It's said that one person's trash is another person's treasure. It’s certainly the truth when it comes to upcycling. Upcycling brings a second life to products or materials that would have otherwise been discarded. 

At Obakki, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. Our artisan partners create timeless pieces that are made to last and be cherished while reducing their environmental impact.

ITEMS THAT CAN BE UPCYCLED

1. Discarded Animal Horn

Animal horn, a natural product that is shed by domestic animals raised for food or discarded in some cases, is the perfect example of upcycling because otherwise, a perfectly useful and natural material would be sent to the landfill. Anything from utensils to knife handles and buttons can be made from horn material. Jewelry is also a popular choice for upcycling and horn is one of the materials that our design partners in Kibera use, along with found metals and gold and silver. Profits from the sale of their jewelry have already built a new workshop – where they are teaching their apprentices how to use found objects to create sustainable futures. Obakki has also sent 25 children to school in Kibera with our practice of supporting our artisans and their communities. 

2. DISCARDED WOOD

Fallen wood is a great choice for upcycling (the category includes driftwood) and there are many items you can easily make, from candleholders to jewelry trees or coat racks. Or you can find any number of artisanal products created from fallen wood. could link to Amadou here who collects fallen African blackwood, I didn’t want to call him out by name as it seems we want a softer sell.

3. TEXTILE WASTE

You really can use bits and pieces of textile discards to make the most wonderful DIY creations. Use old pieces of material to make a unique quilt, or learn how to make a rag rug out of small, odd strips of materials. Our weaving partners from Querétaro combine textile waste, upcycled raw cotton, and plant fibre to create their unique and timeless objects for the home. Our textile artisan from Guanajuato uses upcycled textiles to create the most stunning wall hangings and lampshades that embody the emotion of her homeland.

4. RECLAIMED WOOD

Using reclaimed wood is another great upcycling idea for your projects, and there are lots of things that you can do that don’t take a shop and heavy equipment. Making a table out of a door, for example, or repurposing vintage crown moulding as a picture frame. One of the better-known uses is repurposing old floor planks - there’s just nothing like the lustre and history that old wood brings to the table – or floor. Our woodworking partners from Canada use reclaimed wood to make stunning charcuterie and cutting boards. Every piece has a history and a story and is a living thing to these artisans.

Obakki works with artisans around the world who use sustainable materials, many of them found materials – creating beauty from items that would otherwise head for the landfill. Whether they’re melting down existing metals, using found objects or textile waste, or salvaging old wood – these creative minds set the new standard in sustainable luxury. 

And Obakki products don’t just look great, your purchases contribute to lasting impact. We pay more than market price to our artisans for their goods, and we return our profits to our artisanal communities, working with them to help create sustainable futures for themselves and their families. And this results in a win for the environment, a win for the artisan and a treasured and timeless piece for the guardian of these historied, handmade items.