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Sustainability & Recycling

The ByBye Converts Discarded Clothing Into Rigid Flower Pots

• By  Textile Excellence
• March 20, 2026

The ByBye device is a compact countertop machine that turns discarded clothing into functional plant containers. Designed by Kim Taehoon, it works by shredding worn garments into fibres, then compressing the material with heat inside a mold. The result is a rigid pot that retains the colours and textures of the original fabric.

Designed for home or small studio use, the ByBye allows people to recycle clothing directly into household objects instead of throwing them away. Different molds create containers in various shapes and sizes, all capable of holding soil and plants. The visible layers of shredded fabric produce multicoloured surfaces, showcasing the mix of textiles used in the process.

Trend themes

• Home textile circularity – Household-scale recycling keeps textiles in the same living environment, reducing waste and creating new material loops.
• Fabric-upcycling aesthetics – Layered, multicoloured surfaces turn shredded garments into a design feature, giving everyday objects a unique story.
• Compact at-home recycling tech – Countertop machines bring industrial recycling processes into a consumer-friendly format, enabling on-the-spot material reuse.

Industry implications

• Consumer appliances – Small-format recycling devices could be integrated into household appliances, changing product lifecycles and aftercare services.
• Urban gardening – Repurposed textile pots offer a sustainable, design-forward option for indoor and city gardening.
• Textile and apparel manufacturing – Visible recycled fibres in finished goods open new possibilities for material blending, branding, and end-of-life strategies.

Designed for home or small studio use, the ByBye allows people to recycle clothing directly into household objects instead of throwing them away. Different molds create containers in various shapes and sizes, all capable of holding soil and plants. The visible layers of shredded fabric produce multicoloured surfaces, showcasing the mix of textiles used in the process.