Shop Your Closet
Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Tallahassee
No matter how many clothes are in your closet, there will still be the dreaded days where you stand there aimlessly shuffling through shirt after shirt, convinced you to have nothing to wear. Our styles can change with the seasons, our current location, and even our moods. With that said, it’s not realistic to run to the mall and buy an entire wardrobe every time you want to switch things up. So, I present to you; upcycling- the act of transforming previously worn clothing into new and improved pieces.
Image Courtesy: Decor Style
There are many benefits to incorporating upcycling into your fashion routine. On an environmental level, upcycling clothing is an easy way to reduce the amount of turnover in your wardrobe. A substantial issue in the fashion world right now is the prevalence of throw-away culture. Microtrends emerge every few days, creating a constant rotation of items that are deemed “in style” at the moment. This everchanging model of trending fashion drives the expectation that the clothes you wear need to reflect the “new” section of your favorite online store.
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Fast fashion powerhouses like Shein, H&M and Forever 21 add to the cyclical nature of trends. For instance, Shein has uploaded 1.3 million new items to their online storefront over a 12-month period. As a result, consumers end up buying new pieces of clothing and throwing out their old ones. These clothes don’t just disappear, like other waste, they end up in landfills where they emit greenhouse gasses and contribute to global carbon emissions.
Image Courtesy: Crobox
By upcycling clothing we already own as opposed to buying new ones from fast fashion adherents, we help to decentralize the power of the fast fashion market. Fast fashion conglomerates often violate numerous labor laws as well as massively contribute to water and air pollution. Recrafting our clothes is a simple step to shift away from reliance on these corrupt systems.
Aside from benefiting human rights issues, upcycling is a fun way to solidify your style. By forcing yourself to look beyond the rack, you allow yourself to find your own fashion sense. Instead of purchasing new clothing items to reflect the current trends, you can create your own personalized pieces. Trying different styles of jeans and various necklines will give you a good sense of how to revamp your old pieces.
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Having the ability to turn old clothes into new pieces allows for the space to be creative in your personal expression. Clothes can be upcycled by adding patches, cutting alternate hems, embroidering funky designs, or dyeing the fabric a new color. It can even be a fun arts and crafts activity for your next girl's day. Upcycling provides infinite options of ways to express your unique personal style through sustainable fashion. Consider all your options the next time you are standing in your closet feeling lost, maybe sew some patches onto that old pair of jeans and give them another try before you purchase a new pair.
Strike Out,
Writer: Sarah Gibson
Editor: Jayna O
Graphic Designer: Luis Arriaga
Tallahassee