Most unwanted clothing ends up in landfill rather than being recycled into other garments. Perhaps when we are finished with a piece of clothing, we could think about upcycling rather than throwing it away.
What is the difference between recycling and upcycling?
Recycling takes an item and breaks it down into its raw component parts so that it can be created into something new.
Upcycling doesn’t require this energy-heavy process and instead starts with the item in its present state to create something new.
Here are a few suggestions to think about for upcycling clothing:
- Make pants into shorts
- Hide stains and make a shirt feel new with a new color, using fabric-safe dye
- Use it for your pet to make a toy, blanket or bed
- Consider using clothing as gift wrapping for the upcoming holiday season
Get more ideas here.