Upcycling Phenomenon offers a selection upcycled jewelry of carefully handcrafted objects & jewelry, upcycled from timeless antique or vintage items, consciously selected for their shape, story, purpose, choice of material or craftsmanship. Scratches as well as unevenness are part of the uniqueness and absolutely wanted to show the upcycledness of the product.
Sustainable fashion of 'objects of desire' conceived for lifelong use & beyond. Upcycling Phenomenon is a sustainable & alternative destination for treasure hunters and lovers of peculiar, yet beautiful objects that carry history and individual character.
The brand
Upcycling phenomenon is a Belgian brand by Frederic Bryon, sharing his sense of aesthetic & upcycling throught unique collections of objects & jewelries crafted in a way that contribute the most to their value, giving them a futher meaning & a second life. A concept that re-evaluates and puches further borders of design and jewelery.
The concept
Bringing upcycling to its best by converting materials or objects that have lost their use, into new objects of better quality & higher value. In this making process, the minimum impact on our environment and the essence of design is essential. The essence of design is about creating something that is simple, functional and beautiful, a design that meets a real need or solves a real problem, and that enhances the lives of those who use it. The design of an object has to fulfill its function to it best considering its shapes, material, techniques, cost, environmental impact & esthetic. Reusing shapes, parts, materials of objects (all carefully thought by designers for a specific purpose & qualities at first) and giving them a new use, is part of the essence of upcycling. Furthermore, an upcycled design Throught this concept, upcycling Phenomenon is consciously choosing antique & vintage objects that have lost they function or utility.
Objects made at the very beginning of industrialization, hence taking the problem of mass production at the source. But aswell showing that the quality of the material used to make those products were of good quality, since they remain until nowadays.
In a minimalist workshop, using silversmith and metalwork techniques, Upcycling Phenomenon is materializing treasurable objects throught this concept. Giving birth to beautiful designs with a soul, that carry functionality, last in time, which are sustainable & reupcyclable.
Manifesto
Every purchased item eventually becomes waste. Its utility is not always substantial, and our actions do not lead to its material disappearance. The first "life" an object has with its owner can multiply through one or more second-hand resales. However, when an object becomes unusable or obsolete, its future often leads to oblivion or, at best, recycling.
While more discarded objects and materials are being recycled, and we are sorting our waste to contribute to this effort, recycling alone is not the solution. It remains a small effort in the face of the environmental impact caused by irrational production and blind consumption.
So, what can we do as designers and consumers?
Today, design is often devalued, and it is our duty to remember that design should create simple, high-quality, functional, upcyclable, durable, and aesthetic products. Good design addresses real needs, solves genuine problems, and improves the lives of its users. An object’s design must fulfill its function effectively, considering its form, materials, techniques, cost, environmental impact, and aesthetics.
We must restore the true essence of design, which includes the vital role of upcycling. As designers, we need to be fully aware of this meaning and the necessity of creating functional, durable, and upcyclable designs.
Consumers also have a responsibility. By buying consciously and using their purchases for as long as possible, they can significantly reduce their environmental impact. Our goal should be to live in harmony with our planet.
The designer
Studied art at St. Luc Tournai, Belgium & graduated first of his atelier in 1994. Moved to London to study silversmith & Metalworker at Camberwell College of Arts, where he started the concept of upcycling before it reached to the ears of the public and graduated in 1997. That year he moved to Tokyo where he exhibited his art work at Setagaya Kumin gallery, G.A.S., Gallery Trax & Start- Poets gallery. In 2000 started Hammock2000 as cofounder & designer. Developing & created collections of hammocks, working in close relation with dyers and weavers, learning the handloom. 2006 won the Lohas design award for the Brazilian Bon hammock. April 2012 back in Belgium he started his own workshop with a forge and a jewelry workshop. It is in 2013 that he started a collaboration as cofounder & designer to create Tabito Jewelry. Upcycled jewelry brand that participated in fashion and jewelry shows ( Bijorhca in Paris / IFF Magic Japan & M.A.G. Tokyo ), working with different concept stores arround Europe, Japan & Austalia. 2019 designed for the Victorian & Albert museum shop a collection of upcycled jewellery for the Dior designer of dreams exhibition & in 2020 an other collection for the museum shop, for Kyoto to cat walk exhibition. In September 2022 he started Upcycling Phenomenon. May 2023 Milano jewelery week, got selected for the Gioiello contemporaneo concour at Galleria Rossini where he won two awards. September 2023 article in G&G interior magazin. 2023 & 2024 exhibit his collections at Maison & Objet in Paris. July 2024 exhibit his collections at Neonyt sustainable fashion show in Dusseldof.
What I do
I redefine the concept of design by incorporating upcycling—the process of converting materials or objects that have lost their utility into new, higher-quality items. I also embrace the concepts of reupcycling and sustainability. By revising the definition of design to include these elements, I create high-quality, upcycled, re-upcyclable, and durable jewelry and objects made from discarded materials. This approach offers new products that can be sold and used.
I deliberately choose to work with old objects to address the problem at its source, utilizing items dating back to the early industrial era. I add value to my creations by offering unique jewelry and objects with a lifetime guarantee. My creations are meant to be passed down to future generations and can be re-upcycled.
My work provides consumers with the opportunity to change our world and become ambassadors of this movement. With 12 years of experience as a silversmith and metalworker, and a concept of upcycling and design that began 30 years ago, I promote upcycling and sustainability. I raise awareness about the importance of reducing waste and conserving resources, encouraging more people to adopt environmentally friendly practices.
I want to emphasize the importance of rethinking our relationship with objects and their lifecycle. Upcycling is an essential solution for extending the life of objects by transforming them into new, high-quality products. More than a concept, upcycling is a life style for me.
I also feel a strong need for collective awareness among both designers and consumers. We must create and buy responsibly, prioritizing sustainable and upcyclable designs. While recycling is useful, it is not enough to solve the environmental issues we face today. Together, we can make a difference by adopting practices that respect our planet.