Mass production and a consumerist mindset have both led to one thing: a throwaway culture. It has never been easier to find and buy products, but that also means things are more quickly and readily discarded too. Clothing, in particular, has large impacts at each step of its life cycle yet is readily thrown out.
We know the fashion industry is notoriously wasteful, but clothing’s end-of-life has even greater negative implications. Yet, by finding ways to give new life to our garments, we can reduce the resource strain and environmental burden of this waste generation. So let’s talk about the problem with our clothes going straight to landfills and how you can repurpose old clothes to mitigate this harm.
Why should you repurpose old clothes?
Fashion’s large footprint is thanks to many reasons but the waste generation from this industry is too large to ignore. The EPA estimated that in 2018 9 million tons of clothing was landfilled, that’s a profound amount and our culture surrounding consumerism continues to grow. Due to this, it’s imperative we find solutions.
Many believe the quickest and easiest solution to clothing waste is to donate to for-profit organizations. Although the intentions are good, the reality isn’t so positive. Many retailers who promise to recycle clothes don’t actually do so. Plus, these businesses typically ship fashion waste overseas to deal with the sheer quantity of donations. That makes the end of this linear cycle other countries’ problem, who then inequitably deal with the negatives from this waste.
Overall, the rate at which most consumers purchase and throw out clothes is substantial and unsustainable. Although infrastructure to handle the textile waste we’ve created isn’t currently up to par, there are ways we can address this issue.
Ways you can repurpose old clothes:
In general, we can keep clothes in good condition and resell them or donate them to nonprofits, recycle or compost if the material composition allows it, or we can upcycle these unwanted clothes into something new that will be used. The first half of this list is DIY ideas and the second half deals with more sustainable decluttering methods.
Before starting this process though, ask yourself if you’re getting rid of your clothes because you’re trying to give them a more useful life or if you’re falling victim to trend cycles. The most sustainable option first and foremost is to keep and use what you have then to adress consumption habits to prevent potential buying and tossing cycles. So first, decide if you’ll regret getting rid of your items or if you’re doing so to purchase new things. After that you can move on to learning the ways you can repurpose old clothes!
Dye pieces you like but don't reach for
Dyeing clothes that are still wearable but you don’t like is quite popular now and for good reason. It’s cheaper than buying replacement pieces and saves pieces you’ve already spent hard-earned money on from going to waste. Dyeing can also breathe new life into lighter colored clothes that may be stained or dingy. The sky is the limit, just get some fabric dye and follow the package directions.
Upcycle into bags
Turning too worn clothes into bags is a great way to repurpose that fabric in a very customizable way. You can use a variety of fabric types and create many bag sizes depending on your needs or the clothes you’re trying to upcycle. Tote bags, bread bags, and produce bags are just a few ideas, but you can find so many tutorials for whatever you’re going for (including sew and no-sew options!) – just get creative!
Cut into cleaning cloths
This is the perfect option for clothes that may have too many holes for a larger DIY project but still have some good pieces of soft fabric. I recommend sticking to cotton or other natural materials, but this is so customizable for whatever your ideas or needs are. Dust rags, reusable napkins, handkerchiefs, or more durable miscellaneous cloths can all be easily made at a variety of skill levels and are so useful to have!
Use as couch or pillow stuffing
For clothes that are too far gone to be made into something or for people who just can’t be bothered with DIYs this option is perfect! Either cut into pieces or just stuff your old clothes into pillowcases or couch cushion cases as needed to add more fluff and structure. Just make sure you’re using clean clothes before adding them to your couch or pillows!
Make hair towels
Although t-shirts or other light material clothing items can become stretched out easily and not good to wear after some time they make the perfect hair towels! That’s because cotton is gentler on hair than microfiber or terrycloth, yet it still absorbs water well. DIY hair wraps or even just using these old pieces as they are to dry your hair are great ways to continue using those items you wouldn’t necessarily wear outside while also giving your hair some TLC.
Use to help shoes keep their shape
Maintaining the shape of your shoes is important to keep the material strong which, in turn, maintains their fit and support while wearing. Instead of using shoe trees or toe shapers that can be quite expensive, you can use old socks or other smaller pieces to ensure your shoes keep their shape! Gently stuff the material into the shoes, taking care to do so mostly at the toes for the best results.
Support your local buy nothing group
A great way to get rid of clothes you don’t want and build community is by participating in local buy nothing groups. Bring clothes that are still good to wear and swap or give away pieces that no longer serve you. Check local social media outlets or community apps to find the buy nothing groups in your area.
Donate to nonprofit local organizations
Another great way to help your community is to donate to nonprofit organizations like shelters and clothes banks near you. This is a great option if you have nice clothes you want to part with that you either don’t want to bother selling or haven’t been taken by consignment shops. Nonprofit organizations ensure the members of your community who need the most help get it, instead of supporting for-profit organizations with shady practices. Look for organizations in your area to see the donation protocols and what’s accepted.
Sell clothes at consignment shops or online
This is a great option if you have name-brand or unique pieces that are still good to wear, but either don’t fit you or your style any longer. You can get some money back by selling instead of donating which incentives going through the effort of doing so and helps lessen the burden of fashion waste, total win! Either use online retailers like ThredUp or The RealReal or consignment shops in your area.
donate fabric scraps or clothes that are too worn
For items too worn to donate, re-sell, or upcycle you can utilize textile recycling programs. This is a great way to make sure at least some of the fabric gets repurposed and reduces the amount of textile waste going to landfills. Girlfriend Collective has an amazing program that takes clothes from any brand but gives you some money back when you return something from their brand. Trashie is another great option that takes an array of clothes and fabrics. Otherwise, check out your local waste management to see if there are options for textile recycling in your area.
The fashion industry is quite wasteful, but finding ways to repurpose old clothes closes the loop.
Whether you’re looking to repurpose or sustainably get rid of your old clothes I hope these ideas help you! Fashion waste has far-reaching impacts on the environment and our well-being, but these tips are great ways to make the life cycle of our clothes more circular.
Getting creative, thinking critically, and being mindful are all ways we can mitigate climate impacts at the individual level. We don’t need to be perfect or have all of the answers, but switching it up and incorporating sustainable habits and mindsets can make all the difference!