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Nicole McLaughlin: Creative Upcycled Fashion Trends

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Nichole McLaughlin: The Upcycled Fashion Innovator

Nicole McLaughlin is a Brooklyn-based designer who has garnered attention for her unique ability to transform everyday products and upcycled streetwear into creative fashion statements. Utilizing excess inventory from brands, McLaughlin creates one-of-a-kind pieces that challenge conventional fashion norms.

From Hobby to Profession

Initially starting her design journey as a hobby, McLaughlin now collaborates with various brands, breathing new life into their surplus stock. This innovative approach allows her to craft unique, one-off creations that highlight sustainability in fashion.

Social Media Influence

With hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, McLaughlin’s aesthetic resonates with a diverse audience. Her designs blend practicality and creativity, reimagining items we use in our daily lives with a playful, tongue-in-cheek perspective.

The Radius of Her Creativity

  • Her creations range from functional clothing items to whimsical designs that make bold statements.
  • McLaughlin prioritizes practicality in her designs, notably including essential features like pockets, which she believes every woman should have for convenience.

Collaborations and Community Engagement

Collaborations with brands like Carhartt showcase her ability to create universally appealing designs. McLaughlin shares insights about her brand partnerships, stating, “Anytime I work with Carhartt, people really like it. It’s just really relatable.”

Noteworthy Designs

Some of her standout creations include:

  • A hydrating jacket made from Camelbak reservoirs, highlighting her ability to merge functionality and creativity.
  • Footwear crafted from tennis balls, which exemplifies comfort and durability with quirky aesthetics.
  • The humorous “brassant,” which became a social media sensation, capturing the playful side of fashion innovation.
  • Utility pants fashioned from various materials, showcasing her versatility as a designer.

A Sustainable Future

McLaughlin’s work not only represents creative expression but also emphasizes the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry. By upcycling materials that would otherwise go to waste, she promotes a responsible approach to consumerism.

In conclusion, Nicole McLaughlin exemplifies how fashion can be both innovative and sustainable. Her commitment to upcycling and creative design positions her as a leader in the evolving fashion landscape.

Carhartt doesn't sell a new tool bra and underwear set. Instead, this is the work of Nicole McLaughlin, a Brooklyn-based designer who makes clothes out of upcycled streetwear and everyday products.
Carhartt doesn’t sell a new tool bra and underwear set. Instead, this is the work of Nicole McLaughlin, a Brooklyn-based designer who makes clothes out of upcycled streetwear and everyday products.
After starting on the project as a hobby, McLaughlin now partners with brands to use their excess samples and inventory to make creative one-off pieces.
After starting on the project as a hobby, McLaughlin now partners with brands to use their excess samples and inventory to make creative one-off pieces.
McLaughlin has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
McLaughlin has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
Not all of her designs are practical, but they reimagine the things we wear, use, or eat with a tongue-in-cheek approach.
Not all of her designs are practical, but they reimagine the things we wear, use, or eat with a tongue-in-cheek approach.
McLaughlin doesn't sell her designs, and most of them are ephemeral: assembled for one social media post, then disassembled and upcycled again.
McLaughlin doesn’t sell her designs, and most of them are ephemeral: assembled for one social media post, then disassembled and upcycled again.
"I get really mad when you buy something and it has no pockets, or it has those fake pockets," McLaughlin commented. "Every woman needs pockets to carry their stuff...I'm putting pockets on everything now, including bras."
“I get really mad when you buy something and it has no pockets, or it has those fake pockets,” McLaughlin commented. “Every woman needs pockets to carry their stuff…I’m putting pockets on everything now, including bras.”
McLaughlin noted that Carhartt collaborations are usually a hit. "Anytime I work with Carhartt people really like it," she said. "It's just really relatable."
McLaughlin noted that Carhartt collaborations are usually a hit. “Anytime I work with Carhartt people really like it,” she said. “It’s just really relatable.”
A hydrating jacket made from Camelbak reservoirs.
A hydrating jacket made from Camelbak reservoirs.
One of McLaughlin's early projects that garnered attention was footwear made of tennis balls. "It checked a bunch of boxes. It was comfortable, the colors were nice, it was wearable and durable," she said.
One of McLaughlin’s early projects that garnered attention was footwear made of tennis balls. “It checked a bunch of boxes. It was comfortable, the colors were nice, it was wearable and durable,” she said.
The "brassant" was a social media hit.
The “brassant” was a social media hit.
McLaughlin has made utility pants out of just about everything.
McLaughlin has made utility pants out of just about everything.
Her Purell specs were made during the pandemic -- but are not actually recommended for use.
Her Purell specs were made during the pandemic — but are not actually recommended for use.

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