Get up close and personal with exclusive, inspiring interviews and taste profiles delivered with a cheeky twist to your inbox daily.

Success! You’re all signed up. 🎉
Please enter a valid email address.

By subscribing to our email newsletter, you agree to and acknowledge that you have read our Privacy Policy and Terms.

Meet the Designer Behind the Upcycled Streetwear We Can’t Get Enough Of

Justin Mensinger will make the hoodie of your dreams.

Designers
justin mensinger upcycled streetwear
In an age when we’re not necessarily looking for the best new thing, but rather the best thrifted thing, Justin Mensinger has quickly caught our attention. Living and working in Chicago, the young designer is behind an impressive collection of upcycled streetwear pieces. He started out by selling custom t-shirts and thrifted finds out of his college dorm room and made his first custom piece in June 2018. Recently, the former RSVP Gallery intern was tapped as one of Footaction’s No1Way designers, creating two “1 of 1” re-worked collections with adidas and Champion.

“I find the deepest satisfaction in putting emotion in my work,” Mensinger tells us. “Everything from the ground up has to have soul in it.” With his brand’s motto being “From the past, for the future,” Mensinger prides himself on his resourcefulness. Many of his designs start out as a piece hed make for himself, and theyre typically made from thrifted sports team memorabilia. Currently, Mensinger is working on a sequel to his previous collection, “A letter to my unborn child,” set to be released next month. Well be watching.

1/16
Photo: Courtesy of Justin Mensinger
Part of the series:

Brand New

VIEW THE SERIES
You May Also Like