Ecouterre

The so-called "trashion" movement started long before sustainable fashion was en vogue, and Ivano Vitali, of all people, should know. After all, the Italian artist dabbled in mammoth-size tapestries made from castoff newspapers, plastic bags, eggshells, and aluminum foil as early as 1974. Three decades years later, Vitali devotes his attention almost exclusively to recycled newsprint, which he tears into strips and skillfully twists into balls of yarn without the addition of glue, coloring, or silicone. Using humongous custom-made wooden needles and hooks—some as long as 8 feet—Vitali knits and crochets the unconventional fiber into garments that are as functional as they are theatrical.

Fonderie 47 is on a mission to turn weapons of mass destruction into implements of mass distraction. The burgeoning enterprise, co-founded by Ethos Water CEO Peter Thum, transforms confiscated AK-47 rifles from the Democratic Republic of Congo into ornate accessories that belie their violent history. By melting down the steel components, and working with jewelers Philip Crangi and Roland Iten to refashion them with gold into rings, earrings, and cuff links, Fonderie 47 has successfully removed more than 6,000 assault rifles from the war-ravaged nation.

Have last year’s Christmas lights been sapped dry of their holiday cheer? Don’t send them on their merry way to the landfill just yet. The perfect size for hanging from your ears or neck, these tiny lights can still shine with the addition of jewelry findings and some creative flair. Here, we show you how you can create your own holiday-themed accessories—for next to nothing—simply by seeing damaged goods in a whole new light.

For wearable art to suit your every mood, you only have to look to JoannaJohn's brightly patterned—and reversible—jackets. Hand-stitched from vintage Indian dowry quilts, which parents of the bride present to their daughter on her wedding day, each richly textured piece frames vibrant jewel tones and bold motifs in classic silhouettes. "We've turned folk art into high fashion,” designer Joann Narkis, who is based in Connecticut, tells Ecouterre.

From car parts to couture, Lexus is on a mission to elevate the concept of recycling. Using some of the 2,000-plus components of a dismantled CT hybrid—a vehicle that is itself 90 percent recyclable—the luxury automaker challenged four designers to reengineer everything from crank bearings to armrest upholstery into high-fashion accessories even Anna Wintour would approve of. That's no hyperbole, either: The finished pieces are slated to appear in a six-page advertising campaign in the January 2012 issue Vogue. Above, Moss Lipow's Gaga-esque “Environmental Crown of Virtue,” a dramatic headpiece-cum-eyewear derived from a transmission starter and an exhaust manifold gasket.

Kevin Cotter thought his marriage would last forever, but after 12 years, he found his wife packing everything into her car—everything except her wedding gown, that is. Faced with his shock and confusion, the Tuscon salesman channeled his heartbreak into a blog that recounted the many comical ways Cotter put the dress to work, including a scarecrow (above)), a pasta strainer, a wheelbarrow, and even a homemade punching bag. A book, 101 Uses for my Ex-Wife's Wedding Dress, soon followed. Click through our photo gallery for some of our favorites. Hilarity will ensue, we promise.

Conflict takes its toll on all of us, but we each express our grief in different ways. For Erik Spalding and Cole Evans, the loss of a Naval Academy classmate to sniper fire fueled a campaign to transform the implements of war into instruments of hope and recovery. By recycling demilitarized bullets into a line of necklaces, bracelets, and belts, Bullets2Bandages honors the men and women who selflessly risked their lives for their country. The duo's work isn't merely symbolic, however. Spalding and Evans also donate up to 30 percent of their proceeds to the Travis Manion Foundation, a nonprofit—named in memory of their friend—that serves wounded soldiers, veterans, and their families.

Who says procrastinators can't have just as much fun on Halloween as someone who spent an entire year working on their costume? Scare up a last-minute getup using stuff you already have hanging in your closet and no one will be the wiser. Above, a Brawny Man ensemble requires little more than a plaid shirt, jeans, a belt, workwear boots, and a roll of paper towels. Plus, you're set to tackle any spills or messes over the course of the evening.

Where most people see trash, Stefanie Nieuwenhuys spies opportunity. After discovering tiny, diamond-shaped wood chips on a workshop floor at Kingston University in London—the leftovers of some architecture student, no doubt—the fashion master's student was reminded of a secondhand snakeskin bag she once purchased. Scooping them up, Nieuwenhuys set to work, layering the wooden scraps onto fabric like reptilian scales. The result is an arresting "biomimetic" collection of corsets, floor-length evening dresses, trousers, and neckpieces that marries modern laser-cutting techniques with a couturier's delicate yet exacting touch.

Louis Vuitton turned Paris taxidermy store Deyrolle into a virtual Zoo-y Vuitton on Monday night to celebrate the 100th annivesary of its small leather goods collection. To set the mood, British artist Billie Achilleos transformed the maison's signature wallets, coin pouches, belts, and bag hardware into a menagerie of animals, including a grasshopper, an armadillo, a beaver, and one très colorful chameleon.

For U.K. artist Mark O’Brien, the old adage “think outside the box” is more than a personal ethos; it's a literal call to action. The self-described "crazy cardboard craftsman," who helms Manchester-based MOB Cardboard, recycles corrugated beer crates into a litany of three-dimensional sculptures, including ersatz men's shoes so realistic that we were very nearly fooled.

New Balance based its latest sneaker on the three R's we know and love: reduce, reuse, and recycle. The Boston-based footwear company, which still manufactures the majority of its wares in the United States, is introducing a fleece-like lace-up constructed from 95 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. The newSky, the shoe is part of New Balance's effort to incorporate sustainable practices into their long-term goals. It'll be available come October, with a streamlined design that yields minimal waste.

Before you toss your monthly subscriptions into the recycle bin, ever think, “Wow, that old issue Vogue would make a great ball gown!" Lia Griffith of Papier Couture does. The graphic-cum-fashion designer sees paper differently, mainly as an opportunity to create wearable art. With her dramatic silhouettes and über-detailed construction, Papier Couture's sartorial creations will change the way you look at paper forever.