Upcycle Seattle
Reuse + redesign: From bike tubes to 520 bridge pontoons

Upcycle Seattle celebrates the ingenuity and entrepreneurship of the regional upcycling design community. Come to hear speakers from the leading upcycling design firms in Seattle and stay for drinks and music to follow. A raffle will benefit Bikeworks (www.bikeworks.org), a Columbia City organization that refurbishes used bicycles donated by the community as part of their program to engage and empower youth to live healthy and productive lives.

Graypants
Seth Grizzle and Jonathan Junker were both trained as architects, but after a few too many years spent drafting behind a screen, decided to return to their love of creation and craft by hand. The two formed graypants to explore what was possible when one literally thought outside a box—an automotive parts box, in this case. Using discarded corrugated cardboard boxes from local businesses in Seattle, Seth and Jon developed “scrap lights,” giving new life to discarded materials. Graypants now serves as an innovative model for what is possible when designers return to using their hands, think responsibly and craft outside the lines.

HyBrid Architects
Robert Humble and Joel Egan found a niche where design, research and efficient construction processes came together to save time, money and natural resources. Since founding their firm in 2003, they’ve specialized in the design and assembly of pre-fabricated works using a combination of kits, panels and modules–all with the intent to be environmentally conservative. Eventually their work led them to repurpose and recycle ISO shipping containers–a unique way to build affordably, modern and green–for which they coined the term “cargotecture.”

Alchemy Goods
The origins of Alchemy Goods can be traced back to a single unique bag crafted from bicycle tire inner tubes. The company now provides a full line of sought-after bags, wallets, belts and more, crafted from materials such as blown-out inner tubes, old seatbelts and advertising banners. True to its roots, Alchemy Goods sources much of its materials from our Seattle community and their bags have become a source of pride to many. The company even shows its belief in design aesthetic and waste reduction by documenting on each product the percent of upcycled material used.

5:30–6:30 p.m. RETHINK REUSE 520 Bridge Competition jury and winners (see separate event listing).

6:30–7:30 p.m. Upcycle entrepreneurs speak

7:30–midnight DJ, open bar