Whether we admit it or not, the clothes we choose to wear can say a lot about us, whether they’re designer picks or bargains stolen from discount stores. Thrift stores carry both authentic designer options and cheap knockoffs, but buying second-hand fashion can mean something completely different: I care about people and the planet.
The fashion industry has had an extremely negative effect on the planet and its human population. One season outfits fill landfills with barely used clothing, and garment factories are notorious for exploiting their workers. Although this is not an ideal solution, one way to remedy the situation is to make an effort buy our second-hand clothes.
Reuse second hand clothes we must not stop there. There are lots of cool things a budding DIYer can do with thrift store clothes.
1. T-shirt/Duvet Sweater
In the summer, a collection of t-shirts can make a great light duvet that’s nice and cozy without being too hot. Sweaters and sweatshirts can provide a warmer blanket in winter.
The fun part of this project is finding t-shirts with cool emblems or sayings or sweaters with the right designs to make a cute blanket. Cut them into squares, sew them together and install them.
2. Buttoned pillowcase
Button-down shirts come in an endless collection of stripes, patterns and colors. They can be easily converted into cool throw pillow cases. pillows this can make the living room even more livable.
The trick to making buttoned pillowcases is finding the right color combinations to fit nicely or contrast attractively with existing furniture.
3. Door draft excluder/door stop – old Pants
Cutting legs or sections from old pant legs makes the ideal material for making windbreakers/doorstops. Fill them with shredded fabric from the rest of the Pants and/or other recycled materials and sew the pant leg into a long cylinder. This can be placed at the bottom of a closed door to prevent drafts from entering, or it can be placed in front of an open door to act as a door stop.
4. Big and Tall Shirt Dress
Large and tall dress shirts can be easily transformed into trendy dresses for petite adults, and regular-sized dress shirts work well as dresses for younger children. The basis for turning them into a dress is to either add elastic near the waist or cinch a belt or scarf above the shirt around the waist.
5. Baby sleeping bag – Pillowcase
Leaves are often donated to thrift stores and can of course continue to be used as bedding. However, turning old pillowcases into baby sleep sacks can be a fun project for parents-to-be. Stuffing can be added to a pillowcase to make it a comfortable place, and a second pillowcase can be inserted into the sheets. It is a comfortable place for young babies to nap.
6. Cozy socks
One of the most painful things for chillaxers to do is give up a pair of fluffy, comfy socks. However, sometimes toes get busted and soles wear out. Fortunately, the ankles of old comfortable socks– like you can find in a thrift store – are perfect for preparing sockets for take-out coffee, cans of beer or bottles of soft drinks.
7. Denim Dog Toys
Denim was created as a durable fabric that would be ideal for clothing that needed to withstand significant wear and tear. SOold jeans can be reused to make good products that last longer dog toys. Cut them into a suitable pattern (bones, etc.) and fill them with old fabric before roughly sewing them.
8. Socks or hat
Old sweaters are the greatest when it comes to being cozy. Luckily, that doesn’t even mean they have to be used as sweaters. The sleeves can be cut to make cute socks (sew the cuff closed) or leggings (don’t bother sewing).
The same sleeves can be used to create cool hats with a little bun or pom pom at the top. Use the shoulder to reach over your head and get creative with closing the other end of the sleeve.
9. Flannel Scarf
Old flannel shirts or even pajamas Pants are easily reused as scarves. Simply cut them into scarf-sized strips for a simple version, or several can be cut into pieces and sewn together to create a more elaborate, colorful scarf.
10. Braided rug – T-shirts, socks, etc.
Essentially, braided rugs, sometimes called “rag rugs”, were/are made from leftover strips of material, usually from clothing manufacturers. Well, the same thing can be done with well-worn clothing, cut into strips of fabric. T-shirts and tube socks are particularly suitable for this.
The fun part of making a braided rug, besides making it, is putting together an eclectic amalgamation of colors to fit into the pattern. Thrift store clothes are perfect for this.
Of course, the perfect cool thing to do with a thrift store clothing is about finding a way to continue to use it as the clothing it was intended to be. Layer it up and funk it for a style with real personality. But, when that DIY bug enters the system, it’s time to start exploring other cool things that thrift store clothes can become. What a monumental start!
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