Patchwork?

I recently partnered with The New Denim Project, a premium fabric line made from 100% pre-consumer, upcycled denim.  Their technique reduces the consumption of new products, minimizes the waste of raw virgin material and re-uses discarded textiles and fibers to elongate their life span by creating ethically-made & premium-quality products.

The New Denim project was generous enough to supply me with some of their awesome fabrics to use as upholstery for a dining chair proposal.  Upon receiving their fabrics in the mail, I was immediately awed by the amazingly high of their denim, which would argue is much stronger and likely to have a longer shelf life than many fabrics that are made from 100% virgin fibers.   In an interview with the BF+DA, Arianne Engelberg, Creative Director of The New Denim was asked what she believed the stigma was regarding recycled or up-cycled goods?  Her response was that she felt some of the stigma regarding recycled or up-cycled goods, was that they were of lower quality that goods made from virgin material. I would add that another stigma about goods made from recycled or up-cycled materials is that they should look a certain way.

Yesterday during a critique of my denim upholstered chair, one of the critics commended me for my choice of material, but went on the say that the way I used the material did not make it look recycled, and that it looked too much like normal (non-recycled) upholstery.  I understood the cristic's position, and the question of weather products that are made from recycled or up-cycled materials should have a certain "look" - likely somewhat distressed, tattered or uneven - is one I continue to ask my self.  And my answer is usually no.

Before upholstering my denim chair, I considered the qualities of the fabric and how to best highlight them.  I didn't find it necessary to design something that looked distressed or tattered, because the fabric did not arrive in a distressed or tattered state. It looked and functioned "normal" non-recycled denim and that was the point.  I wanted to show that it was just as good as fabric made from virgin materials and didn't find it necessary to show it's history by making it "look more recycled". I actually think the idea that goods that are made from recycled materials should have a certain look is primarily a marketing and advertising ploy. Furthermore, I believe that the market for the "recycled look" is very limited. In order to elevate the status of goods that are made from recycled materials, appeal to a wider customer base, and ultimately make a larger environmental impact, consumers must understand that the goods are just as good (and in some cases better) than those that are made from virgin materials.

Yes the material is unique and perhaps this uniqueness should be highlighted in the design of the product.  But, is there a way to do this besides going the cliched patchwork/distressed/tattered route?  Does the story of goods that are made from recycled materials always have to be about the history of the material?

I would still definite say NO to the notion that goods that are made from recycled materials should "look recycled" or even the idea that there is or should be a "recycled look".