Ten Ways to Upcycle Your Old Workwear
Here at Logos 4 Clothes, we understand the impact textile waste can have on our fragile environment.
As we all know synthetic clothing can take over 40 years to biodegrade, but 95% of textiles are recyclable it only makes sense that we should do whatever we can to recycle and repurpose our older pieces and save them from the landfill.
- Safety first
If you have an article of clothing with reflective bands you can cut off the strips then attach them to whatever accessory of clothing suits you best. You could also sew these strips to work jackets or backpacks for a safer stroll in the evenings, or even tie them around your ankles for some night time cycling. Also, you could repurpose an old reflective jacket for your dog to act as a little jacket for those night time walks.
- Stay Warm and also Lower those Bills.
No one likes paying more for their bills than they have to, and one easy way to reduce overall heating expenditure is by using draught excluders. But why not make yours yourself by using an old uniform at virtually no extra cost. Here’s a video of how to do this.
- Make Some Extra Money
If you’re a dab hand at sewing and D.I.Y. you can experiment with all your excess fabrics and create your products to even sell online similarly to the team behind the Bike Project charity (https://thebikeproject.co.uk/pages/mission). Proceeds from products sold on their website go towards helping refugees and there are plenty more ways to support their efforts.
- Scrub Up and Save Up
According to recent surveys, the average UK households spend £125 on cleaning products every year – money they could spend on more exciting items in life! There are some products we can easily avoid buying. Like for example wet wipes and disposable cloths. It’s a shame for them to end up as waste, but it is also incredibly easy to fashion reusable alternatives at home. If you have any old uniforms or clothing maybe in a softer fabric (or other worn underwear, t-shirts you name it!) simply cut them up and into the necessary sizes. Scrub what you need and wash when used.
- Help a Creative
The web is home a vast array of small artists and designers, amongst whom a significant number are involved in what is probably best described as an anti-fast fashion movement. With sites like Depop (described as the creative community’s mobile marketplace) hosting over 10 million independent merchants, these designers are not hard to find. Any many of them refuse to buy virgin fabrics – which is where you could come in.
- Pass Them Dove to The Youth of Today
Remember, you don’t have to completely reinvent hi-visibility wear. If you have enough undamaged, usable fabric, you can simply save the best bits and fashion a new child-size vest. These are always useful for schools and day-care centres that take their kids on field trips. They would appreciate the gift.
- Good Things Come in Small Packages
Why not make a bum bag following the steps and pattern in this inspiring video by the ProperFit Clothing company – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdgOzArP4Xs.
- Get Nice and Cosy
Remember too much fabric for your current bum bag needs. No worries.
You may want to try a bigger D.I.Y. project like perhaps making a throw blanket or patchwork quilt. All you have to do is to save the best bits of each garment and go crazy with your artistic instincts!
- Fun for Your Furry Friend
If you have a dog, why not create a snuffle mat? Dogs love them and they are simple to make. All you need is a pair of scissors, some old clothes and fabrics and a drain mat. Once you have these materials to hand follow these steps:-
- Cut your fabric into some long strips. Vary the sizes if you like, but ensure that they are long enough to complete the following steps.
- Loop each strip through two neighbouring holes in the drain mat. With the long ends facing upwards – away from the ground. Then tie them into a knot.
- Repeat this until you have every hole filled – going over holes multiple times if necessary.
- Tie any remaining strips around the perimeter of the mat to hide the rubber edge.
- Then, the fun starts…let your dog loose!
- Reinvent to Look
For many years the world of fashion has taken a great deal of inspiration from labourer’s uniforms, but we are starting to see it go a stage further now for the sake of the environment.
Too many used uniforms have been discarded as trash and therefore save them from the landfill and you can do the same. Here are some little tweaks that you can do to transform a look. For example, why not embrace the cargo pant trend by attaching a decorative chain to the belt loops of your work trousers – any colour works.
Chains can be bought from eBay from as little as £1.39, whereas a brand new pair of carbo trousers can cost up to £45. So even if you’d rather gift this look than wear it yourself it’s certainly worth a try!
For more great clothing and workwear ideas why not speak to the team at Logos 4 Clothes on 01400 230 180 or email info@logos4clothes.com.