Upcycling as a student.
As a result of the current linear business model dominating the fashion industry it has become one of the most carbon heavy industries in the world. The essence driving the fashion industry can be seen as the consumers’ desire for newness that has been integrated in the consumer culture and behavior since the acceleration of the fashion cycle and development of technologies supporting the fast fashion industry.
The awareness of the negative impact of the fashion industry and the desire for newness is a paradox many, including myself, have tried to compromise. Upcycling is a fun way to express creativity and personal style through clothing and as a student I also see it as the perfect opportunity to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to fun trends but also long-lasting classics in a more SU-friendly way. Because why use so much money on new-produced styles that we only wear for one season when so much great clothing already exists, that can be acquired for way less money?
When it comes to upcycling, it can be done in so many ways – the sky is truly the limit, or the amount of fabric you have available! The possibilities range from easy fixes like cropping your jeans or shirt to creating a whole new purpose with the fabric of a piece of clothing, bedspread, sheets, you name it. It is all about seeing the possibility in what you already have or see in second hand stores. For example, I realized that the fabric of old gymnastics suits is perfect for party tops because of the stretch and shimmer, therefore I upcycled two gymnastics suits into a festive glitter top for a new year’s party. Old nightgowns found in the thrift are also amazing for repurposing because they typically have the most adorable patterns and are often made from cotton which is easy to work with – they often are very large hence a lot of fabric to work with! Last summer my favorite dress was made from an old nightgown and It was so easy to make – the only alteration was sewing two straight stitches to make it slimmer.
You can also come a long way with just a scissor – you can make slits, hole patterns and as mentioned crop your things. I found out I get a lot more wear out of t-shirts rather than long sleeves so one of my favorite easy hacks is to go to the children’s sections of the thrift and find long-sleeved t-shirts (since they are usually stretchier than t-shirts) and cut them into baby tees.
So next time you can see the slightest potential in what you see in the thrift shop, your own wardrobe or maybe your grandmother’s old nightgown, start considering what you could do to make it something you would wear instead of buying something new! Upcycling is fun!
-Freja Husted Abrahamsen