Popsiklus is an Indonesian upcycling brand based in Cimahi, West Java, founded by Kurniati Sugihrehardja. What began in 2009 as a small creative project has grown into a design-driven business that transforms discarded materials into functional and distinctive everyday products.
At the heart of Popsiklus is a simple idea: reimagine waste. Rather than seeing used materials as something to simply throw away, Popsiklus explores how their original characteristics can become an integral part of a new design.
Popsiklus began by transforming used milk and beverage cartons into bags and accessories, making these distinctive materials an important part of the brand’s identity. Over time, its exploration expanded to other discarded and surplus materials, including flour sacks, denim offcuts, old vehicle license plates, etc.
At the Popsiklus workshop in Cimahi, these materials are cleaned, processed, cut, and reconstructed by local artisans. Rather than concealing their origins, Popsiklus embraces their original textures, colours, prints, and imperfections. The traces of their previous lives are not flaws to be hidden, but elements that give each product its own character and story.
One of Popsiklus’s most recognised products is the Origami Picnic Bag, a multifunctional bag made from upcycled flour sacks combined with industrial tarpaulin. Inspired by the idea of transformation, the bag can be unfolded into a picnic mat, combining portability, functionality, and playful design.
The Origami Picnic Bag received recognition at the Good Design Indonesia 2025, where it was awarded in the Best Design category, and later received the Good Design Award Japan 2025.
At the heart of Popsiklus is a simple idea: reimagine waste. Rather than seeing used materials as something to simply throw away, Popsiklus explores how their original characteristics can become an integral part of a new design.
Japan has since become an important part of Popsiklus’s international development. In 2026, Japanese company Fortyfive introduced the Origami Picnic Bag to the Japanese market through the Makuake crowdfunding platform.
Popsiklus has also participated in Fashion World Tokyo and exhibited at the Tokyo Gift Show, creating opportunities to introduce its Indonesian approach to upcycling to Japanese consumers, designers, and businesses.
For Popsiklus, these international activities are particularly meaningful because the brand remains a small, independent Indonesian micro business. Its products are developed and produced on a relatively small scale, with an emphasis on experimentation, craftsmanship, and discovering new possibilities within materials that would otherwise be discarded.
Working with waste materials also means working with uncertainty. The availability, condition, colour, and characteristics of discarded materials cannot always be controlled. This limitation has become part of Popsiklus’s creative process, encouraging the team to adapt, experiment, and find design solutions around what is available.
Looking toward 2027 and beyond, Popsiklus hopes to strengthen its presence in Japan, develop new collaborations and introduce more products that demonstrate how discarded materials can be transformed through thoughtful design.
Through its work, Popsiklus hopes to bring a different perspective on upcycling from Indonesia to a wider international audience—showing how creativity, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design can give discarded materials a new value and purpose.
