I’m sure we are all guilty in some way of following fashion trends. We give our wardrobes a seasonal refresh or feel the pressures of the fashion industry to keep up with the latest prints, colors or styles. I, myself, even enjoy watching the big fashion shows. But, have you heard the term “upcycle sewing” before and do you really know what it means? Are you wondering what is the difference between upcycle sewing and recycling textiles? Let’s explore the amazing concept of upcycle sewing together!
The art of upcycle sewing is essentially repurposing a fiber or textile from something that no longer suits its original purpose into something that can provide value again. You can think of it as turning trash into treasure. This is in comparison to recycling textiles, which is the process of converting waste into usable textiles.
Did you know that the fashion industry is believed to be responsible for around 10% of the worlds carbon emissions? Worldwide, we produce about 17 million tons of clothing and fabric each year. Textile waste can take up to 200 years to decompose in landfills, and also has the potential to release toxic chemicals and dyes into the soil and groundwater. Even when we try to do “the right thing”, only about 1% of textiles sent to recycling can actually be used.
Since chemical recycling is not a widely used process, blended fabrics or fabrics made from unique compositions are usually unrecyclable. Something else to keep in mind, recycling facilities usually won’t accept items with fixtures attached – think buttons, zippers and other closures- or embellished textiles like beaded or sequined fabrics due to the labor intensive process of removing them. There are sustainable benefits to upcycling, like reducing the amount of water and energy needed to produce new clothing (hello, lower carbon footprint)! By creatively repurposing items, upcycling plays a crucial role in minimizing waste and conserving natural resources.
How to upcycle sew is easy! The hardest part is going to be narrowing down your textiles to create your new magnificent piece. A few of my favorite places to source materials from are thrift stores, local “buy nothing” groups and even my own closets.
It used to embarrass me a little to admit it, but about 90% of my creations are made from something upcycled. Pretty similar to you, I oftentimes have garments in a donate pile that are too small, stained or out of season. I also have a “keep” pile that holds sentimental value, like baby clothes and blankets or a specific print (I collect peacock feather fabric with no intention of ever sewing it, I’m working on it though) or a fiber that is just so tactilely pleasing is needs a second life. Approaching these stacks of stuff with an upcycling mentality often gets my creative juices flowing. These garments made from smaller yardages are perfect for incorporating into color blocked patterns or for use in appliques!
When I have a specific fabric required for the pattern I intend to sew and I don’t have it on my “shelves of shame”, I try to source that fabric from a secondhand store (op shop or thrift shop). I usually sew for my kids, which means its usually easy for me to find enough yardage to create things for them by buying adult sized clothing and just cutting it down. In the past, I have even asked grandma and grandpa for some of their “unloved” hoodies and turned them into child sized sweatshirts for my kids to wear, kinda like wearing hugs from grandma and grandpa, especially when we’re overdue for a visit!
A few fun ideas
I have upcycled this gorgeous black out curtain and turned it into a fall jacket (lined with an upcycled prom dress!)
I personally have a soft spot for cotton bedding (sheets, pillowcases, even comforters) and vintage table clothes. These types of textiles are great because they are great for breathability and are soft on your skin. Also, with the original purpose of these items being to cover large surfaces, you usually have more yardage to work with, making them perfect for multi-tiered dresses and skirts. Check out my self drafted comforter dress (I even reused the binding for bias tape!)
Upcycling doesn’t need to be limited to just repurposed clothing though! You could repurpose polyethylene shopping bags or tarps into water resistant bags (I think of the popular Ikea bag). Have a stack of old holey bath towels? I have made cleaning rags for around my home by cutting them into 10x10 squares and finishing the edges.
Here I have deconstructed a battered trapper keeper and used the webbing and zippers for a new sling bag!
Textiles also make for great components to home décor. You could fashion some sweaters into throw pillows, make a patchwork quilt or even a simple wall hanging of your favorite print.
Not to take away from outright textiles purchased for specific purposes, I do buy fabric yardage in prints that I adore or to meet a specific fabric requirement, I generally find I love my upcycled creations a little bit more. I like to think each upcycled piece I make has it’s own character and each piece has its own story. I thoroughly enjoy reminiscing about the memories I’ve made and experiences I’ve had by breathing new life into my upcycled pieces and continuing their story!
Be sure to stay tuned for some awesome blogs and fabulous videos which will hopefully spark your creativity. I have a few fun upcycle projects in mind and I’m particularly interested in diving into a “zero waste pattern” from an upcycled shower curtain. And just remember, “one mans trash is another mans treasure”!
-Kim
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