How My Upcycle Journey Began

It all started around the age of 7, making clothes for my Barbie dolls, quickly followed by my first “one top,” which took just one yard of fabric, cost $1.00, and I could make in one hour! Quick, cost-effective sewing would later serve me well when scaling an upcycled clothing business.

My name is Bea Lorimer, and I am the artist and creator of Heke Design—an upcycled clothing brand proudly made in New Zealand.

Early Experiences in Fashion and Creativity

Australian-born and raised in Canada, I spent 20 years touring with the music industry, caring for production and wardrobe for artists such as k.d. lang, Diana Krall, Leonard Cohen, and The Tragically Hip.

One of my scariest wardrobe mishaps was melting the back of a guitarist’s brand-new waistcoat just half an hour before a show! That experience taught me careful problem-solving and the importance of precision in clothing management.

Even though I loved touring, I longed for something more creative. In Vancouver, I designed a small line of clothing but became disillusioned with cheap mass production and the narrow, unhealthy image promoted by the fashion industry.

Discovering Upcycling and a Purpose in New Zealand

When we moved to New Zealand in 2009 with a young daughter, I was ready for a change. As an avid recycler and op shopper, I noticed the enormous amount of clothing thrown out daily by op and thrift shops. I knew I had to do something about it.

The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world. Fast fashion produces endless collections weekly, encouraging overconsumption. In New Zealand alone, around 100,000 tonnes of clothing end up in landfill each year—approximately 44kg per person. Textiles contribute to around 30% of the carbon footprint in landfills despite making up only 5–6% of landfill volume.

Society cannot keep producing more clothing endlessly. We must utilise the resources (waste) we already have.

Launching Heke Design

Returning to fashion design only interested me if there was a real purpose and point of difference. I began volunteering at an op shop, harvesting many bags of textile waste.

In 2009, Heke Design was born. Initially, I tried to upcycle all the op shop waste, but soon realised the need to focus. Today, I work primarily with merino and wool to create sweatercoats and ponchos, as well as bright fabrics and denim for skirts.

I find inspiration in my own closet, cutting wearable items from preloved clothing and playing with colour and texture combinations. Even after creating over 200 sweater coats, each piece is unique, and I still get a thrill from making them.

For readers curious about my merino work, check out Why I Upcycle Merino Wool

Sharing the Upcycle Movement

I love sharing my passion through workshops and classes. I teach kids upcycled crafts and adults’ sewing classes through a local enterprise, The Recreators, whose mission is to reduce waste while teaching lost skills.

The upcycle movement is growing, with consumers becoming more mindful of the story and craftsmanship behind their clothing. As an artist, I love seeing people wear colour—it’s such a joyful expression of our playful spirit.

If you want a custom upcycled piece, I’d love to create unique colour combinations just for you. Explore my Heke Design Collection to see examples of wearable art made from pre-loved fabrics.