About the useDEM Project
SUSTAINABLE TEXTILE AND LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES OF UPCYCLING – that is the heart and soul of the useDEM project. The mission is clear: reduce personal consumption of new fashion items and create a legacy of sustainable practices that benefit the planet and future generations. At its core, useDEM transforms waste into opportunity, rescuing unwanted garments and giving them new life. “The Earth is Our Boss. The Future is Our Client.” This dynamic message reflects a commitment not only to reducing textile waste and saving water through the upcycling of excess textiles, but also to inspiring environmental awareness around the globe… all while making sustainability stylish and accessible to everyone.
Main Benefits at a Glance
The useDEM project is not just about fashion; it is about making a measurable impact. Some key figures and facts that define its benefits include:
- Founded in 2015 in Shanghai, China, from humble beginnings.
- Already diverted more than 20 tons of textile waste from landfills.
- Transforms surplus fabrics, unsold inventory, and outdated products into valuable, sustainable goods.
- Collaborates with forward-thinking companies for effective B2B upcycling integration.
- Partners with organizations like HomeSweetHome to empower individuals with special needs.
Crafting the Future of Fashion
The journey began when Xenia Sidorenko, the creative designer and driving force behind useDEM, discovered that discarded jeans were too precious to simply throw away. One moment, the jeans were destined for the showroom discard pile; the next, they found a new home in her apartment where creativity took flight. With a pair of scissors in hand and a vision for sustainability in mind, she experimented—cutting, reshaping, and reimagining—until the first useDEM backpack, the Buddy Bag, was born. It was an experiment turned movement, capturing the idea that every piece holds a story and every piece of fabric has the potential to be reborn as something extraordinary.
Empowering Sustainable Business Models
For business and everyday consumers alike, useDEM offers revolutionary options. On one hand, end consumers are empowered to transform their old jeans into stylish, one-of-a-kind fashion pieces—a chance to wear their commitment to sustainability literally on their sleeves. On the other hand, forward-thinking companies are invited into the B2B arena to integrate mass upcycling into their business models. This dual approach is what makes the project so dynamic: it isn’t just a fashion statement, it’s a complete rethinking of how surplus materials can be repurposed, saving water, energy, and resources along the way.
Inclusion and Collaboration in Action
At useDEM, diversity and inclusion are woven into every product created. The project proudly stands alongside organizations like HomeSweetHome—an organization devoted to providing training and jobs for individuals with special needs. This special way of making special products exemplifies how sustainable practices and social responsibility can move in tandem. Every recycled fabric and upcycled design is a tribute to the belief that everyone has a role to play in preserving the Earth and making fashion not only beautiful but beneficial.
Collaboration with Industry Leaders
Sustainability isn’t a solo mission, and useDEM understands this perfectly. A strategic alliance with Prosperity Textile – one of the world’s leading denim manufacturers and pioneers in sustainable innovation – builds the very foundation of the project. Since 2017, Prosperity Textile has provided leftover stock fabrics and out‑of‑season denim samples, serving as the raw material that fuels the upcycling production process. This partnership underlines a shared commitment to quality, innovation, and a greener future. Mr. Xiang Gu, the General Manager at Prosperity Textile, encapsulated the synergy when he remarked, “We really like the ideas of Xenia and the whole useDEM project. This cooperation is part of our continued effort to build a green environment.”
Project Impact on SDGs
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – promoting innovative reuse of resources.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – reducing environmental footprints through upcycling.
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – saving water by recycling excess textiles.
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – redefining production through creative methods.
- SDG 15: Life on Land – minimizing waste and protecting ecosystems from pollution.
A Global Movement with Heart
Guided by the principles of Create, Connect, Protect, the useDEM project is much more than a local initiative—it’s an international movement with heart. Passionate about reimagining what fashion can be, useDEM connects people across the world, inspiring them to protect life and our planet. The project’s dynamic approach to reducing textile waste and harnessing creative design is a call to action for those who believe that sustainability should be at the forefront of every decision made. Every upcycled product is a testament to how a thoughtful, innovative mindset can lead to practical solutions that serve both people and the environment… A future where every thread counts is being woven, one reclaimed fabric at a time.
