With changing seasons and trends, it’s common to grow disinterested in clothing items over time. Unfortunately, most used clothing is improperly disposed of when it could easily be repurposed through creative upcycling. With a bit of imagination and little to no sewing skills, you can prevent garment waste and rediscover a love for your pieces.

4 Practical Uses for Clothes You Don’t Wear Anymore

1. Redesign

When you notice rips or stains in a garment, explore options to make adjustments instead of discarding it. You could shorten or remove sleeves, turn a shirt into a crop top, or alter pants into shorts.

Discolored or stained clothing can easily be dyed or bleached, making “tired” pieces feel fresh and new again. T-shirts make great workout or painting tops, and sturdy materials like denim can become patches for other worn items.

2. Make Accessories

Cotton shirts can be cut and tied into trending headbands or sewn into ties. You can even turn sweater sleeves into scarves or leg warmers. Favorite articles of clothing, especially those attached to fond memories, could be transformed into holiday ornaments or put into memory boxes. If a garment has a pattern or colors you love, try tying the material into decorative pillow covers.

3. Create Reusable Supplies

Reduce waste by upcycling your garments into supplies you use every day. Instead of throwing away clothes and purchasing disposable items, go green with washable, reusable materials.

Handkerchiefs, wipes, and hand towels are very environmentally conscious and can be sourced from numerous materials. You can also cut cotton into squares or circles for makeup-removing towelettes.

4. Donate

For garments you no longer want or need but are still in wearable condition, donation is a great option. Find a friend with similar taste who loves a good bargain or research organizations that will put your items in the hands of people in need.

    A leader of clothing exchange in America, Amclex of Miami, FL, reduces waste and supplies clothing to people in need. They sort, clean, and distribute wearable clothing and repurpose damaged, unusable pieces. The company has kept billions of pounds of clothing out of landfills via donations from businesses and individuals across the country. Visit their website or call (305) 634-1757 to see how you can contribute to a more responsible use of secondhand clothing.