Luxe upcycling: from cashmere sweaters to (very) soft toys

Of all of the examples we’ve seen of upcycling—turning waste materials into new products—teddylux is undoubtedly the most adorable. Each plush teddy bear, elephant and bunny made by the Georgia business is fashioned from a discarded cashmere sweater. Cashmere animals can be purchased straight from the website for USD 50-60 each, with cashmere baby toys costing USD 15. For the same cost, customers can request the animal of their choice to be made from their own old cashmere sweater, which makes for a toy that’s both sustainably manufactured and highly personal. The site also accepts postal donations from kindhearted people clearing out their closets, reimbursing the postage for their offering. Brooke Serson Cernonok, the company’s founder, has been making the toys since 2004. She expanded the operation in 2008, adding more designs to her repertoire, along with cashmere headbands decorated with vintage jewellery. More examples of businesses using recycling to give their products a green edge and a stronger story? Check out Virgin Atlantic’s seat covers, reborn as bags and From 1950s pommel horses to 2008 gym bags. Spotted by: Josh Spear