Yes, Throwing away clothes is BAD for the environment
What happens to your clothes when you throw them away?
How to save unwanted clothes
25 Awesome ways to repurpose old clothes
- Sell it at a consignment shop - check your local listings. Selling it local reduces CO2 emissions. Other types of resellers include ThredUp, Buffalo Exchange, and Poshmark.
- Donate to animal shelters - because if you cannot adopt, least you can do is let Fido look badass in your old Guns n Roses tee. Image and DIY Instructions by Ed Sobo of Instructables
- Patch them up or repair them - use similar fabric to patch garments. Try some unusual fabrics with pretty patterns. Embellished jeans are very stylish. You can take a pair of your baggy jeans from the 1990's and sew darts in them to create a cuter fit. Experiment with different lengths. Flax and Twine has some great ideas
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Make reusable shopping bags - I found this super cute DIY from a very clever mama Heather Dessigner of Mommypotamus
- Contact the manufacturer - Some brands have begun accepting back their own worn merchandise (Levi's and H&M do this)
- Create cleaning rags from cut up clothes - This is not a new idea but reminds me of the rib knit tank top my father used to polish his motorcycle with.
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Make burp cloths Alli from Taking Care of Monkey Business shares how she does it
- Create beautifully nostalgic Christmas decor with this DIY from Sew Dainty
- Sew together an outdoor movie quilt from multiple articles of clothing and old blankets like this t-shirt quilt by Lil Blue Boo
- Create reusable gift wrap - attach a card including cool ideas for the receiver to reuse the wrapping in their own way. Use this list for help. Check out simple ways to wrap a gift using fabric. Image and Instructions by A Pair and A Spare
- Make decorative pillow cases with Country Living
- Save scrap fabrics for craft projects like creating poms, tassels, or lining
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Make dolls clothing
- Make scrunchies, head wraps or headbands
- Create shawls or scarves
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Craft fabric jewelry
- Donate the buttons, zippers, hook & eyes, and other notions from your clothes to Home Economics class rooms or local sewing groups. You can find them on Facebook, directories, or ask a librarian
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Fabric Book Covers
- Create an attractive Cork Board Cover from Sheets
- Shorten a dress into a skirt
- Turn a matching set into a jumpsuit
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Transform mama's clothes into mini's clothes or use excess fabric from mama's clothes for mini to match
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Create a rag rug
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Create a braided fabric basket
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Bunting flags for party decor
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Create a teddybear from your mini's old clothes
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Sweater lampshades
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Plush Alphabet for baby. Add a magnet to the back for your refrigerator
I'd say this is a good beginning to creatively flowing ideas that will revive your clothes for new uses around the house and even for special occasions. I hope you enjoy! Please comment if you tried any of these ideas. Perhaps you would like to add a new idea to this list? If so, I would love to share it!
What to do with old clothes, ShoptheKei.com