To upcycle clothes?

[ikeeprootingforyou]

I have recently learned to sew and in order to practice I’ve started taking old things out of my wardrobe and making new things out of them.

I have started to post about it on social media because a) I enjoy it and b) I think it’s good to highlight that you can use fast fashion to make new items rather than just throwing it in the bin.

I have tagged a couple of the brands that I’ve made new clothes out of (like upcycle this @ asos dress with me) and the videos are doing well. My partner has said I should stop, as the brands can pursue me for copyright infringements? I’m not selling the clothes nor am I saying I made the fabrics, just that I’ve designed the new things I’m making.

AIBU to do this?

Tell your partner to get in the bin if he can’t support
your hobbies. The brands won’t care at all that you are picking their clothes! I upcycle denim jackets into festival jackets and I love it. Not the SLIGHTEST bit concerned that Levi’s are going to chase me 😂.

is it possible your partner is envious of you?

Your husband is perhaps just jealous. Maybe you should make something for him and feature him in the videos? A mankini perhaps?

You're not selling the clothes so can't see any issues.

I don’t know enough about the law to know if he has a point
but I doubt they’d persue at best you’d get a warm letter

I think it’s maybe because it’s become a hobby that I love? I’m looking into groups etc to join because I really enjoy it

There’s no copyright infringement involved in what you’re doing. You are making videos of yourself altering your own possessions. That isn’t a copyright issue and you can mention the brand as much as you like; talking about where you bought the thing you’re altering isn’t copyright infringement at all.

Loads of people make upcycling and thrifting content where they customise or make something completely different out of clothes, or things like IKEA furniture, or reinvent stuff like Barbies or Bratz or My Little Pony toys. It’s not a problem.

I'm studying a masters in Intellectial Property Law at the moment. What good timing. It is only copyright infringement if you sell your products. What you are doing is altering your own products for your own use. You are bringing brand awareness and advertising their products, which is great for them.

Even if she was selling them, it wouldn’t be an issue.

People can sell their own possessions and state what brand they are, either altered or unaltered, as much as they like. If that wasn’t allowed, things like Vinted and eBay and vintage stores wouldn’t exist!

What she can’t do is make an exact new copy of the original item and sell it as something she designed herself - but what she is doing is nothing like that.

I think part of it is me posting on socials. He has been pretty vocal about the fact he thinks sewing is boring and “old lady”

Just tell him to look up the facts about copyright law online. One of the benefits of the internet is you can look things like this up, it’s not like the old days where it would be difficult to verify information like this. There is less excuse for spouting bullshit now.