100x1000 upcycling club: Scaling up circular fashion together
What is the 100x1000 upcycling club?
The fashion industry has a waste problem. Every year, millions of tons of textiles go unused—dead stock, production scraps, and unsold inventory that often end up in landfills or incinerators. But what if we could turn this waste into valuable, sellable fashion instead?
That’s the mission of the 100x1000 Upcycling Club. We’re not just advocating for circular fashion—we’re making it scalable. By connecting fashion brands with upcycling innovators, we’re proving that upcycling isn’t just an experimental side project; it’s a viable, profitable, and stylish business model.
Our goal? To make upcycling mainstream by creating a network where brands and creative makers collaborate, share knowledge, and bring upcycled fashion to market at scale. Instead of letting textiles go to waste, we’re turning them into high-value products that consumers love.
How it all started: A movement in the making
It all started with four brands exploring how to bloom without growing—“Bloeien zonder groeien.” Upcycling stood out as a promising strategy, and we wondered: could this be relevant for 10 brands… maybe more?
What happened next exceeded all expectations.
Before our first event even began, over 50 brands had already shown interest.
That first event, held at Studio Anneloes HQ, brought brands, upcyclers, and supply chain partners together. We shared challenges, explored creative solutions, and asked the big question:
How can we make upcycling work at scale?
From that moment on, the seeds of the 100x1000 Upcycling Club were planted.
The energy is undeniable. The demand for upcycling solutions is growing, and brands are realizing that circular fashion isn’t just an ethical choice—it’s a smart business move.
Now, we’re gearing up for our second event, which we host at the TextielHub in Amsterdam—a space where innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainability intersect with over 100+ brands, producers, and upcyclers. This will be another opportunity to expand the conversation, test new ideas, and push upcycling further into the mainstream.
The upcycling movement just got real
Upcycling is no longer a side project. It’s a serious opportunity—and we’re proving it with action.
We’re launching a one-of-a-kind upcycled statement piece, co-created by 10 upcycling duos: brands and makers matched through the 100x1000 Upcycling Club. Together with over 20 companies and the support of our growing community, we’re showing that upcycling can be stylish, scalable, and profitable.
This isn’t just a product drop—it’s a movement.
Where you’ll see it
To give these pieces the visibility they deserve, we’re taking them to the biggest stages in sustainable fashion:
After these showcases, the pieces will be gifted through a like/share/win campaign, where 10 lucky winners will receive their very own one-of-a-kind upcycled item. Because fashion that does good should be celebrated—and shared.
A proof of concept
This campaign shows what’s possible when creativity meets commitment:
Upcycling: A movement, not a moment
If we want upcycling to go big, we need to make noise. That’s why we’re rolling out a bold communication strategy to reach brands, consumers, and policymakers alike.
We’re ensuring:
Upcycling: The future of fashion
Our process is designed to take brands from confusion to clarity, from compliance to leadership.
We start by analyzing your current sustainability position, looking at everything from supply chain transparency to ESG reporting. Our goal? To identify weaknesses, risks, and opportunities so we can create a targeted strategy that works for your brand.
Step 2: Building a strategic roadmap
Once we know where the gaps are, we develop a custom sustainability roadmap—complete with clear objectives, realistic timelines, and actionable steps. This roadmap ensures your brand stays compliant, credible, and aligned with industry best practices.
Step 3: Implementing sustainable solutions
Unlike consultants who just hand over a strategy and walk away, we do the work for and with you. From CSRD reporting to circular business models, we handle execution, so sustainability is seamlessly integrated into your operations.
Step 4: Making it stick
For sustainability to be effective, it needs to be woven into your company culture. That’s why we provide employee training programs, sustainability policy development, and stakeholder engagement strategies. The result? A team that’s empowered to maintain sustainability long after our work is done.
From prototypes to real collections: The impact ahead
Our ultimate goal? To deepen the collaborations between brands and upcyclers, so that we don’t just stop at statement pieces, we build full upcycled collections together.
That’s where real, scalable impact begins.
Imagine this:
100 brands, each upcycling 1,000 garments per year.
That’s 100,000 garments saved from landfills annually.
Environmental impact:
Financial impact:
This is the future we’re building. One step at a time.
Upcycling isn’t a trend. It’s a business model and a climate solution.
Now’s the time to join the movement and make it real.
Join us: Next event, 27 May
If you’re ready to turn talk into action, don’t miss our next 100x1000 upcycling club event:
Date: 27 May
Time: 09:00–12:00
Location: Textiel HUB, Donauweg 6–8, Amsterdam
This isn’t another talk shop. It’s where brands, retailers, and circular suppliers come together to share what’s working, what’s next, and how we can accelerate change together.
Come for the insights. Stay to shape the future.
Want to get involved?
Reach out and become part of the 100x1000 upcycling club.
Let’s make upcycling the new normal—one bold step at a time.
What is the 100x1000 upcycling club?
The fashion industry has a waste problem. Every year, millions of tons of textiles go unused—dead stock, production scraps, and unsold inventory that often end up in landfills or incinerators. But what if we could turn this waste into valuable, sellable fashion instead?
That’s the mission of the 100x1000 Upcycling Club. We’re not just advocating for circular fashion—we’re making it scalable. By connecting fashion brands with upcycling innovators, we’re proving that upcycling isn’t just an experimental side project; it’s a viable, profitable, and stylish business model.
Our goal? To make upcycling mainstream by creating a network where brands and creative makers collaborate, share knowledge, and bring upcycled fashion to market at scale. Instead of letting textiles go to waste, we’re turning them into high-value products that consumers love.
How it all started: A movement in the making
It all started with four brands exploring how to bloom without growing—“Bloeien zonder groeien.” Upcycling stood out as a promising strategy, and we wondered: could this be relevant for 10 brands… maybe more?
What happened next exceeded all expectations.
Before our first event even began, over 50 brands had already shown interest.
That first event, held at Studio Anneloes HQ, brought brands, upcyclers, and supply chain partners together. We shared challenges, explored creative solutions, and asked the big question:
How can we make upcycling work at scale?
From that moment on, the seeds of the 100x1000 Upcycling Club were planted.
The energy is undeniable. The demand for upcycling solutions is growing, and brands are realizing that circular fashion isn’t just an ethical choice—it’s a smart business move.
Now, we’re gearing up for our second event, which we host at the TextielHub in Amsterdam—a space where innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainability intersect with over 100+ brands, producers, and upcyclers. This will be another opportunity to expand the conversation, test new ideas, and push upcycling further into the mainstream.
The upcycling movement just got real
Upcycling is no longer a side project. It’s a serious opportunity—and we’re proving it with action.
We’re launching a one-of-a-kind upcycled statement piece, co-created by 10 upcycling duos: brands and makers matched through the 100x1000 Upcycling Club. Together with over 20 companies and the support of our growing community, we’re showing that upcycling can be stylish, scalable, and profitable.
This isn’t just a product drop—it’s a movement.
Where you’ll see it
To give these pieces the visibility they deserve, we’re taking them to the biggest stages in sustainable fashion:
- Circular textile days (10–11 September): The first trade fair focused on circular textiles, where innovation meets action.
- Dutch sustainable fashion week – Opening catwalk show (7 October): Hosted by Cecile Scheele, this catwalk puts bold, circular fashion in the spotlight.
- Transitieagenda consumptiegoederen (9 October): A high-level event dedicated to accelerating the shift to circular consumer goods.
After these showcases, the pieces will be gifted through a like/share/win campaign, where 10 lucky winners will receive their very own one-of-a-kind upcycled item. Because fashion that does good should be celebrated—and shared.
A proof of concept
This campaign shows what’s possible when creativity meets commitment:
- Brands get a low-risk, high-impact way to test upcycling
- Makers gain real visibility and collaboration opportunities
- Consumers discover unique, meaningful fashion with a story
Upcycling: A movement, not a moment
If we want upcycling to go big, we need to make noise. That’s why we’re rolling out a bold communication strategy to reach brands, consumers, and policymakers alike.
We’re ensuring:
- A unified message across all participating brands
- Maximum visibility through social media, PR, and events
- More brands are joining in to scale upcycling even faster
Upcycling: The future of fashion
Our process is designed to take brands from confusion to clarity, from compliance to leadership.
We start by analyzing your current sustainability position, looking at everything from supply chain transparency to ESG reporting. Our goal? To identify weaknesses, risks, and opportunities so we can create a targeted strategy that works for your brand.
Step 2: Building a strategic roadmap
Once we know where the gaps are, we develop a custom sustainability roadmap—complete with clear objectives, realistic timelines, and actionable steps. This roadmap ensures your brand stays compliant, credible, and aligned with industry best practices.
Step 3: Implementing sustainable solutions
Unlike consultants who just hand over a strategy and walk away, we do the work for and with you. From CSRD reporting to circular business models, we handle execution, so sustainability is seamlessly integrated into your operations.
Step 4: Making it stick
For sustainability to be effective, it needs to be woven into your company culture. That’s why we provide employee training programs, sustainability policy development, and stakeholder engagement strategies. The result? A team that’s empowered to maintain sustainability long after our work is done.
From prototypes to real collections: The impact ahead
Our ultimate goal? To deepen the collaborations between brands and upcyclers, so that we don’t just stop at statement pieces, we build full upcycled collections together.
That’s where real, scalable impact begins.
Imagine this:
100 brands, each upcycling 1,000 garments per year.
That’s 100,000 garments saved from landfills annually.
Environmental impact:
- Reusing textiles instead of creating new ones saves an average of 25 kg CO₂ per kg of material (Source: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – INTEXTER).
- With 100,000 garments weighing roughly 50,000 kg, this could mean avoiding up to 1.25 million kg of CO₂ emissions per year.
- Upcycling also cuts water use, chemical pollution, and energy consumption by reducing the need for virgin material production.
Financial impact:
- Brands reduce costs by repurposing their own unsold stock or leftover materials.
- Upcycled collections create new revenue streams through unique, limited-edition drops.
- Consumer demand for conscious, one-of-a-kind fashion is growing, meaning brands that lead in this space gain a clear market advantage.
- Shared storytelling and campaigns drive brand visibility, loyalty, and engagement.
This is the future we’re building. One step at a time.
Upcycling isn’t a trend. It’s a business model and a climate solution.
Now’s the time to join the movement and make it real.
Join us: Next event, 27 May
If you’re ready to turn talk into action, don’t miss our next 100x1000 upcycling club event:
Date: 27 May
Time: 09:00–12:00
Location: Textiel HUB, Donauweg 6–8, Amsterdam
This isn’t another talk shop. It’s where brands, retailers, and circular suppliers come together to share what’s working, what’s next, and how we can accelerate change together.
Come for the insights. Stay to shape the future.
Want to get involved?
Reach out and become part of the 100x1000 upcycling club.
Let’s make upcycling the new normal—one bold step at a time.
Author
Rachel Cannegieter
Sustainability & Circularity Board Advisor | Fashion & ESG Expert | Founder, Circular Impact Consultancy RethinkRebels | CSRD | GRI | B Corp Leader | Driving sustainable leadership, strategic impact & lasting change.