Well, first of all, since I used this picture from the internet, let me introduce the blog/site from which I borrowed. http://www.upcycling.co.uk/ I haven't read too many posts, however, love the diversity and the promotion of upcycling.
Now, while I borrowed the logo/picture, you may be surprised to know that I didn't borrow the word from her site or any other site. Some years back, I decided to advertise my costumes online and wondered what word or words would properly describe such endeavors. I was chatting to my good friend Danielle D. and she suggested marketing it as recycling or upcycling.
I asked her - "What is upcycling?" I still remember the little laugh she gave as she admitted she didn't know if it was a word, but that it made sense. I wasn't recycling used item such as a thrift shop, but taking something old, new, or traditional and changing it. Changing it to something more exciting.
So, I googled it. What else would one do? I googled the word "upcycle". NOTHING was to be found on about 5 pages. Miss spelled words, and related content, and of course recycling. But nothing on upcycling. So, I thought to myself, "Well, it might be cheesy to advertise with a homemade word, but I'll try it. And I did.
Now, the word is everwhere. Why didn't I trade mark it? Could it really be that I was the first one to use it online? Did Danielle actually invent the word for one of the biggest trends hitting the planet? I like to think so. Wikipedia says Etsy has been trending it since 2010, also that it was first coined in 1997, but I still think she coined it herself as well.
Now, I told her this, and she couldn't remember having said it. Laughingly asked me if she really had. So, maybe she heard it somewhere. But I truly think, we started the trend on the internet! At least according to my first google search we did!
Love to hear how others stumbled upon the concept.
