We all have those pieces that we no longer reach for when getting dressed, whether they have been well-loved or you’ve worn them only one time, crumpled them up, and banished them to the edge of your closet. Most of us are aware that there are ways to upcycle, reuse, or repurpose clothing, but these options aren’t always the most practical. We are all- hopefully- trying to be more environmentally conscious every day, and one way we can make a difference is by giving our current clothing a new life.
Donating
Donating is a timeless and classic way to repurpose your clothing. You are not only taking part in helping the planet but putting your clothing toward good causes and passing them to people in need.
Going about donating can be confusing if you have yet to attempt it before, but most towns and cities have places where you can drop off clothing, like your local thrift stores or donation centers.
via @dariocatellani on instagram
Still, we have to be conscious of what we donate. Clothing with holes, stains, and overly damaged pieces is better suited for recycling facilities. Although these facilities have restrictions, it is an easy and amiable way to eliminate your older clothing.
Upcycle Programs
Some companies have upcycle programs, where you can bring in old clothing, and they will reuse it and turn it into a new product. One prominent example of this is Smartwool. They take old socks that people have worn for years, products with holes, and even products they didn’t produce and turn them into new and improved pieces such as dog beds, totes, bags, and even things like tapestries and banners. Old socks have turned from disregarded to valuable as Smartwool aims to keep their garments out of landfills. You can order a free sock-recycling kit from the company and send in your old socks, or find a participating retailer near you that takes in old socks. If you are in the market for new socks, Smartwool also allows you to shop their renewed products in order to reduce the need for and risk of overproduction.
via Levi’s
Levi’s has a similar program, opening with the statement: “These days when more than 85% of textiles end up in landfills, product longevity matters more than ever.” They couldn’t be more correct. Their program encourages keeping your jeans for as long as possible, stating that they age better with time and to think twice about tossing an old pair. Levi’s tailor shops can extend the life of your pieces by helping with things like patching holes, mending hems, replacing hardware, and more.
Programs like this keep a closed cycle when considering our consumerism and help us improve our resources and ability to repurpose our older clothing. These companies are recognizing that the apparel industry is resource-intensive and acknowledging the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills. They are actively taking strides to repurpose and extend the life of our favorite garments.
Thred-Up: Sending in Your Old Clothes for Money/Incentive
Thred Up’s call to action: “Send us your preloved items and earn cash or shopping credit. Plus, make a positive impact on the planet.” If you aren’t looking to go through the hassle of sorting through and donating your clothing, Thred Up is an excellent and sustainable option.
via ThredUp
They do all the work for you, sorting, photographing, listing, and shipping your clothing out- all you have to do is send them the bag. Their mission is to reduce fashion waste and encourage responsible recycling. They offer incentives, such as gift cards to specific brands, cash for what you donated, or a portion of the profit from your higher-priced clothing items. They use algorithms and marketing to make sure your clothing sells, eager to find it a new home. Thred Up is very vocal about its dedication to the planet, acknowledging it as our most important stakeholder, and by giving this clothing a new home, it keeps it in use and out of landfills. Better yet, they are committed to making this process as environmentally friendly as possible. Fueled by their commitment to circularity, they are determined to reshape the clothing industry one repurposed piece at a time.
By Ani Grigsby