5 upcycling fashion brands

In a world where we are players in fashion, and aware of its ecological impact, we owe it to ourselves to be environmentally friendly which is why a little reminder is in order. We sometimes confuse recycling and upcycling, especially when it comes to fabrics and clothing. Recycling and upcycling are both part of a circular economy, with a view to avoiding waste in order to move towards more responsible fashion at the antipodes of fast-fashion, which has a heavy environmental impact. Yet there are several subtleties between these two means of recovery. Let's review the definitions here.



The recycled garment is made from fibers from old clothing or textiles, which have been reworked so that they can be used again. It is then possible to recycle in closed loop, for example, making a piece of clothing from an old recycled textile. There is also open loop recycling, which involves reusing material from the recovery of one product into a product of a different nature, for example, when used PET bottles are used to elaborate polyester fiber, a popular method in the fashion and footwear industries to reduce the emission of environmentally harmful greenhouse gases.



The upcycled garment, on the other hand, does not go through the same manufacturing process. Upcycling, or surcyclage in French, is a value-adding technique that involves making new high-quality products from recycled objects and materials.This is precisely the difference with recycling: the materials used to make the recycled item have a second life, they haven't been reworked and therefore haven't lost any value. Indeed, when a material is recycled, it will inevitably lose quality. For example, recycled wool will be of lower quality than virgin wool. Upcycling doesn't transform the fiber to create its garments, and therefore expends much less energy than recycling. More eco-friendly and creative, upcycling is on a roll today, and is making great strides in a textile industry that is taking an eco-responsible turn.

Some committed clothing brands, whether for men or women, have perfectly understood this nuance and produce in a more responsible and ethical way to reduce their ecological footprint.

Discover the 5 top ethical fashion brands using upcycling offered at L'Exception so you can shop with peace of mind.


The young French upcycling brand Paris RE Made takes a fresh, bold look at fashion. It combines eco-design with aesthetic innovation. The challenge? Unearth unique pieces or end-of-stock textiles and add her modern, quirky touch to turn them into a revitalized wardrobe.

Paris RE Made is steeped in circular fashion, embellishing the second-hand clothes and fabrics she unearths to craft unique creations full of creativity. She is keen to respect the heritage of the second-hand items she recovers and wants to tell a story about these "RE loved", "RE worn" garments, enriching their design to make each piece unique.




L'Exception appreciates Paris RE Made for their original and avant-garde pieces.


Mout-Mout offers ethical and responsible fleeces. It maintains historic French know-how and European production.

L'Exception offers on its website Mout-Mout fleece models in upcycled fabrics: cotton, linings... and embarks on this new circular model and presents us with garments as comfortable as ever.

Every detail is designed so that every yoke, every pocket, every collar is a dialogue between style, comfort and use.




Laju Paris is all about reuse. The young upcycling house resident at La Caserne, the Parisian incubator for sustainable fashion, selects leathers from dormant stocks of French luxury and haute couture houses and their associated tanneries with a zero-waste perspective in order to have a more environmentally friendly approach.

For its linings, Laju Paris is also keen to revalue materials: the linings are made from end-of-series cotton, meeting quality and eco-responsibility criteria. The founder, Justine Boissard, is keen to highlight French craftsmanship and know-how, and therefore offers 100% Made In France pieces created from unused fabrics.

Reusing and repurposing luxurious materials results in high-end, affordable leather goods.

Laju Paris offers us unisex, minimalist and timeless leather goods, created from forgotten pieces..




The French Cahu house presents a line of bags and fashion accessories made from PVC. Clémence Cahu grew up in Normandy, near her father's and grandparents' family inflatable factory. She leaves her childhood home to study fashion in Paris and work as a stylist. Clémence Cahu then decided to found a brand in line with her family heritage: Cahu bags are made from PVC recovered from her father's inflatable factory.

Contemporary lines, vibrant colors, technical and ultra-resistant material: Cahu combines timeless chic with foolproof practicality.

Cahu makes upcycling shine internationally with collaborations with the biggest names in industry.

The must-have Cabas, christened "Le Pratique", will accompany you in your daily life. Its double leather handles allow you to carry it by hand or on your shoulder, as you wish. Its plain or two-tone pattern will brighten up your outfit and add an unrivalled touch of elegance.




Benjamin Benmoyal launches his first collection in 2020 after working at Alexander McQueen and Hermès. A Franco-Israeli and former commando-paratrooper, Benjamin Benmoyal wants to recapture his lost naiveté. He creates garments woven entirely from the VHS tapes of his childhood cartoons.

Today, the Benjamin Benmoyal adventure has taken off: the upcycling brand can now elaborate its textiles industrially, using recycled audio and video magnetic tapes to make its clothes. The tape-based raw materials are woven in France.

Benjamin Benmoyal proposes an ingenious way to revalorize materials that have become obsolete since the digital age, and to develop a unique fabric made in France, which gives rise to original collections.


Between craftsmanship and technology, Benjamin Benmoyal is aware of the shortcomings of the post-modern world, but uses his know-how and creativity to unearth a certain poetry.



We hope you enjoy this selection of upcycling brands!