Sometimes it just can’t be helped: those clothes you can’t stand that are collecting dust in your closet have no future. You’ve tried but failed dismally at trying to turn them into trophy upcycled items, and it’s definitely not because you aren’t creative! However, don’t eye out the bin with a gleam in your eye just yet. There’s still life in these bad fashion ensembles. Perhaps not in the way you thought, but it could be even better.
It’s time to turn your closet into a fashion recycling station that results in no waste at all. Here’s how.
But first: Give it a second glance
Have you ever experienced going through your wardrobe, trying to find something pretty to wear and then remembering an item of clothing that you’ve already given to a friend or charity? Now all of a sudden, you have the perfect outfit to complement it, but you just don’t have the item anymore! It’s so frustrating to experience this, so try to give your clothes an objective second or third glance before you start planning how to get rid of them. Try to see if the item will look better with other accessories or other items of clothing to finish off a look. That plain strappy top might not be a flashy number, but it could come in handy under a see-through item or it could be upcycled (think sewn-on bows or other embellishments) to give it some flair.
Put it up for grabs
Why not try to get some bucks back from items of clothing you don’t want anymore? You can try to sell them on sites such as eBay or tell your community that you’re having a sale and then sell the items from the comfort of your own home in an eco-friendly manner. Just make sure you play fair: clothes should be in excellent condition (don’t try to sell items that are too shabby – the vintage look can only go so far!), washed since the last time you wore them (nobody wants to buy an item that smells of the previous owner’s perfume!) and reasonably priced.
Host a swishing party
Do you ever feel like your friends love the clothes you hate, or vice versa? Sometimes a great way to make one person’s trash another’s treasure is to swap clothes with your friends. Make a night of it by having a party where you all bring clothes you don’t want. Set some ground rules, such as that every guest has to bring at least one item to the swish and if two people like the same item, a coin should be tossed to see who gets it. Swishing is great fun because you can score lovely new clothes for free.
Give it away!
If you’ve tried the above tips but you’re still left with some stray clothing that can’t seem to find a home, then a good idea is to donate them to a charity. There are many all over the country that will be happy to take your stuff off your hands and do something great with it. This is an especially good deed for you to do now that the colder months are on their way and the poor or homeless will require more clothing to keep them warm during the chill. For a list of charities all over the country, visit CharitySA.
Be a clothing chameleon
For those old, shabby clothes that you can’t sell or donate (and your little sister turns her nose up at them), reach for the scissors. You can turn old t-shirts and tops into cleaning rags or wear these old clothes whenever you’ve got to paint or clean the house, to prevent your nicer items from getting dirty. This not only finds something useful in old items you no longer like, but it prevents you from having to purchase new rags or overalls.
Image via sxc.hu
