“Zero-Waste & Community-Based”
Who We Are
At UP Cycle Design, our company values
are transparency, philanthropy, and zero-waste.
UP Cycle Design was started in fall 2019 by a college student (Sierra RyanWallick) as a project focused on upcycling plastic bags that were already in circulation into new products as a project in the Clinton Global Initiative University program. In spring 2020, we pivoted to focus on textile waste and grew into a sustainable fashion brand that summer when our team participated in a pre-accelerator at UD called Summer Founders. The following February in 2021, our team launched our first product of sewn upcycled cloth stickers that were cause-themed and supported community nonprofits. In January 2022, we relaunched our products using an embroidered technique called appliqué 100% made with thread from upcycled plastic bottles.
OUR TEAM
SIERRA RYANWALLICK
Founder & CEO
Sierra RyanWallick is a social entrepreneur, and the Founder of a nonprofit called AutumnLeaf Fundraisers that makes and sells handcrafted items at community events, donating 100% of the sales to charity. She has raised over $100,000 for nonprofits in the past 12 years with the money being donated primarily to a local cat rescue, Forgotten Cats.
MAX SEWELL
Newsletter Captain & Blog Intern
Max Sewell is a junior at UD, majoring in Entrepreneurial Studies. He is a Rehoboth Beach Lifeguard and was a part of the winning team in entrepreneurial marketing for Greenbox.
RICIAH HARDY-HOLMES
Design Captain
Riciah Hardy-Holmes is a senior at Freire Charter School, leading as Secretary in her school’s National Honor Society. She is currently working for Code Differently, training in Front-End Development. Her hobbies consist of listening to music, taking walks, and spending quality time with family.
Öykü Girmen
Design & Outreach Captain
Öykü Girmen is a senior at UD, majoring in Human Relations Administration and double minoring in Entrepreneurship and Organizational Community Leadership. She is passionate about sustainability and mental health advocacy. Öykü enjoys quality time with her family and friends.
Lauren Parrow
Seamstress & Designer
Lauren Parrow is a professional sewist and designer who does both freelance and theatre- based work. She has been stitching for a decade, and graduated from Niagara University with a BFA double major in Theatre and English. She loves finding sustainable ways to create fashion, and started Ash & Rise Atelier, where she does commissions and upcycling work.
Kevin Wallick
Embroiderer, Prototyper, Technician
Kevin Wallick is a Senior Global R&D Scientist with FMC. He's passionate about environmental issues, hiking, and minimalism.
Sanjana Medisetty
Digital Marketing Captain
Sanjana Medisetty is a junior at Newark Charter School and the Co-Founder of the non-profit Girls Unite for Defense. She is passionate about art, dance, and social entrepreneurship!
Shravan Subramaniam
Blog Captain
Shravan Subramaniam is a junior at Appoquinimink High School currently in the Engineering Pathway and helps lead Charity Events in Middletown every weekend as his passion. His hobbies include snowboarding, volunteering, watching sports, reading books, spending time with friends and family, and environmental issues.
Clara Cvik
Design & Production Intern
Clara Cvik is a sophomore at the University of Delaware. She is an Environmental Studies and International Business double major with a minor in Sustainable Infrastructure, Eco-Entrepreneurship Certificate, and a concentration in Environmental Planning and Design. In her free time, she loves to sew, listen to music, spend time outside, and hang out with friends and family!
Hayley Penn
Blog Writer/Intern
Hayley Penn is a junior at the University of Delaware studying Health Behavior Science with a minor in psychology. She is interested in learning more about how to make small changes towards a more sustainable lifestyle! She enjoys spending time at the gym, listening to music, and with her friends and family!
April Singleton
Community, Culture, & Curiosity Coach
April Singleton is an entrepreneurial freelancer for virtual programming and community building. She is passionate about social impact, mindfulness, and positive identity development that helps people become the change agents they want to see in the world. She welcomes deep conversation at any part of the day, but is the most happy talking over some bubble tea.
PAST MEMBERS
TODD PETRELLA
Blog Captain
Todd Petrella is a UD graduate with a degree in Entrepreneurship and writing. His passions include telling stories, creating a sustainable environment, and hanging out with his dogs.
JONNA ANELLO
Digital Marketing Captain
Jonna Anello is a senior at UD, majoring in Public Relations Communications and double minoring in Advertising and Fashion Management. Her passions include skiing, doing makeup, and loves spending time with her pets.
Hunter Wills
Growth & Strategy
Hunter Wills is a freshman at UD, majoring in Entrepreneurship. His passions include skimboarding, reading, running, and being with friends and family.
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MICHELLE YATVITSKIY
Co-Founder & Head Designer
Michelle Yatvitskiy is a designer with a focus on zero waste clothing and accessories studying Apparel Design and Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Sustainability. She has worked with AndAgain a sustainable luxury company and is an Ambassador for the National Retail Federation Foundation.