Upcycle Arts Initiative

Thank you for visiting our online store.

After living through the Great Depression, my wife's Italian grandmother lived by the adage "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without". The phrase has been around since the 1930's and was emphasized during WWII as a slogan to help get through war time shortages and hardships. Its straight forward message of reducing waste and resisting consumerism hasn't lost its value throughout the last hundred years.

Upcycling isn't a new concept, it just hasn't been fashionable for a while. We saw an ewaste problem in our community and Upcycle Arts Initiative was conceived to turn that problem into masterfully crafted  jewelry. Because we are upcycling existing materials, some of our products may have limited availability. Stop by often to see what's new.

The vast majority of what you will see in our store is made from materials diverted from the landfill and reclaimed by us. Since the beginning of 2026 we have diverted over 7000 lbs. of various metals, plastics, circuit boards, and electronic components from the waste stream and into recycling systems that reclaim primary pollutants such as heavy metals and toxic chemicals.

When it is necessary to purchase materials, such as precious metals, we buy from certified non-primary, ethical sources. We do not buy conflict related or unethically obtained stones, precious metals, or any other material. 

At UAI we believe deeply in the "Butterfly Effect", the idea that small changes and intentional choices can have an exponentially larger impact than realized; changes in ourselves, our communities, and our culture. No one individual can change the world, but we can all work toward changing the neighborhood in which we live. Thank you again for stopping by and helping us change our little piece of the planet, one community at a time..