this message!”

Alongside Lydia Bolton, the ray of jewel revival, Bertie Bowen, will be showcasing how you can bring new life to an old piece of jewellery - from learning how to rethread a beaded chain, to reconnecting to a cherished heirloom just by fixing a broken clasp. 

Fashion designer-come-jeweller Bertie launched The B Happy Studio during the 2020 lockdown. From a consciousness around mental wellbeing and the short-lived lives of jewels, B happy Studios was born, and with it the renowned joyous smiley beads. On the day, Bertie will work with you to fix a diamond in the rough - so don’t forget to bring your adored pendant, necklace or heirloom along with you.

Alongside Lydia Bolton, the ray of jewel revival, Bertie Bowen, will be showcasing how you can bring new life to an old piece of jewellery - from learning how to rethread a beaded chain, to reconnecting to a cherished heirloom just by fixing a broken clasp. 

Fashion designer-come-jeweller Bertie launched The B Happy Studio during the 2020 lockdown. From a consciousness around mental wellbeing and the short-lived lives of jewels, B happy Studios was born, and with it the renowned joyous smiley beads. On the day, Bertie will work with you to fix a diamond in the rough - so don’t forget to bring your adored pendant, necklace or heirloom along with you.

Another lockdown business that caused waves on social media was that of Harlie Briggs art, who stepped on to the Instagram business scene nude first with her female empowered pots and interior art. Since launching in 2016, the London based nature and nude artist has been dedicated to providing a safe space for the untarnished female form in interiors around the UK, empowering nudity and female confidence through what is now a range of drawings, interior revivals and garments.

“Upcycling and antique hunting are most definitely hobbies of mine, and that’s why I’m so excited to be joining the upcoming event and show people how to revive these items!  I just want to share how finding something that’s already lived a life feels so much more special than buying new, and means that you’re saving something from waste and looking after the planet at the same time is so rewarding!”

On Sunday, Harlie will be joining the event with pot in hand to unravel all of her painting secrets with lucky ticket holders who will get a unique masterclass in how to paint onto a ceramic or even upscale an old lampshade.

East London-based interiors brand, Ecru Collection, will also be showing up to the widely anticipated event to display the latest additions to their ‘lost and found’ collection and show just how unloved ceramic tiles once destined for the dumpster can be repurposed into timeless pieces of furniture - who would have thought? Join them as they put finishing touches to their new items and show you how to up-cycle old materials into items that inspire, welcome and uplift you - regardless of where you are.

If you’re an avid reader of Blue Chip, or you just so happened to read last week’s article, we don’t have to remind you of who Hermit London is. But, as you’re already here… Hermit London is a sensible and sustainable sleepwear brand that works alongside London’s most luxurious hotels to save surplus bed linen and upcycle them into fresh, fancy pyjamas that will, rest assured, set your mind to rest and guarantee you a blissful night’s sleep.

Ella and her conscious team at Hermit London will be offering embroidery personalisation on their upcycled pyjamas. If you’d like to know a little more about Hermit London, you can check out last week’s article here.

In speaking with Freya ahead of the big weekend, I asked why it’s so important that people come together and enjoy the act of upcycling with one another, to which she replied: “We can no longer hide from the fact that when we throw things away, away is a real place that exists - regardless of whether it’s loaded into landfill here in the UK or  dismissed to somewhere else in the world for other communities to deal with. The solution is a simple one, to find new value in the objects we are already surrounded by, through the process of upcycling.”

“January is a time when people often re-think about their values and the year ahead so hopefully it’s the perfect timing for our communities here in London to come along and get inspired about what we can make from what already exists, together.”

Now if you’re local to Stratford, or are willing to make the whatever mile travel to cast an ear and eye over the tips that will save lots of garment’s lives, you can get your tickets here. But if you’re like me - snuggled up in a corner of South Wales - and unable to attend, Freya has shared some key takeaways that you can apply to your own day-to-day.

1. Before you next throw something into the bin that potentially still has life left in it, just stop and think, ‘at the very least could it become a cleaning cloth?’ 

2. Don’t underestimate the power of upcycling! With clothing I have found making small adjustments can make a piece of clothing feel like a whole new garment. You don’t have to upcycle it yourself if your not confident in doing so, there are lots of amazing brands popping up offering these services. For example MakeNU! Your local alterations tailor is always a good bet too! 

3. Upcycling anything takes time and effort and I know it can feel like there aren't enough hours in the day, but doesn’t everything rewarding take time and effort? In the end you will have something perfect for you and there will be a very small chance that you will ever want to throw it away again.