INTERVIEW #180 DIANA RIKASARI

Name: Diana Rikasari
Occupation: Fashion designer
Based in: Lausanne, Switzerland
Website: https://www.dianarikasari.com/
Instagram: @dianarikasari

Your creative spark really shines through in everything you do. For those just discovering your work, what drives your passion and purpose?

My passion is rooted in curiosity, playfulness, and a deep caring for our planet. I began sewing just 5 years ago during the pandemic, not only out of necessity but because I wanted to create with my own hands even if imperfectly. Upcycling lets me transform old and sometimes random objects into something joyfully meaningful. It blends creativity with responsibility: fashion that brings joy and purpose.

Your pieces are stunning, but we know upcycling isn’t always glamorous. What’s been the biggest challenge in working with upcycling?

The biggest challenge has been the unpredictability of materials, each thrifted shirt or bedsheet comes with its own shape, texture, and story. Designing without a fixed pattern feels like dancing with constraints. But that very challenge sparks innovation. Creating something within limits, turning scraps into statement pieces, is what makes the process both humbling and exhilarating. 

No changemaker works alone. Can you tell us a bit about your team and how they help bring your vision to life?

I actually do work alone. But...

As an upcycling designer, I’ve learned that this journey is not meant to be walked alone. Upcycling isn’t just a design method; it’s a movement. And to truly shift mindsets, I need to collaborate with other designers, artists, and makers who share the same values. Together, we form a community that supports, inspires, and educates, amplifying the message that waste can be beautiful and meaningful. Whether it's co-creating collections, hosting workshops, or simply exchanging ideas, our collective voice is far more powerful than one alone. It’s through community that real change begins.

What do you feel is your biggest contribution to changing the fashion system, and where do you hope to make the most impact next?

My biggest contribution lies in modeling a joyful, colorful, and mindful alternative to fast fashion. I’ve shown that sustainability isn’t about muted minimalism, it can sparkle with exuberance, humor, and personal storytelling. Next, I want to scale this approach, launching more collaborations with global brands, expanding artisan skill-sharing workshops, and influencing consumers to see upcycling as first-choice, not fallback. 

If you could reimagine the fashion world, what would it look like, and what would your role in it be?

I imagine a fashion world where circularity and creativity walk hand-in-hand, where every garment is designed for its second life, and designers and consumers celebrate that cycle together. In this world, I’d be a connector: crafting joyful, wearable art from waste, mentoring new upcycling designers, and collaborating across industries to build systems that value quality, not just novelty. I want fashion to feel like a fun superhero costume, built with intention and heart. 

For those inspired by your journey, where can we follow your work, and what’s the best way to support what you’re building?

You can follow me on Instagram @dianarikasari and my website, dianarikasari.com

The best way to support what I’m building is to treat fashion intentionally by choosing upcycled or thoughtfully made pieces, and to amplify by sharing more about sustainable fashion and it's impact towards the planet.