Maybe your used clothing has seen better days, or maybe it doesn’t fit you like it used to. However, that doesn’t mean there is no more purpose for them. One of today’s new and exciting trends is repurposed clothing. In some cases, that may mean repurposed industrial rags, but with a bit of effort they could even provide you with a new look.
Some people who repurpose old clothes also say they “upcycle apparel.” That term gives a bit of an insight into the nature of repurposing used clothing. A change of color with some dye, a border of lace, or a small picture made from embroidery can completely elevate a piece of clothing into something fashionable. The possibilities for a piece of clothing will multiply with just a bit of imagination, a needle, a thread, and some time.
Recyclable fashion ideas are limited only by your imagination. According to Swagcycle, upcycled dresses are a popular trend. Friend groups or families may decide to get together and share their unwanted clothing – and then upcycle the clothes together. According to Clothes Bin Franchise, not only do these ideas help people get new clothes, they also reduce landfill waste and greenhouse emissions.
The average American gets rid of about 68 pounds of clothes per year. So where does it all go? Unfortunately, most of it will go to a landfill. A 2011 study showed that about 90% of clothes thrown in the trash could have been recycled instead. From military charities to repurposed industrial rags, there are hundreds of places for your old clothes to go and be put to good use! Here is why you should seriously consider recycling your clothes instead of just throwing them out when they don’t fit.
- It’s much better for the environment. Typically, clothing fabrics make up about 5% of all the trash in landfills. Anything that lowers the amount of landfill waste has got to be good, right? It also would reduce the carbon emissions made while transporting the clothes to the landfill, and reduce the possibility of non-organic contaminants in the soil, such as dyes.
- Clothes in good condition can go to helping families in need.Many charities are calling for clothing donations. Most of the recipients of these donations are families who can’t afford to buy new clothes, but recently there has been an upsurge in clothing donations for veterans. According to military charities, many veterans struggle to make it financially after their tours – in 2012, the unemployment rate among veterans aged 18 to 24 was 20.4%. Whatever your personal politics on war, you can still show your support for military families by making clothing donations to military charities.
- Clothes that are no longer wearable can be repurposed. If your old jeans have too many holes, they might be cut up and used as industrial rags. Recycled clothes are also used as furniture stuffing and home insulation. Depending on the material, clothes may be shredded and reprocessed into knitting yarn. Cotton and silk can actually be used to make paper. There’s no telling where your old clothes might end up!
