To some degree, we’ve all been explained the importance of recycling our general home waste, but what of our ever-growing piles of unused clothing in our wardrobes?
Darcy Fowkes, California based designer/seamstress extraordinaire and owner of Altered Couture, generously took the time to write for Social Change Room about the new challenges women face because of the transformation of the fashion industry over the last 5 decades. Have a read of the creative solution she’s discovered to adapt to these changes.
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The last five decades have seen a dramatic change in the clothing industry. Global efficiencies in manufacturing have increased the supply and demand by keeping prices relatively stable over the last fifty years. While other industries have increased efficiencies as well, prices have increased with inflation. Clothing prices have not increased with inflation, so now, clothing is a commodity. There is so much of it, the abundance has infiltrated the fabric of our society and our closets. Clothing is now so inexpensive relative to the incomes we produce and the expenses we manage, that people now have a new problem that did not exist 50 years ago. They have to manage their clothes.
I know women who buy new clothes because it’s easier and takes less time than managing the clothing they own. It takes surprisingly less time to buy a few new items at a boutique than it does to evaluate and organize a functional closet. It is also easier to buy a new item of clothing that fits and looks good than it is to ‘get rid of’ a beloved dress that was worn at a memorable event. So as consumers we continue to collect, but neglect to purge.
When my own children became teenagers with disposable income for clothing, I discovered a wonderful opportunity when they would grow out of or grow tired of their clothes. A found a new hobby. I began experimenting with discarded clothing, first from the closets in my own home, and then with clothing my extended family would otherwise have donated to their favorite charity. I quickly discovered that these pallets of discarded clothes were wonderful sources for new designs.
Plackets can add length and width to a junior skirt to give it more intrigue. A turtle neck sweater can be cut up the center front and turned into a stylish sweater jacket. Leather jackets can be painted to highlight detains of the jacket design. Sweaters can be cut up and recycled into scarves and leg/arm warmers. T-shirts make great dresses.
Next time you clean out your closet, think of the opportunities that are buried there. Even if you are not creative, you probably know folks who are. Pass the recycling bug to someone else who could use it. Its good for the planet!
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A BIG thank you to Darcy Fowkes for your contribution, you can write for us anytime.
Give a shout out to your favourite local Ethical and Upcycling Fashion Designers in the comment box below!!
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Hi Jennifer and Darcy, this is a well written post. I like how you put it as far as the change that the clothing industry has seen in recent decades. And you are correct, that we all need to purge or re-use the clothing that we will no longer use.
The good thing about it though is that if you’re creative there’s really no limit to what you can do with your old clothing.
Thanks for sharing this insightful post!
I have experimented with cutting sleeves and cutting down the center to make jackets, but i never thought of making scarves! I don’t think many people realize that their own closets can hold a gold mine if they recycle and bring their old clothes back to life the way that you have.