Surprisingly, upcycling old clothes is one of the most resourceful ways to reduce waste and create new things at the same time. DIY upcycled clothes don’t only look cool, they are also a great way to save money as you won’t have to splurge on expensive new clothing. Upcycling old clothes is not just about cutting off sleeves or adding some buttons here and there, but it’s more about bringing out their hidden potential so that your wardrobe goes from drab to fab.
Even the smallest details can make a big difference in your outfit – after all, confidence is what makes anyone look good! Here are some DIY upcycled clothes ideas so you can give your old clothes a brand new look.
Change a basic tee into a va-va-voom v-neck
There are so many ways to jazz up a simple tee – you could add some crystals, embroidery, or even a sparkly phrase. You could also make a v-neck out of a tee by cutting off the sleeves and sewing the top of the shirt together to leave a v-shaped neckline. Or you could cut off the top of the shirt and turn it into a halter top – simply tie it at the back of your neck and at the front of your waist with a belt or a ribbon. You could also cut the top into a high-low hem or leave the top long and tie a knot at the bottom.
Turn your old jeans into awesome skinny jeans
If you are not very fond of the thought of cutting up your jeans, you could take out the inside of your jeans and make them into a new pair of skinny jeans. All you have to do is to remove the inside of your jeans and stitch them together to make a new pair. If your jeans are quite old, you could cut them up and patch them together with new pieces of fabric to make an edgy pair of pants. Alternatively, you could use coloured tape to make patterns on the outside of your jeans or use a patterned fabric to cover the entire outside of your jeans.
Transform your old sweater into an edgy tunic
If you have an oversized sweater that you don’t like anymore, transform it into a trendy tunic by cutting off the sleeves and sewing the ends of the sweater together to make a tube. Or turn the sweater into a shrug by cutting off the sleeves and sewing the ends together to make a tube, and then tie the tube around your shoulders. If you have a small cardigan, you could use its buttons to make a pattern and use it to cover the entire length of your edgy tunic. Or if you have an old t-shirt that you don’t like anymore, you could cut it into small pieces and use them to make a patchwork pattern on the front of your edgy tunic.
Upcycle old dresses and combine them to create something new!
If you have a few old dresses that you don’t like anymore, why not patch them together to make one amazing dress? You could use the patterns of your old dresses to create a new pattern on the front of your new dress. If you have a favorite design on your old Ugg boots or a pair of sneakers, you could cut them up and use them to make a new design on the front of your dress. Alternatively, you could use an old dress to cover the entire front of your new dress, or use an old t-shirt to cover the front of your new dress. You could also use an old scarf or a shawl to cover the front of your new dress. If you have any old dupattas or tablecloths, you could turn them into trendy stoles.
A new lease of life for your old footwear
If you have old footwear that you don’t like anymore, turn them into a new pair of footwear that you’ll love. Cut up your old footwear and use the pieces to make soles for your new footwear. Alternatively, if you have an old pair of open-toed footwear, such as sandals, flip flops, or heels, you could use the front as an upper and cover the entire front of your footwear. If you have a few old footwear, you could use them to make a statement by turning them into a bag.
Conclusion
Although DIY upcycled clothing ideas aren’t as easy as they sound, it’s definitely worth the effort. You could use the ideas listed here to transform your old clothes into new and trendy pieces that you’ll love even more. If you’re looking for upcycled clothing but not ready to DIY, check out RE.STATEMENT, the online marketplace of unique, upcycled clothing.
