There is an informative article on Reader’s Digest that outlines where clothing go when you donate them to charities. In the article, it states that 84% of donated clothes wind up getting recycled into things like rugs and other goods, or shipped overseas to developing countries. The thing is those countries don’t want the used clothes, because they are hurting local economies and taking away income from indigenous people. I’ve done it too…donate clothing and feel so proud that you did something good to help someone else. The reality is that while some things are recycled into new items, you still don’t know where those clothes are actually going to end up or if they are going to actually cause harm.
I’m trying to reimagine the life cycle of the clothes I have. Upcycling clothing does take some elbow grease, creativity and a commitment to spend time to work on your own fashion. Anything that prolongs the use of an item is surely a good thing!
That dress that you just spilled ketchup on actually isn’t ruined at all, and you do not have to throw it away. Sew applique or lace over the stain and it will be like new. When you get sick of wearing that look, you could turn the dress into separates. It could become a skirt and matching top, that you could mix and match into your wardrobe. When your fashion loving heart gets sick of those pieces, you could sew the fabric into other items for your home. Or sew a fashion accessory with the fabric, or work the cloth into other upcycles. The last step for a piece of clothing could be to turn it into a rag rug or wash rags for around the house.
While the fabric will eventually wind up in the landfill, when you prolong the usage of that garment it truly makes a difference. Instead of throwing out fifty articles of clothing a year, you may only wind up throwing away a few things.
That is my dream for my own closet. I love new fashion, but I’m trying to break the habit of buying so many clothes. It is a challenge I’ve taken on myself and if you also want to change your ways Mother Earth will be so grateful!