With fast fashion making it way too easy for consumers to buy something for every occasion, closets can quickly become overcrowded. Staying stylish does not have to mean shopping again. And again.

It can simply be looking at your closet with a different perspective.

Repurposing your clothing is about creativity over consumption. It is about restyling, layering, or transforming pieces so they feel new without actually being new.

Before you decide you need something else, take a moment to look at your clothes differently. You might already have everything you need, just waiting to be worn in a new way.

Wear them in a new way

With fast fashion making it easier to buy something new for every occasion, but it can also make your closet become overcrowded and feel unoriginal.

One way to refresh your wardrobe isn’t by shopping at all, but by repurposing what you already have. Repurposing doesn’t always mean sewing, cutting, or redesigning it. It can just be a simple change in how you style it.

For example, let’s say you have an oversized button down shirt that you wear with leggings. You can make the outfit look better by tucking the shirt into the leggings if you want a more put together look. Or you could wear it open with a tank top under it. You could even tie the shirt up in the front.

Another example is, let’s say you have a slip dress you don’t wear unless you’re going out. You put a t-shirt over it and pair it with sneakers for a more casual vibe. 

Layering

Layering is a game changer. Putting a sweater over a dress can make the dress look like a skirt, or wearing a hoodie under a blazer to make it feel less corporate and more “cool.”

Even small changes like rolling up the bottom of your jeans, rolling your sleeves, or half-tucking your shirt can make an outfit feel different without having to spend money and manipulate the clothing.

Repurposing clothing also has its financial and environmental benefits. You’re wearing the clothes more often and in different ways, which is reducing waste and it extends the life of each item. It encourages creativity and can help you build your own style instead of constantly chasing trends.

With repurposing clothing, you start to understand your personal style and how to work with what you have. In the end, fashion is a way to express yourself, what you like, and how you want to look.

So before you want to buy something new, take a look in your closet. You might have everything you need to be styled differently. 

Make Alterations

There’s a lot of different things you could do with the clothes you already have. You could add some new fabrics to give them a little pizzaz, or add a splash of color to brighten them up. Here’s a few things you can do to spice up the wardrobe!

Color

Are your clothes becoming a little faded? Are they looking a little stale? One way to repurpose your clothing is to add a splash of color and re-wear them.

You can dye your clothes at home, or you can even drop them off at a community dye bath. These dye baths accept your clothing through drop off or mail-in, and they dye it for you.

However, they often have specific colors that they don’t deviate from. For home dyes, there’s many sustainable, natural options such as turmeric or coffee, or there are some over-the-counter options that may offer richer color options.

It’s suggested that you dye cotton or linen material because they take the least amount of time for the dye to set. However, there are always options if you want to dye other fabrics!

Add Patches 

Patches are also a good way to give your old clothes new life. Patches can be used to cover up signs of wear in clothing — rips, holes, tears, and everything in-between. They can also just be used as a fun addition. Some really popular designs include hearts, stars, fruits, or even letters!

There’s many different types of patches. From iron-on and sew-on to embroidered and printed patches, this customization offers a plethora of variety. Just as the name sounds, iron-on and sew-on patches are either ironed or sewed onto the clothing.

While sew-on patches offer a little more durability, especially during wash cycles, iron-on patches can work just as well. The embroidery style offers a little more artistry – these textures are slightly raised, so one could say they “pop out” on the fabric!

Each style offers something a little different to your clothing. 

DIY Crafts (making decorations, etc)

While there are a lot of simple ways to make a piece that has been hanging in your closet feel like new, there are also ways to make something completely new.

With some simple sewing skills you could turn an old jean jacket into an entirely different element in your wardrobe like a shoulder bag!

Popular Re:Works

As a brand that prides itself on sustainable fashion, we love supporting how creative some of our shoppers are in their environmentally friendly fashion pursuits.

So we created a forum on our website called Re:Works where you can share your upcycling experiments for all to see with the #Re:Works hashtag.

Some of the recurring ideas we have seen trending include turning old sweaters into leg warmers, turning jeans into a mini skirt, and altering a scarf into a whole new top.

Other Ideas

To match the energy of our customers, here are some ideas we as a team came up with for other new fun ways to repurpose your clothing in a bit more of an extreme way.

One issue that many come across during their closet clean outs is being unable to part with a sentimental piece of clothing that can remind you of a meaningful moment or time in your life.

While the feelings attached to the clothing persist, your fashion choices from five to ten years ago probably do not and that is okay! So why not make a culmination of those pieces?

We at Re:Rack suggest making your new favorite blanket by keeping fabric squares of your most emotionally charged clothing and maybe some of the other elements in your closet you are looking to upcycle (like hoodies, t-shirts, sweaters, sweatpants, etc. made of fabrics you enjoy). And then join them in a mosaic inspired by your life in the form of a quilt!

And if a blanket is not your style, some go even further in this upcycling process by making their quilt into a cute, comforting, and comfortable quilt jacket.

Repurposing your clothing is not only practical, it is empowering.

By restyling or transforming pieces you already own, you extend the lifespan of your clothes, reduce waste, and develop your own unique style. Instead of always chasing popular trends, you learn how to work with what you have and make it your own.

Fashion should feel expressive and intentional. So open your closet and experiment.