New Life for Old Things

 Buy Clothes Second Hand

The World Bank (2019) reports the fashion industry accounts for 10% of yearly global carbon emissions. The cost of our fashion obsession has had crippling effects on the environment. One of the ways we can help is to buy used clothing. Places like Goodwill or consignment stores offer many good quality used clothing items at great discounts.

Repurpose Old T-Shirts

With a little crafting, old t-shirts can be new again. My favorite things to make are reusable bags, headbands, and pillows. 

Reusable Bags are made by cutting a scoop into the neck of the shirt and then cutting the bottom into many small strips and tying them together to secure the bottom.

   

Headbands can be made by cutting 3-5 thin strips and braiding them together.

Pillows are made by turning the shirt inside out, trimming it into a square, and sewing the shirt closed, except for a small area. Then, turn the shirt right side out, fill with stuffing, and sew the small area closed.

 

Instructions for these projects can be with a simple search. 

References

The World Bank. (2019, September 23). How much do our wardrobes cost to the environment? Retrieved from

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/09/23/costo-moda-medio-ambiente#:~:text=The%20Ellen%20MacArthur%20Foundation%20estimates,ends%20up%20in%20a%20landfill