While the act of transforming discarded materials like unused garments into wearable fashion pieces may not be new, Putri’s use of everyday waste like instant noodle packaging and burger wrapping paper is quite novel.

Upcycled fashion, as it’s called in the fashion world, is a growing movement that’s proven to be more than a passing trend. It is partially an effort to reduce the industry’s negative impact on the planet. After all, fashion is one of the world’s most resource-intensive industries. This issue drove Putri to start reimagining waste.

"When I think about it, it's so crazy how I used to throw away clothes because they had a small stain or tiny holes. Now I think of [upcycling] as a fun challenge to give my clothes a second life," Putri said.

Putri began upcycling unused items into eccentric ready-to-wear pieces in the early days of the pandemic, when she was fully housebound. At first, boredom was her muse, but now Putri’s creative inclination toward unique items serves as her main inspiration.

"I am now upcycling to channel my creativity and also to minimize my fashion waste. I also love wearing one-of-a-kind fashion items, so by designing my own clothes and accessories, I can achieve that," she said.

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