Fast fashion can make it really tempting to buy new clothing, but what if our mentality shifted towards fixing old clothes rather than purchasing new? When we donate to charities such as Goodwill or Salvation Army we picture our clothing getting a second life. We like to believe everything we donate will be sold through a second-hand store, adding many more years of use to our clothing. Although there are always pure intentions when donating, what most people do not realize is donating clothing should not always be the first resort.

If donated clothing is not purchased within a few weeks, 90 percent of it will end up with textile recyclers. Clothing and fabrics that textile waste mills do not find use for are packaged up by gender, season and size creating a huge bundle of clothing that is then shipped to lower-developed countries. This can be very detrimental to local indigenous markets. Due to these countries having less advanced waste management, many textiles sent over sit in landfills taking 200+ years to decompose. On account of these many negative impacts, certain countries are seeking to ban clothing and shoe imports. Instead of contributing to the 92 million tons of clothing that end up in landfills each year, there are so many alternative ways to use clothing once it is worn or no longer fits. Upcycling does not have to be extremely difficult or time consuming. There are many different methods you can use to make a garment wearable again.

People often think they need advanced sewing skills to upcycle their clothing, but on account of the internet, this is not the case. Upcycling, also known as “creative reuse,” refers to the method of repurposing a used item and creating something new. Inspiration can be found using Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube or even just a quick Google search. Many people use their social media platforms to share creative and simple ways to upcycle clothing. Upcycle ideas through Pinterest is a great place to start looking for inspiration. Through Pinterest, you can find a substantial amount of general ideas without having the pressure of looking for something specific. With the opportunity to view various ideas, you can then find what would work best with the piece you own and want to upcycle. Once you know how you would like to upcycle your piece you can search the internet for specifics on how to do it. While looking for inspiration, some other great accounts to check out are bybrigittecomeau or moeyslowfashion via Instagram. These accounts are great because they not only include innovative ways to upcycle but also share tutorials and the basic sewing skills you’ll need to do so. 

Here are some specific examples I find the most simple and interesting when it comes to upcycling. Using old denim to create a tote bag can be both fun and very useful. You can always make use of a new and trendy tote. With this activity, you have the opportunity to get creative because constructing a bag does not require any specific measurements or pattern and you can customize it to your own needs! Another use for old jeans is turning them into a mini skirt. You can do this by cutting the bottoms off and using the top part for the skirt. This is a great way to keep up with trends once your jeans become outdated. 

A fun way to get more use out of any old fabric is drawing and cutting out small patterns and hand-sewing them onto your clothing. This project does not have to be time-consuming and can be as simple as you make it. The small patterns can range from shapes to simply cutting out patches of fabric and sewing it on. This is a great way to add some color and personality to your clothing without purchasing something new. 

There are many innovative ways to repair holes in old clothing, but one technique I find the most compelling is a type of traditional Japanese embroidery called Sashiko. Sashiko has been around for hundreds of years and is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching. It gets the job done of mending a hole while also creating a unique and personalized look. This technique does not require advanced skills and can be learned using internet sources such as Sashiko Supplies: What You Need to Get Started.

It is so important not to give into fast fashion and start buying less. Clothing should never be thrown out after it is no longer of use to you. As a last resort, you should recycle or donate, but that is not always the most productive and is detrimental to other countries. There is an unlimited amount of methods and creative ways to upcycle. Due to the internet and social media, it can be fun to see what other people are doing with their old clothing and try to replicate that! Not only is upcycling a great way to be sustainable but it is also an opportunity for you to add your own unique flair to your clothing and show more personality. 

Support Student Media

Hi! I’m Kayla Friedman, A Magazine’s editor-in-chief. My staff and I are committed to bringing you the most important and entertaining news from the realms of fashion, beauty and culture. We are full-time students and hard-working journalists. While we get support from the student media fee and earned revenue such as advertising, both of those continue to decline. Your generous gift of any amount will help enhance our student experience as we grow into working professionals. Please go here to donate to A Magazine.