Why We Upcycle: Giving Clothes a Second Story
Fast fashion has taught us to treat clothes as disposable — wear them a few times, then toss them out. But the truth is, every piece of fabric holds potential far beyond its first life. At Feral Friends Co., we believe in giving clothes a second story through upcycling: reimagining old garments, vintage finds, and even unexpected textiles into one-of-a-kind originals.
Why Upcycling Matters for the Planet
Less Waste in Landfills: Every year, millions of tons of clothing end up in landfills. By reworking existing garments, we keep fabrics in circulation longer and reduce the environmental footprint of fashion.
Lower Carbon Impact: Producing new textiles requires massive amounts of water, energy, and chemicals. Upcycling skips that step, using what already exists.
Unique Over Uniform: Unlike mass-produced fast fashion, upcycled garments are one-of-a-kind. Choosing upcycled clothing means investing in pieces that can’t be duplicated.
Simply put: upcycling is better for the planet and better for your wardrobe.
From Tablecloths to Trail Pants
One of our favorite projects this season was turning a vintage tablecloth into patchwork pants. What once sat in a thrift pile is now stitched into a cozy, everyday piece with an elastic waist, pockets, and a whole new story to tell. It’s proof that overlooked fabrics can become your new favorite fit.
Coffee Bags, Reimagined
Our Camp4 Coffee Bag Bomber Jacket started its life as a burlap sack filled with beans. Instead of tossing it, we reworked it into a rugged jacket complete with denim details, vintage buttons, and a lined interior. Now, it’s not just packaging — it’s a wearable piece of Crested Butte culture.
Nature in the Details
Many of our upcycled flannels carry motifs pulled from vintage woven fabrics — think moose, bears, pinecones, and fish. These patches, stitched onto classic outdoor staples, create pieces like our corduroy Royal Robbins shirt with pinecone + moose tapestry or the Eddie Bauer camo sweatshirt with a bear-and-moose back panel. Each garment becomes a nod to the Colorado backcountry.
For the Music Lovers
Not all of our inspiration comes from the outdoors — some comes straight from the music scene. Our Grateful Dead patchwork tank and upcycled Eddie Bauer sweatshirt with a rare Dead patch are wearable tributes to a culture of creativity, community, and self-expression.
Why It’s More Than Fashion
For us, upcycling isn’t just about making clothes — it’s about slowing down, valuing what already exists, and creating with intention. Every piece we drop is stitched by hand in small batches, meaning when you shop Feral Friends upcycles, you’re supporting sustainability, creativity, and local craft all at once.
Shop the New Drop
Our latest upcycled collection is live now — including The Camp Collection, Western Wears, and For the Music Lovers. Each piece is handmade, one-of-a-kind, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
