Let's Talk: Upcycling Your Closet

Author: Lydia

July 20, 2021

Fast-fashion, sustainable jeans, textile recycling, consignment shopping - the list of conversation topics about what's in your closet can go on for days (and we love it!). Today, as we are thinking about transitioning out of our summer wardrobe and into our fall, we want to discuss a biggie: what do we do with the clothes we're just over?

Chances are there are some clothes in your closet taking up space: the shoes that just never fit right, the jeans that we're giving up on, and the shirt that no matter how much we thought we would, we never wore! Just like most of the other things we do each day, what do you with these makes a difference. Before you take that bag of clothes to the garbage, let's look at the ways you can upcycle the threads that you no longer have room for...

Extend the life!

We've heard "recycle" over and over again - we want to challenge you to think even further about what you no longer use and instead think "upcycle"! By that, we mean to put it to a different use - extend the life! Here's some of our favorite ideas for upcycling your threads:

• Donate to a good cause! This one is an easy one. Take some time to research organizations that responsibly repurpose your gently worn items (note: gently worn is the key here!). A couple of my favorites are Dress for Success, a nonprofit that empowers low income women with professional attire, andSoles4Souls, a nonprofit that repurposes your clothes and shoes in micro enterprise programs around the developing world. 
• Host a clothing swap! In case you needed another reason to get with your friends and have a wine night... host a "clothing swap" and have everyone bring over what they no longer wear! I think by now all of my favorite pieces have come from "hand-me-downs" from my bffs!
• Yard sale! Whether you set this up online or on your front lawn, a yard sale is a great way to extend the life of your wardrobe while making some quick cash at the same time. 
• Make a Quilt! We love this idea especially for those old shirts from back in the day that you hate to part with! Take a look at Craftsy's article on making your own!
• Turn it into a Tote! We came across this idea from Oh, The Thing's We'll Make's blog and absolutely loved it! Such an easy way to repurpose your clothes into a bag that replaces plastic ones...we call that a win! 

Okay, we've laid out some solid ideas for your gently worn threads, but what about those that are a bit beyond gently worn? Research local textile recycling programs and help turn your clothes into something brand new! Here's an easy search tool to check out!

No matter which you choose you'll be making some changes that make a positive impact in your closet and the planet. 🌎 Happy Up-Cycling!