RubbishREMADE: Creative Reuse Collective in Harambee
Repurposing trash not only gives things new life but also provides a medium for environmentally minded creativity, piecing discarded materials together in a viable, visually interesting way.
via Shepard Express | By: Ben Slowey
Jun. 18, 2025
Trash lying on the side of the road still has plenty of utility and potential. Repurposing it not only gives things new life but also provides a medium for environmentally minded creativity, piecing discarded materials together in a viable, visually interesting way. With rubbishREMADE, located in the Wheelhouse (3373 N. Holton St.), Jess Poisl leads a creative reuse collective out of Harambee that makes art and functional items out of upcycled materials.
‘Rubbish Remade’ owner combines art and environmentalism to upcycle and teach mending in Milwaukee
Cassandra's Hidden Gems | via TMJ4 | By: Cassandra McShepard
MILWAUKEE — This is a hidden gem that takes upcycling to a new level.
Owner Jess Poisl combined her concern for the environment with her artistic abilities to create a business designed to keep rubbish out of landfills.
“Rubbish Remade was my effort at finding all of these materials that were around me and using them in creative and interesting ways to try to pull them out of the waste stream,” Jess said. What started out as making inexpensive gifts for friends turned into a mission after Jess saw an online video on making koozies out of plastic bags. Jess said, “Oh my God, plastic bags are everywhere and there's only so much you can do to recycle them. That led me down the rabbit hole on the Internet of learning more about our waste and what happens to it and how it is a problem. All those visuals really got me, and I felt like I needed to do something about it.”