Fashion is always changing, leaving some of your old clothes outdated in just a few years of wear. Some of them you don’t wear because they no longer fit you, some have damages you are too lazy to repair, and some couldn’t keep up with your ever-evolving fashion sense. Many of these pieces will stay in your closet, waiting for you to find them (only to put them back slightly deeper in your stack of unused and unwanted clothes).
But this is such a waste because no matter the state of these usable clothes, you can always do something to make them wearable again. With that, here are some ideas to help you revamp your old clothes and give them new life for your everyday wear.
Use your scissors
One way to upcycle old clothes is to get your scissors out and cut away some of them. Just like how scissors were used to make these garments, you can use yours to transform them into something you would like to wear again. You can start with minor adjustments like shortening a skirt, removing the sleeves, or cropping a shirt to fit your aesthetic.
But you can be more daring by cutting holes, ripping hems, and making slits for a more grungy and rugged look. Of course, your scissors can be used with a trusty needle and thread to make polished hems and stitch up different fabrics. Just be wary of cutting away too much that you make it more unwearable than before. Always remember, less is more.
Print on art and photos
If some of these clothes you don’t use are not being worn because they are very plain-looking, you can always add some prints to make them more interesting. Over the years, graphic tees like band shirts and statement pieces have survived the fashion scene to express individuality through prints.
Screen printing is still used to stencil simple designs onto clothes. Still, heat transfer vinyl is more appropriate for digital or complicated designs to achieve different effects like embossed prints and chrome or holographic designs. But you can do this basically on anything from shirts, dresses, caps, pants, and even shoes to add your personal touch on plain old clothes.
Paint on them
Printing designs on the fabric will cost you a bit of money since you will need to purchase materials like a silkscreen or heat press. If you want to be more cost-effective, you can always try your own hand at drawing and painting on designs using fabric paint.
This kind of paint is laundry-safe and will flex and bend with the material of your clothes, making them very durable as opposed to acrylics or another paint formula. You can draw on anything you like in various designs and colors so you can express yourself through what you are wearing.
Try embroidery
Embroidering clothes can be fun but is a bit more tedious and difficult to do. This task requires using an embroidery thread and hoop to stitch out a design. Patterns are available online and in craft shops, but you can make your own unique pattern to embroider on your clothes. Some fabrics may be harder to embroider than others as this craft works better on stiffer and thicker materials than can hold its shape, but if you work hard enough, any fabric can work just fine.
Tie-dye
Tie-dye is a popular trend coming back from the early years. Before, it represented many ideas of love and peace. But now, it is a form of expression that fits a certain aesthetic, using many colors of dye to create abstract patterns on crumpled and tied-up pieces of fabric.
Turn them into something new
Lastly, clothes don’t have to stay as they are if you give them new life. Cut them up if you want to create bags, scarves, accessories, or even new clothes from a patchwork of other old fabrics.
These tips apply to many clothing pieces, from shirts and pants to shoes and hats. The possibilities are limitless. Manifest your inner fashion designer and let your imagination run wild on old clothes. This is always a good way to nurture creativity.
But it is also important to see that these clothes can still be worn by others. If you have a lot of old clothes, don’t personalize them all, only to not wear them even once and put them back in your closet like before. Consider donating some to charity to be worn by those that need them more than you. This helps the needy and the environment by reducing the continuous production of clothes worldwide.
