TOKI
BUNNY
Rather than contributing to the cycle of waste and overproduction, I approached this project through an upcycling lens, transforming the denim into a whimsical bunny-shaped backpack inspired by a childhood bookbag I once treasured. This process not only diverted an existing garment from potential landfill but also celebrated the value of extending a material’s lifespan through creativity. By reimagining a fabric often criticized for its environmental footprint into a playful, functional piece, the project demonstrates how sustainability and sentimentality can coexist, turning an emblem of overconsumption into a symbol of preservation, memory, and responsible design.
The sturdy denim, with its years of wear, added a sense of resilience to the form, while the bunny motif brought back the innocence and lightheartedness of being a child.
The result is more than just an accessory—it’s a functional keepsake, a piece that preserves personal history while evolving into something new and relevant for today. This project is part of my ongoing exploration of nostalgia: how design can serve as a vessel for memory, how old materials can be transformed into objects that carry emotional weight, and how the sentimental can coexist with the practical. By giving my father’s jeans a second life as a whimsical backpack, I created a design that is not only sustainable but also deeply personal, embodying the connection between family, memory, and creative reinvention.
- D ring hardware
- Invisible Zipper
- Polyfil Stuffing
- Fully Patterned