Upcycling Project: Handmade Upcycled Charms

Our 2025 year-end special is out: upcycled charms handmade with love

A collaboration with the seniors of NewYearMarket

Small Charms — Big Meaning

Handmade with Heart: Introducing our upcycled limited-edition charm collaboration with NewYearMarket!

At iRi, we’ve always believed that leftover materials still hold beauty and possibility. After launching our first upcycled project — HOORAI Hobo Bags — we’re excited to introduce our second limited-edition accessory collection: a series of handmade, upcycled charms designed to add warmth, personality, and sustainability to your winter days. This project was created in collaboration with NewYearMarket, a community-driven brand that empowers seniors by giving them meaningful work as designers and makers. Together, we turned leftover shoe laces and textile pieces into colorful, wearable pieces that carry care, joy, and connection.

The iRi team wanted to spread a little warmth during the cold season with a splash of color. With that in mind, we created five handmade, upcycled charms using leftover materials. Each sustainable accessory is thoughtfully crafted to brighten your day — and maybe even spark creativity, encourage a mini phone detox, and invite a little time just for yourself.

Our Sustainable Working Process

NewYearMarket is a community-driven brand that creates safe, meaningful jobs for the elderly by empowering them as designers and makers.Working alongside senior creators, the iRi team hand-crafted each charm through knotting, braiding, and assembling upcycled materials. Along the way, stories were shared through color, texture, and small moments of connection. The images below capture real hands, real smiles, and meaningful time spent together during this community-driven sustainable accessories project.

This project also feels especially full-circle for us — iRi began with our founder Janet’s grandmother, who raised her and shaped the values of care and intention behind the brand. Creating this collaboration became our way of slowing down and making something meaningful, together 😉

Designed to brighten up your day, these charms are:

Colorful and cheerful, just like color therapy!
Lightweight and versatile — clip them onto shoes, bags, keys, jeans, or wherever you like
Handmade, one by one, making every piece slightly unique
Sustainable, crafted entirely from upcycled materials

Each charm is a reminder that small details can carry warmth, confidence, and a bit of playfulness — exactly what we all need this season. We truly hope you enjoy discovering the story behind each piece as much as we enjoyed making them.

With warmth,

Team iRi 🍳 + NewYearMarket 👵🏻🧓🏻

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