How To Upcycle Your Clothes

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It’s no secret that shopping more sustainably, and choosing more ethical brands, rather than fast fashion high street brands is better for the planet. However, it’s not always the easiest thing to do. But, there are ways you can keep your buying minimal, and keep up with the latest trends. Enter: upcycling!

“The act of taking something no longer in use and giving it a second life and new function. In doing so, the finished product often becomes more practical, valuable and beautiful than what it previously was.” - upcyclethat.com

So, maybe you’ve got a pile of clothes that you never really wear anymore, but aren’t quite ready to give away. Or perhaps you just want to find new ways to give your wardrobe a brand new vibe. Whatever the case, here are a few fun tutorials to get you started!

DIY Off The Shoulder Shirt

Got an old button up shirt that you never wear? Could even be an old school shirt! turn it from school to chic in literally four steps…

What you’ll need: an old shirt!

1. Do up two to four buttons in the middle of the shirt
2. Pull the shirt down your shoulders on both sides, folding the collar at the back inside the shirt
3. Tie the bottom of the shirt (where the buttons are undone) into a double knot or bow
4. Roll the sleeves up so they look super casual, and there you have it!

Embroidery

This is a fun little way to add something new to an old piece of clothing. So, whether you’re sprucing up an old shirt, adding a flair to some flares or decorating a dress, this one doesn’t take too much time and looks amazing! 

What you’ll need: a piece of clothing, paper, a pencil, a fabric marker, scissors, yarn and a needle.

1. First up, make a template of the design you want to do. This could be words, or a little doodle. Draw this on paper with pencil.
2. Next, slip the paper under your clothing and trace over with your fabric marker. For particularly thick fabric (such as denim) draw the design straight onto the fabric with pencil and then trace over.
3. Next comes the trickier bit - stitching! Thread your needle and sew along the lines, using a backstitch (here’s a great tutorial on how to do that, don’t worry, it’s easy!)
4. Once you’ve finished your design, tie off the ends on the back of the garment and you’re done!

Tye Dye It

What better way to freshen up old clothing that you’re bored of, by giving it a splash of wavey colour! Grab a t-shirt and some fabric dye, and watch the magic happen.

What you’ll need: a piece of clothing, coloured dye, elastic bands.

1. First off, give your t-shirt a soak in some warm water mixed with two tablespoons of salt for ten minutes. After soaking wring out your tee as well as you can.
2. Next, flatten your tee out, pinch the middle and swirl clockwise into a big circle. 
3. Grab your elastic bands and slip them over your tee, so you end up having what looks a bit like a pizza.
4. Now the fun bit! Grab your dyes and douse your tee! Use as many or as little colours as you want and go wild. Once you’ve done one side, flip the tee over and do the same on the back.
5. Next, you’ve got to be patient and just wait it out. Stick your tee in a ziplock bag, and leave it for at least 24 hours. 
6. Hooray, it’s the next day! Carefully take the bands off your tee and unravel to see your masterpiece. Run it under cold water - and don’t worry, it’ll look like loads of dye is coming off, but it’s just the excess. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear and then hey, presto! It’s done! Leave it to dry (obvs) before putting it on and having a whole new look!

Paint with bleach
First things first, bleach is a chemical that if used unsafely, can be dangerous. So make sure to follow the instructions and safety measures. Second, this is a great way to bring a new lease of life to your old clothes! Paint new designs, or simply have some fun.

What you’ll need: Latex or rubber gloves, a piece of cotton clothing (the darker coloured the better), fabric safe household bleach, synthetic bristle paint brush, a towel, a glass or ceramic bowl, chalk, cardboard.

1. Take your piece of clothing (let’s say a t-shirt) and place a flat sheet of cardboard inside it - this is best done outside as you’ll have lots of fresh air surrounding you. This will give you a flat surface to work on and stop the bleach from soaking through to the back of your clothing
2. With a piece of chalk, sketch your design onto your tee (don’t worry, they wash out). You can miss this step if you want a more abstract design on your top
3. PUT ON YOUR GLOVES
4. Pour some bleach into your bowl and keep your towel safe to clean up any drips
5. Now it’s time to design! Dip your paint brush in the bleach and give it a little brush on the side of the bowl so it’s not overloaded. Then, simply paint over your outlines, taking your time
6. Once you’re done, leave the top for at least one hour - preferably in the sun (if you’ve got any!). The longer you leave it, the more the bleach will soak into the material and change colour. Depending on the cotton content of your shirt, the colour of your design could range from dark red, to orange, to pink, all the way to white!
7. Once you’ve waited for at least an hour, rinse your shirt thoroughly, either by hand or in a washing machine on its own, and hang to dry...then wear it!

So there you have it! Simple ways to make the most out of your old clothing! And, if you’re looking to get even more inspired, check out our chat with Caitlin, a petite style blogger, who’s on a mission to change the face of fashion and teach people how to shop more sustainably.