Sometimes you can’t win when it comes to clothes. Spend the earth on some designer creation and you feel guilty about your extravagance. Pick up the latest high street copy for next to nothing and you wonder about the peanuts they paid the person who made it. Which is why recycling old (and maybe not so old) clothes is so appealing. So here’s our guide to saving money and salving your conscience
Out with the old
For our purposes, old clothes are anything you no longer wear. And let’s be honest, that can mean hardly-worn. Maybe you bought something on impulse and never really liked it. Maybe you’re the kind of girl (or guy) who doesn’t want to be seen in the same outfit twice. Whatever the reason, it’s time to get out your sewing machine and invest in some buttons, baubles and beads to give those ‘old clothes’ new appeal.
Change your wardrobe
It doesn’t take much to transform your old clothes into your unique new look. You can even recover favourite garments that have seen better days. Yes, patches can be a design statement! All you need is a little imagination. Even the simplest changes can make a big difference. You’ll be amazed at the difference new buttons can make to an old jacket. Take yourself off to your local haberdashery department, an Aladdin’s cave of ribbons, lace, embroidery, beads and sequins that should get your creative juices flowing.
Back to basics
Of course, there are some clothes that no amount of tinkering can save. In that case, use them as raw material. Wool garments are best for this. Simply unravel and re-knit. You may have to steam the yarn to smooth out the kinks before you get started with the needles. And if you’re not a knitter, it’s never too late to start. Check out our beginner’s guide >.
Second-hand doesn’t mean second-best
Why limit yourself to your own old clothes? Secondhand shops, car boot and jumble sales offer rich pickings for the resourceful recycler. You just need to train your eye to spot potential. You’ll soon be seeing evening dresses in discarded curtains and bag clasps in old belt buckles.
Buy recycled ‘new’ clothing
DIY isn’t the only answer. You can always buy ‘new’ clothes that have a ‘past’, sometimes but not always as garments. Oxfam has commissioned fashion students to magic up new creations from donated clothes while Cancer Research supplies clothes to the ecofashion collective Revamp. Even M&S sells a range of recycled clothing. Search online for other businesses doing the same.
Have a clothes-swap party.
Finally, one person’s old clothes could be someone else’s new look. So how about organising a clothes-swap coffee party with friends or neighbours. Just ask everyone to bring at least one item they no longer wear. It’s great fun and you can always take the leftovers to the local charity shop.