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Upcycling Clothing
Can't mend or fix it? Here's what to do instead.
What to do with clothes when repairing, mending or patching is no longer an option.
At Soak, we’re all about slow fashion – we love mending holes and patching tears, keeping our favourite clothes out of landfills – and, of course, using Soak’s gentle formulation to extend the life of the clothes you love.
But what happens when items are beyond repair? When stains just won’t come out, moths have made a meal of your sweater – or your favourite jeans have gotten so thin they tear every time you sit down – it’s time to re-fashion, repurpose or recycle.
Refashion them into something new.
Whether you call it refashioning, repurposing or upcycling, you can still find some life in your ripped, stained and worn-out clothes. It’s a great way to avoid landfills – and create one-of-a-kind pieces you might even love more than the original item!
Create a quilt.
Cut up worn items and turn them into a unique piece. Memory quilts use sentimental clothing. But why not also consider using clothing to round out your fabric stash. Cut around holes or worn parts of the fabric and you're good to go! You can even go super old-school and use old clothes as batting – great for those items that do not have enough structural integrity to be used on the outside of your quilt.
Knit something new with old yarn.
Unravel (frog) a damaged sweater (steam it as you go to get out the kinks) and make a whole new item!
Snip those sleeves.
Colorful sweater sleeves make great leg warmers. And you can turn any sleeve into a reheatable neck pack: just fill it with rice or barley and sew the ends shut.
(Re)frame your favorite tee.
Turn your old band t-shirts and sentimental hoodies into art – just cut out the front and put it in a frame for a fun and funky memento.
Skirt the issue.
Got a dress with damage on the top? Cut it in half to make yourself a new skirt.
Dye it.
Got a light shirt with stains you can’t get out? Throw it in some dye to cover up the spots, and you’ve got a whole new look. (Bonus points for tie-dyeing!)
Make hair accessories.
Sweatshirt cuffs make excellent scrunchies. Or you can cut up a pair of tights or nylons to make super-soft (yet surprisingly sturdy) hair ties.
Clean up with your old clothes.
Old t-shirts, sweatshirts and flannel and cotton pjs that have outlived their usefulness as clothing make amazing cleaning cloths! Socks, too – slip a holey or mismatched sock over your hand to clean blinds. Or wet and wear it on your foot for an easy baseboard clean up that saves your back and knees.
Start snipping.
Not a whiz with a sewing machine? You’d be surprised what you can do with a sharp pair of scissors and a little imagination. Seriously – search “no-sew ways to upcycle” in your favourite browser for tons of easy ideas.
Got stuff that you just can't upcycle? Don’t throw it in the garbage!
Look for “textile recycling” in your area to see if there are any local options for dropping off your items. Some retailers accept clothing for recycling, and consider buying from brands that have take-back programs. If you’ve got a composter at home, you can throw in natural fibres like cotton, linen, silk and wool – just cut fabric up into small pieces first.
Show us your refashions
Share your upcycling ideas with us on social with #soakwash #refashion, and your project could be featured on our feed!