A Look Back At Our Summer Pop-Ups: Celebrating the Alterist Community
Photography and Interviews by Selin Ozturk
With August coming to a close and September just around the corner, we mark the end of a cycle of pop-ups that have been all about community, building it, nurturing it, and celebrating it. These gatherings have not only showcased upcycled garments but also shone a light on the people behind the brands: the makers, thinkers, and creators who are shaping a new culture of fashion.
In this article, we go behind the seams, with some interviews with the Alterist designers, to discover who they are, why they upcycle, and what being part of the Alterist community means to them.
[‘Nju] :The Sophist
Eunjoo Lee, founder of [‘Nju ] :The Sophist, and Xie Lam
EunJoo Lee is the founder of [ ‘nju ]: The Sophist, a Korean brand born in Italy and now based in the UK. Her work specialises in combining deadstock fabrics and upcycled threads to create garments that are both expressive and deeply meaningful. “I work with threads to discover hidden stories within discarded clothes, scraps of fabric, and forgotten objects, weaving them into new emotional expressions,” she explains.
Connection is at the heart of EunJoo’s practice. Through embroidered text and patchwork, [ ‘nju ]: The Sophist not only breathes new life into forgotten materials but also creates a medium for people to connect with clothing, and with one another, on a deeper level.
['Nju] :The Sophist, T-shirt detail.
“Why do you upcycle?” “Why not? There are so many useful, unused materials!” EunJoo says. For her, upcycling is not just about reuse, but about giving forgotten things new purpose, new emotion, and new stories. “It’s become the most natural way for me to create.”
Being Part of Alterist: “I love the name Alterist: ‘the one who alters...” she reflects. “As someone working creatively in fashion, Eunjoo often feels a pull toward beautiful, innovative new materials. But choosing to create with alternative, often discarded materials, that’s not just instinct, that’s a powerful act of conviction, where belief takes precedence over impulse. Being part of Alterist makes me feel connected, not just to a platform, but to a community of creators who share the same values. It’s inspiring to be part of a space where sustainability and creativity truly go hand in hand.”
Left: EunJoo stitching during a custom session, Right: ['Nju] :The Sophist dresses details.
UIIBA Club
UIIBA Club was founded by Chloé, an upcycle designer passionate about helping like-minded souls care for their wardrobes and reimagine fashion waste together.
“I have an ever-changing collection of one-of-one upcycled garments I design,” she explains.
But her work extends far beyond design. Through hands-on upcycling events and workshops, Chloé creates spaces where people can connect, learn new skills, and rediscover the true value of clothing.
“Education on fashion waste is my mission,” she says. Step by step, she is spreading this message, guiding fast fashion addicts to transition into more conscious consumers.
Chloé, founder of UIIBA Club.
For Chloé, upcycling is both an act of creativity and a powerful response to the fashion industry’s waste crisis.
“Upcycling is not only a form of self-expression but also a path to learning new skills. From mending to creating and sharing that journey with others, I upcycle because I truly believe it’s the only sustainable path forward for fashion’s present and future.”
Being Part of Alterist: “Becoming part of Alterist was a natural step for the UIIBA Club,” Chloé shares. “Upcycling fashion tends to be a kinder environment where collaboration is promoted over competition. It feels right to be amongst individuals who share the same views and values on our world’s current climate. Being part of Alterist fuels my hunger to make a real and lasting change.”
MURAKAMI
Mikuri Murakami, founder of MURAKAMI
MURAKAMI is the upcycled denim brand founded by designer and artist Mikuri Murakami. Originally from Tokyo, Mikuri has lived in the US, Australia, and now London, experiences that broadened her perspective, reshaped her connection to her own culture, and deeply influenced her creative work. Music is another passion that runs through her life, and being surrounded by the music community continues to inspire the energy and identity of her designs.
Her brand, MURAKAMI, is rooted in the Japanese Boro mindset, which values repair, longevity, and the beauty of imperfection. Based in London, she creates unique hats and bags from patches of denim and second-hand fabrics carefully sourced from local charity shops. Each piece is handmade with a strong focus on quality, sustainability, and individuality.
Shop Strip Denim Shoulder Bag Blue,
Shop Mix Fabric Patched Shoulder Bag Blue Small
“I’ve been thrifting for a long time and love finding a special piece, with upcycling, I can turn it into something even more unique, one of a kind,” she explains. For Mikuri, upcycling is not only a creative outlet but also a way to understand the structure of garments, while staying true to an environmentally friendly and ethical practice.
Shop Denim Baker Boy Hat Mid Blue
Being Part of Alterist: “Being part of Alterist feels like joining a creative circle with a shared mindset toward the fashion industry,” Mikuri says. “I really appreciate that this community exists.”
KABO
Katy Boyle, founder of KABO
KABO Clothing is a queer-owned, independent fashion brand founded by designer Katy Boyle. Specialising in upcycling and reworking second-hand garments, the brand gives new life to repurposed and damaged materials. With a playful, crafty aesthetic, Kabo Clothing aims to inspire more mindful fashion consumption while celebrating creativity, self-expression, and sustainability. Every piece is one of a kind, a direct challenge to the disposable nature of mainstream fashion, and a reminder that personal style can be eco-conscious while still being fun.
Katy’s upcycling journey began as a solution to creative block. Surrounded by a surplus of clothing within the fashion world, it felt natural to start working with what was already at hand. “For me, upcycling encompasses so many things I value; it is art, anti-capitalism, community, sustainability, anti-consumerism, and the sharing of knowledge and skills,” she explains. Her designs reflect this ethos, balancing playfulness with purpose.
Shop KABO
Being Part of Alterist: “Being part of Alterist is a bit of a pinch-me moment,” Katy shares. Having followed the platform for years, attended pop-ups, and admired the designers within the community, joining the collective feels like a full-circle milestone. “It’s very validating to have been chosen to be a part of Alterist, as well as affirming as a designer when looking at my peers. I’m very grateful to be part of a community with whom I share a similar ethos.”
KABO clothing tie detail.
ITERUM STUDIOS
ITERUM STUDIOS custom tools (left), ITERUM STUDIOS jacket (right).
Iterum Studios is the creative project of London-based fashion designer and upcycler Daniel Luc Thompson. His journey began as a teenager working at Levi’s, where he first learned to sew and started customising his own clothes. After studying fashion design in Bath, Daniel returned to London and deepened his passion for upcycling, gradually developing it into Iterum Studios, a space for creative expression built around reclaimed fabrics and utilitarian design.
His work explores not only craftsmanship but also storytelling, often incorporating imagery and themes inspired by science fiction, technology, society, individuality, and purpose. Beyond clothing, Daniel envisions Iterum Studios as a project that will expand into multiple art forms, pushing the boundaries of how upcycling and creativity intersect.
Daniel Luc Thompson, founder of ITERUM STUDIOS
Daniel began upcycling as a way to repair, reinvent, and add new character to older pieces. “It’s also about making use of the easiest available materials, which naturally reduces waste and pushes experimentation as you try to do more with less,” he explains. For him, the limitations of upcycling are what make it exciting, forcing inventive choices and unexpected outcomes.
“It can be as simple as swapping the legs of one garment with the arms of another, or as complex as dismantling something piece by piece to create a completely new, Frankenstein-like item from scratch. Both approaches are exciting in their own way.”
SHOP Leather / Denim Trucker Jacket
SHOP Faux Leather Ostrich Jacket
Being Part of Alterist: “Being part of Alterist means a great deal,” Daniel shares. “To instantly find yourself in a cohesive, creative community of people with similar interests gives you both motivation and inspiration to continue your individual journey. It’s rewarding not only to meet peers and exchange ideas but also to engage with people who enjoy your work and help you understand what resonates with them. Many of these conversations and experiences have only been possible because of Alterist.”
Olli Hull
Designer Olli Hull
Olli Hull is a London-based artist and designer whose work sits at the intersection of fashion, fine art, and self-expression. With a strong focus on upcycling and customisation, Olli creates one-of-a-kind, hand-painted garments and accessories that celebrate individuality, fluidity, and the radical act of dressing for yourself.
Their pieces often combine text, texture, and bold silhouettes, transforming second-hand or forgotten items into something poetic, political, and playful. More than a brand, Olli’s practice is about storytelling: each garment becomes a canvas, a conversation, and a chance for the wearer to be seen.
Left: Olli Hll painting during a custom session, Right: SHOP Star face Shirt
Upcycling is central to Olli’s creative process. “I believe fashion should be personal, expressive, and sustainable,” they explain. Confronting the industry’s waste, Olli reimagines discarded garments as wearable art, a form of rebellion as much as a commitment to sustainability.
“There’s something deeply punk about it: ripping things apart, reworking them, rejecting perfection. Upcycling gives clothing new life and allows people to wear something that feels alive, rebellious, and truly theirs. It isn’t just eco-conscious, it’s emotionally resonant, honouring the past while creating something new.”
Being Part of Alterist: “Being part of Alterist means being part of a community of creatives who care,” Olli shares. “It’s rare to find a platform that champions sustainability, craft, and individuality in such a genuine way. Alterist celebrates the raw, expressive, human side of fashion. For me, it’s a space to grow, share my work with like-minded people, and reach audiences who value meaning in what they wear. It’s empowering to know that together we are redefining what fashion can be and trying to create a more sustainable and mindful industry.”
Amen Gyaldem crew's member at COAG Pop Up, wearing Olli Hull Jacket.
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20th August 2025
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