What is Upcycled Clothing?
Upcycled clothing is a great way to support sustainable fashion and reduce waste. Upcycling involves taking pre-existing materials, usually old clothes, and creating something new with them. Through upcycling, you get the benefit of owning something both unique and eco-friendly!
Upcycled clothing is practical as well as stylish; the possibilities for clothing options are almost limitless! Whether it’s reworking garments into a completely new item or simply customizing an existing design, upcycling offers countless creative opportunities – plus it’s better for the environment. So when shopping for unique items why not look at upcycled options first? You’ll be helping to save resources while supporting your own personal style at the same time.
Why Buy Upcycled Clothes?
Like shopping vintage, buying/creating upcycled clothing has many added benefits including
- Minimizing waste by giving new life to an old garment/item
They say “the most sustainable clothing you can own is already in your closet”. Essentially what this means is there’s already more than enough clothing in the world. The best way to make a sustainable fashion decision is to make use of what you already have!
Making what you have last means you extend the life of your closet thereby reducing waste. Instead of buying new repeatedly, why not buy well once and make it last?
- Expressing your distinctive style regardless of era or current trends
Upcycled clothing is great for fostering your personal style because you are the decision maker for all aspects of your look! Say there’s a small hole in your jeans so now you want to turn them into shorts. Or stitch unique patches all over them. Or make a jean skirt instead!
The opportunities are endless with upcycling. And the rules are all yours to make! Traditional shopping means you’re presented with a collection, you choose a piece and wear it as-is. By upcycling you can do whatever you want with whatever garment you want!
- Ending the destructive cycle of fast fashion
By wearing upcycled fashion you are taking a step toward making a positive change in the fashion landscape. We are currently in a dire situation due to the overconsumption in the apparel industry. Our environment and apparel workers are suffering because of fast fashion brands that use cheap materials and don’t protect their workers.
Upcycling is a conscious step in the right direction by counteracting a wasteful mindset instilled by fast fashion. By repurposing what you already have you aren’t contributing to the grotesque amount of waste we have already produced. We each have the power to make big changes when we come together and choose to upcycle.
The Upcycled Clothing Brands
LuxInclus
IAMMI
Justin Mensinger
Aishr (Upcycle Edit)
Glass Onion (Remade)
