Blogpost

How Bhavya's 3D-Printed shoes and S(c)andals Solve Fashion Upcycling's Scalability Problem

Maria-Cristina Ciocci, 01/12/2025

While our recent blog post on fashion upcycling highlighted the economic struggle of small-scale designers who find it difficult to scale production, young innovator Bhavya demonstrates that merging the "Trash to Treasure" ethos with cutting-edge technology like 3D printing offers a compelling path toward economically viable, sustainable design.

From Trash to Treasure: How 3D Printing is Powering the Green Revolution (and Spotlighting Local Talent!)

The Trash to Treasure (TTT) EU project is driven by the radical idea that waste isn't trash—it’s simply a resource in the wrong place. Our core mission is to create awareness about the exciting possibilities at the intersection of sustainability and cutting-edge technology. One of the greenest techniques in our toolkit is 3D printing. This technology allows for minimal material waste, precise customization, and—crucially—the ability to utilize recycled or unconventional materials.

We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on one of our talented young designers, Bhavya, whose innovative work perfectly embodies the TTT spirit.

Bhavya’s 3D Printed Vision at Wonder Kortrijk

We are proud that Bhavya’s dedication to sustainable design has earned him a place in the prestigious Wonder Kortrijk exhibition, specifically in the segment “Objects of Desire in 3D Printing”. His selection for this showcase highlights the growing importance of merging beautiful design with ecological responsibility. You can find out more about the exhibition here: https://wonderkortrijk.be/en/exhibitions/galerie-art-and-design-productions/objects-of-desire-in-3d-printing.

Bhavya’s 3D Printed Vision at Wonder Kortrijk

We are proud that Bhavya’s dedication to sustainable design has earned him a place in the prestigious Wonder Kortrijk exhibition, specifically in the segment “Objects of Desire in 3D Printing”. His selection for this showcase highlights the growing importance of merging beautiful design with ecological responsibility. You can find out more about the exhibition here: https://wonderkortrijk.be/en/exhibitions/galerie-art-and-design-productions/objects-of-desire-in-3d-printing.

De Creatieve STEM & REFABLAB: Fueling Innovation

Bhavya’s success is a testament to his talent and the collaborative support model championed by the REFABLAB project supported by STEM@VLAIO. We believe in a bottom-up movement for better making and better education, which is why partners actively supported his work.

Our partners at De Creatieve STEM were instrumental in fostering his work by providing:

Access to crucial knowledge and expertise.
Essential infrastructure for prototyping and production.
Real-world experience through student jobs and design assignments.

A great thank you to our REFABLAB partners:

VOS Chemie provides essential chemical expertise.
The collaboration with COBOT and Wild van Textiel offers critical insights into textile processing, material flow, and industry needs.

This type of cross-sector, hands-on support is what drives the true EU spirit of collaborative innovation.

The S(c)andals: A New Dimension for Trash

Bhavya didn't stop at just using green technology; he dived deep into the core TTT theme: transforming trash with tech. This led to the creation of the innovative S(c)andals. This design project started as a creative exploration into giving discarded materials a new, functional life.

Now, the S(c)andals are taking on a full new dimension through an exciting new collaboration with Kinkleid.

Check out the early vision for the design and the materials used on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DP8h4ofElPn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.

And explore the sustainable textile and design work of the collaborators at Kinkleid: https://www.kinkleid.eu/.

Bhavya’s journey illustrates the Trash to Treasure ethos: supporting young talent to use technology to drive meaningful change, one 3D printed, green design at a time.

Congratulations to Bhavya on his well-deserved success!