New Age of Fashion
The overconsumption of clothes has skyrocketed within the past few years, making the textile industry one of the most polluting industries in the world. Fast fashion brands have exploited cheap labour practices, and unsustainable practices when it comes to waste. Thankfully, a new wave of designers and brands are finding creative ways to repurpose old, vintage clothing, and luckily, it’s simple enough to do yourself.
A Guide to Repurposing
Owning a sewing machine is simple, but knowing how to use it can be tricky, but the internet is one the most helpful tools in today's world to learn a new skill. There are multiple websites and online courses that can be taken, to learn basic skills such as sewing and even pattern making. Sewing is an essential in order to repurpose and repair any of your old clothes, but luckily you can learn in a short Youtube session. Pattern making on the other hand, is slightly more advanced, but can lead to creating perfect fitting garments from any old textiles you have laying around. These skills can be used daily, to help you create something new out of something old.
Old Clothes, New Purpose
A key part of sustainability is being able to repurpose your old clothes, by turning them into something new, or just simply repairing them to a better state. Simply shorten the shirt to turn it into a crop top, or cut the sleeves off to turn the shirt into a tank top. If you want to get more creative, you can take multiple different hoodies and combine them together to create one stylish panel hoodie, with different graphics on each panel. Take an old blanket, and cut a pair of pants out of them for either some comfy, avant-garde sweatpants, perfect for the winter.. There are tons of interesting ideas available all over the internet, which can be used to inspire you to create something one of a kind.
Online Sustainability
With sustainability becoming a popular trend within the fashion industry, there are brands and designers dedicated to producing sustainable clothes. A simple search on the internet can lead you to a world of inspiration for creating your own repurposed clothing. There are plenty of websites that can help you spark an idea for creating something like Pinterest or Tumblr, but if you want to take the less laborious route, you can purchase vintage or repurposed clothing on sites such as Depop or Etsy. Individuals on Depop have created a career out of selling used clothing and some by even reworking into a new piece. Many new designers have built entire brands based on sustainability, which include, Stella McCartney and Eileen Fisher who have spearheaded sustainability within the industry. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of ideas out there for you to create something new, by not wasting any fabric, or old clothing, you just need to find it.
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