“Waste is a symptom of expired empathy.”
-Local Wisdom Project, 2011
In our previous post, we discussed about how upcycling can bring a revolution in the field of sustainable fashion. A multitude of products that can be developed using upcycling on industrial and domestic textile waste that we came through during our exploration include:
- A rug developed by knitting/ crocheting/ weaving/ braiding textile waste converted into strips
- Using old denim fabrics to develop stationery, garments, cushions, wall decorations, accessories
- Converting old T-shirts into framed artworks, strips to develop jewellery or as a top layer for a solid product
- Patchworking fabric pieces to develop oversized cuddle cushion covers
- Kids belts, camera strap cover, napkin rings, eyewear covers, pencil covers, wallets, pouches, key chains
- Remodelling garments to create accessories such as bags and scarves
- Developing tea cozies and tray sets out of fabric from old garments
- Quilting fabrics together to make bedding sets for toddlers
- Making stuffed animals and toys from fabrics from old garments
- Developing motifs on old fabrics into patches that can be sewn onto products for a new look, or can be converted into brooches
- Compressing yarn scraps to make paper
” Think at a global level, act at a local level.”
Upcycling at different stages of a product’s life cycle:
Fibre:
- Can be used where the fibre does not come in direct contact with the customer’s skin, such as stuffing toys and cushions, quilting, soft padding on clothes, making stuffed trims on garments and accessories, making Christmas ornaments, etc.
- Fibres can also be compressed and used as a substrate for making paper.
Yarn:
- Leftover yarns can be mixed together and knit/ woven/ crocheted/ braided to make colourful fabrics.
- They can be wound around bottles and other objects to make decorative items.
- If the yarns are of a similar thickness, they can be knotted together to make longer lengths that can be used in decorations.
- Like fibres, they can also be added into the papermaking process to give some special colour and texture.
- Threads, being finer, can be mixed in with fibres for upcycling too.
Fabric:
- Leftover or waste fabric can be put to a multitude of uses depending upon the quantity.
- Some fabrics can be combined with other suitable fabrics to create complete products.
- Some are enough to yield smaller garments, accessories and products on their own.
- Some fabrics find several uses and can be put to use in making accessories, garments, jewellery, home decorations, handy products, storage, etc.
- Depending upon the opacity of the fabric, it can be panelled and used for making lampshades.
- Fabric cutting waste from industries can be used for making coasters and wall hangings.
- Fabric scraps can also be patchworked together to make quilts and lengths of fabric itself, which can then be put to other uses.
- Fabric scraps can also be used to cover stationery products, adding to their look and feel.
- Strips of fabrics can be upcycled the same way as yarns of greater thicknesses.
Textile Product:
- T- shirts can be upcycled into bags, especially laundry sacks. Jeans and shirts can be upcycled into purses and shoulder bags, their pockets can be used as patch pockets on already existing bags or can also be stitched onto fabric to form organizers.
- The legs of a pair of denims can be cut off and can be used to make bottle/ wine carriers.
- Laptop cases can come out of bodycon dresses, Scarves can be upcycled the same way as fabrics would be.
- Patches can be taken off and reused on other products, embroidered textiles can be cut according to the design to make brooches and pins.
- Several garments, especially sweaters and sweatshirts can be used to make accessories for pets.
Here are some interesting DIY upcycling projects which you can try yourself
The above article is written and owned by Mrittika | A Brand of Rumi Craft LLP (www.mrittika.co.in)
