Self-described “re-inventor” Benjamin Rollins Caldwell of BRC Designs, who’s made furniture from items as diverse as decks of cards retired from Las Vegas casinos and old bike chains and tires, now counts worn jeans on his raw material list.
In BRC’s studio in South Carolina, jean pockets are fashioned into one-of-a-kind rugs, and jean labels are made into pieces of furniture.
The BRC team scours area thrift stores for jeans, buying them by the carload (check out this Instagram shot), and donates back the pieces they don’t use.
Find more photos and info from Benjamin here, and previous Unconsumption posts on BRC Designs here, and denim reuse here.
BRC’s jean label-covered furniture collection, dubbed “Label Whore,” includes the cabinet pictured below. Hundreds of leather and faux leather labels are nailed onto oak that’s salvaged from defunct pianos. The “Label Whore” table and chair can be seen here.
