#Fabric Reuse Jeans Upcycling

[anielskaaniela]

Recycle Jeans: Transforming Old Denim into New fabric

In this post, you will learn how to recycle jeans. Denim, the classic fabric that captures the essence of resilience and adaptability, often finds itself relegated to the back of the closet as trends shift and sizes change. However, the journey doesn’t end there. With a bit of creativity and some basic tools, you can recycle jeans and breathe new life into this robust material, repurposing it…

[ayah-alghanem]

Key Sustainable Fashion Trends

The rise of sustainable approaches across various industries resulted in a shift in environmental awareness and consumer preferences around the globe. Sustainability can be integrated into fashion at several critical stages, including design, manufacturing, and distribution. Using eco-friendly materials, upcycling, and efficient shipping are key sustainable fashion trends that can reduce the industry's negative environmental impact.

The rising popularity of eco-friendly materials in fashion design is attributed to their lower carbon footprints during both acquisition and processing. Eco-friendly materials include organic cotton, hemp, and recycled polyester. Furthermore, next-generation materials are gaining prominence thanks to their natural, non-synthetic, and vegan attributes. These innovative alternatives utilize sustainable sources like fruits and mushrooms, effectively replacing animal-based materials.

Upcycling entails the use of fabrics from old garments to create new clothes. Reusing old clothes decreases the rate at which they are discarded in landfills. Further, less fabric is manufactured from scratch, therefore minimizing the production of greenhouse gases associated with the manufacturing process. Upcycling can be incorporated at an individual and institutional level.

For example, customers can visit secondhand stores or markets where old or "pre-loved" clothes are available. The surge in the popularity of second-hand fashion underscores a significant public commitment to sustainability. Reports show that the worth of the resale market is expected to reach over $80 million by 2030. Customers can also upcycle their old clothes instead of throwing them out. Repairing torn or stained items is a relatively easy and eco-friendly option compared to buying new clothes. Some fashion brands like Uniqlo and Patagonia offer repair services to assist customers with mending their old clothes.

On an institutional level, many fashion brands, including Levi's and Urban Outfitters, have launched upcycling initiatives to promote sustainability in the industry. Levi's RE/DONE initiative reused vintage denim to create new jeans, saving over 150,000 pairs of vintage denim from being discarded in landfills.

Online shopping has become the norm, and with this surge in online sales comes unprecedented reliance on delivery vehicles. Several sustainable tactics like virtual fittings can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to deliveries and transport. Technological advances have allowed customers to try on clothes using virtual scanning and 3D digital fitting rooms at home. These tools help customers select the best fit while eliminating unnecessary purchase and return cycles that cost both the customer and the environment.

Moreover, the continued emphasis on raising awareness about the environmental impact of the fashion industry is essential for promoting greater sustainability. Fashion brands often promote educational content on social media accounts and in-store events. Keeping customers informed about sustainable approaches can guide their shopping decisions accordingly, making a lasting impact.

Moreover, regulatory bodies are implementing better guidelines to ensure fashion brands deliver on their promises. Greenwashing refers to using environmentalism in promotional materials without implementing practices to support such campaigns. The European Commission is considering new legislation that could ban the misuse of labels such as "eco-friendly" if they are not evidence-backed. It also proposed other initiatives to regulate the destruction of unsold items, holding brands accountable for overproduction and wasteful practices.

[scarfculture]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Levi's Jeans Stretchy.

[wastelesscrafts]

Visible Mending

Introduction:

Visible mending is a decorative way to fix up an item. Instead of trying to make your mend as invisible as possible, the idea is to make it part of the garment's design.

Visual mending is not a single technique: it's more of a mindset. If you've got an item you love, it deserves to be mended, and if you're going to put that love into stitches, why not show them off?

That being said, there are some specific techniques that are popular with visible menders. Let's take a look!

Sashiko:

Sashiko is a type of traditional Japanese embroidery that is used to both decorate and reinforce fabric. In visible mending, sashiko is often used to cover up holes with patches or to reinforce thinning fabric. This technique uses a variation on the running stitch.

(Image source) [ID: sashiko stitch diagram: the distance between each stitch is 1/2 stitch in length.]

Some resources on sashiko:

SashiCo on YouTube: sashiko livestreams and information on the cultural aspect of sashiko.

Written tutorial by Upcycle Stitches.

Free sashiko templates by TheSpruceCrafts.

Fixing jeans with sashiko by Soluna Collective.

(Image source) [ID: three examples of sashiko embroidery on jeans fabric.]

(Image source) [ID: sashiko embroidery with white thread on blue jeans fabric.]

Embroidery:

Regular embroidery is also a popular technique to accentuate your mends. Check out my embroidery 101 post to learn how to get started. You can embroider patches, or use embroidery to hide or accentuate any stitches you've made to fix holes. Embroidery's also a great way to cover up stains.

(Image source) [ID: colourful embroidery floss covers a worn sleeve edge of a jeans jacket]

(Image source) [ID: colourful flower embroidery surrounds a hole in a pair of dark gray jeans. Fabric with a red and black flower print peaks out of the hole.]

Patches:

There are many ways to add patches to a garment. My tutorial on patches is a good place to start if you want to make custom-shaped patches to sew on top of your fabric. You can also sew your patch on the inside of your garment and have it peek out from beneath the hole you're trying to fix. Fun ideas for this are lace or superheroes.

(Image source) [ID: Spiderman peaking out of a rip in a pair of blue jeans.]

(Source) [ID: a red flannel heart-shaped elbow patch on a gray knitted sweater.]

Darning:

Darning is a technique used to repair holes in fabric by using running stitches to weave extra fabric over the hole as to fill it up again. While traditionally darning is done in an invisible way by using the same colour of thread as your fabric, you can also use contrasting colours to accentuate your fix. Check out this written tutorial on darning by TheSpruceCrafts.

(Image source) [ID: vintage instructions on how to darn a hole.]

(Image source) [ID: four examples of darning on blue fabric with colourful contrasting thread.]

Conclusion:

Visible mending is a creative way to fix up your clothes and give them some personality at the same time.

You should be proud of the fact that you took the time and learned the necessary skills needed to mend your clothes! Show off what you did!

A fun side effect of wearing these obvious mends is that people will notice them. They'll remember your fixes the next time they're faced with a hole in their wardrobe, and it will make them more likely to try it for themselves.

These are just a few ways to visibly mend your garments. Want more inspiration? Check out Pinterest or r/Visiblemending on Reddit.

[tinyshe]

jean seam rug idea

[yarpharp]

Hey real talk: sewing is great. Sewing is not a Bad Thing to know how to do if you're a woman. I know that culture and leftover Victorian-esque gender roles says "BUT THE PATRIARCHY WINS IF YOU SEW OR EMBROIDER" but like... Bruh. It really isn't true.

Sewing is a skill that can save your life if you don't have much money to burn on clothes/underwear/bras. It is a very practical skill. Goodwill and thrift stores and dollar stores are your friends. You can buy a basic sewing kit at a drug store and upcycle clothes. You don't have to go to Joann's and pray that you have enough money to buy three yards of cotton or poly or what-have-you to make your own clothes. That shit is overpriced crap anyway half the time, and just not worth it. Reuse existing fabrics. YouTube is drowning in fantastic sewing crash courses in mending, sizing, all of it. You don't have to be beholden to the bullshit known as the Fast Fashion industry.

Sewing is great. Men should learn to sew too. Everyone, learn to sew. That pair of jeans can be salvaged. The elastic on your underwear can be reused. Become the fabric gremlin you were meant to be and SEW.

[is6621]

Emerging Tech x Climate Conscious Consumers  / By Divya Jha

       Did you know that it takes 2,700 liters to produce the cotton needed to make a single t-shirt? Or that producing a single pair of denim jeans takes enough water that a human drinks in ten years? The $3.5 trillion clothing industry produces 20% of the global water waste, 10% global carbon emissions and deposits 20 billion tons of waste into landfills every year? That’s more than the emissions by all international flights and maritime shipping combined! At its current rate, the apparel industry will produce more than one-fourth of the world’s carbon footprint by 2050. Consumers are gradually getting more conscious about the environmental impact of their fashion purchases. On the other hand, brands are also taking note of the neo climate conscious consumer. Consumers are steadily accepting sustainable fabrics, upcycled clothing and organic materials that reduce waste. 

      Brands like Everlane and Adidas have released lines of clothing made from recycled plastic bottles and other reused materials. In fact, Adidas doubled its number of shoes made from recycled waste this year. Zara and H&M have pledged to only use organic, sustainable or recycled fabrics in its clothing by 2025 and 2030 respectively. In a nod to the ethical consumer, Stella McCartney became the first designer to launch the world’s first faux fur made using plant based ingredients. 

      According to Porter Novelli, 90% of Gen Z consumers believe companies have a responsibility to not only highlight environmental issues but actively work to overcome them. However, with 45% of Gen Z shoppers likely to seek additional information on a product or company before making a purchase, it’s important to increase transparency in the apparel industry’s supply chain process. In the fashion world a massive ton of clothing gets trashed before it is even sold - this could be due to faulty manufacturing, not meeting standards, order cancellations or even errors in the supply chain. That’s another reason to increase transparency in the supply chain. Since consumers increasingly want to see how truly brands are committed to sustainability, some companies are using blockchain technology to create an online public ledger that generates a permanent and unchangeable record of transactions. So users can track the journey of the item, from the production of the raw material to the shop floor, simply by scanning the item's QR code on an app. Blockchain can be effective in securing transactions but can be limited in performance, scalability and confidentiality. 

      Some clothing companies are using a fairly disruptive innovation - 3D virtual sampling - to decrease product development time. In the past, physical samples were required in the design, manufacturing and selling lifecycle. Oftentimes twenty or more such samples were necessary for designers and retailers to have an accurate representation of the final product. Tommy Hilfiger will only use 3D design to create, develop and sell samples from its Spring 2022 apparel collections onward. This reduction in waste and decrease in production time will bring huge cost advantages to the company. 

      To address the concerns around labor conditions and waste caused due to human errors in the supply chain, companies are using automated manufacturing technologies such as industrial robots to assemble products. Softwear Automation’s robot was developed at Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center. Their sewing bots or “sewbots”  have vacuum-powered grips that feed fabric into a sewing machine, adjusting it accordingly using machine vision. Fashion for Good, a global initiative to make fashion more sustainable, estimates that Softwear Automation’s sewbots can help lower emissions by around 10% by creating products closer to consumers and reducing material waste.

      While I agree that consumers are gradually becoming aware and mindful of sustainability in fashion and clothing, it is still not widespread enough. Changing buying patterns take time, but with positive influence and active conversation, it can be accelerated. I genuinely feel that more consumers need to pay attention to how their clothing is sourced, what happens when you dispose or throw away clothes and most importantly how the incineration of certain fabrics and chemicals leaves our planet worse off. To start off, given how active Gen Z is on social media, I think more companies should use social channels online to highlight how new technologies can be put to use to curb our carbon footprint. 

--

Sources:

https://3dlook.me/blog/7-emerging-technologies-for-sustainable-fashion-production-in-2020/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2020/02/24/11-fashion-companies-leading-the-way-in-sustainability/?sh=58733ce56dba

https://www.whichplm.com/3d-virtual-sampling-evolution-or-revolution/

https://3dlook.me/blog/sustainability-inclusivity-and-traceability-a-fashion-industry-fit-for-gen-z/

[fashiontrendyclub]

Nine change makers in the Netherlands making fashion more sustainable

The fashion industry is the second biggest polluter on the planet, responsible for around 10% of all global carbon emissions and tarnished by a reputation for sweatshops – but it doesn’t have to be this way. DutchNews.nl shines a light on nine innovators in the Netherlands helping to make the sector more sustainable. Consumers in the Netherlands discard about 210 tons of unwanted clothing and textiles each year, two-thirds of which is incinerated; while the Dutch fashion industry has an annual surplus of around 21.5 million items of unsold clothing, often produced by poorly treated workers and not built to last. Each garment produced has an average carbon footprint of 20kg. Changing practices in the clothing industry is crucial to meeting the country’s emission targets and improving the industry’s human rights record. Here are nine change makers in the Netherlands leading the way. Loop.a life Knitwear brand Loop.a life has abandoned the wasteful model of regularly changing, seasonal collections and focuses instead on creating long-lasting essentials for men and women. The cotton and wool garments are created from recycled knitwear and denim using an entirely circular, closed-loop process. Removing the need to cultivate the raw materials saves around 500 litres of water per sweater for wool and between 5000 and 15,000 litres for cotton. Founded in 2016 by Ellen Mensink, Loop.a life were the first Dutch company to use 100% recycled yarn, most of it sourced in the Netherlands. Similar colours are carefully selected and combined with industrial waste and Eucalyptus wood fibres, which means no dye is needed. Arch & Hook It’s not just textiles that the fashion industry wastes. When garments are transported from factories to stores and hung on branded hangers, the plastic placeholders are discarded, condemning an estimated 85 billion single-use hangers to landfill each year. Since 2015, Amsterdam-based Arch & Hook has sought to change this by producing high-quality hangers made from sustainable materials. Previous collections have included bespoke hangers for clients such as Karen Millen and Harrods made out of FSC® certified wood, and last year, supported by Roland Mouret and the British Fashion Council, the company launched BLUE®, the first ever hanger made of upcycled ocean bound thermoplastic. ‘​At Arch & Hook, we strongly believe that we are in the early stages of a new industrial revolution,’ says CEO and founder Sjoerd Fauser. ‘Cleaning up what humanity has caused is crucial before eliminating plastics entirely.’ Amsterdam-based &Wider Examining the whole chain of production is crucial to making fashion more ethical. Amsterdam-based &Wider has been helping businesses bridge the data gap on working conditions in the clothing industry since 2014 by providing actionable results to drive material improvements in workers’ lives and in the businesses that employ them. Through their online platform, buyers and employers can gather anonymous data direct from workers, and use this information to implement changes in labour practices along the supply chain. ‘The fashion industry cannot work ethically without hearing from workers themselves,’ spokesperson Sesihle Manzini told DutchNews.nl. ‘The design of our system allows us to hear from vulnerable workers: those who we often hear about, but rarely hear from.’ MUD jeans Mud, a natural, endlessly recycled material, inspired the name behind this sustainable jeans company headquartered in Laren. Founded in 2013 by industry-insider Bert van Son, who had seen first-hand the unethical practices in the sector, MUD has taken a different tack by producing garments made from up to 40% recycled materials and coloured with Cradle2Cradle dyes. 95% of the water used is recycled through reverse osmosis, reducing water use to about one third of the industry standard. Clients can rent or buy jeans, repairs are free, and they can get reductions on loans or purchases by cashing in any brand of old jeans with at least 96% cotton content. The Fabricant Thanks to Amsterdam-based digital fashion house The Fabricant, the digital dress is now a fact – and sold last year for $9500. The assertion that the clothes with the least environmental impact are those which do not exist is hard to argue with – even if it requires a total rethinking of how we promote fashion. The Fabricant specialises in 3D fashion design and animation, offering an alternative to physical concepts such as runway shows, sample sizes and photo shoots. The potential to try clothes on our digital selves, or create a digital advertising campaign can only cut carbon costs. United Wardrobe Founded in 2014 by three students from Wageningen with a mission to make second-hand clothing the buyer’s default, this online marketplace has over 4 million subscribers. From its headquarters in Utrecht, United Wardrobe has now opened its doors to France, Germany and Belgium, allowing users to buy and sell everything from designer shoes to onesies for newborns. ‘People are way more conscious than six years ago,’ co-founder Thijs Verheul told DutchNews.nl. ‘We have already people of age 12 selling and buying secondhand clothes, not because it is cheap for them, but really because they love the sustainable factor.’ Renoon ‘I was so fed up with opening dozens of windows in my browser to find sustainable alternatives that matched my style,’ says Iris Skrami, who co-founded Renoon to fill a gap in the market for a curated one-stop online shop for eco-minded style seekers. The app and website, which launched in 2019, feature new and pre-owned items with emerging brands such as Fisch and PANGAIA listed alongside established designers such as Stella McCartney and Filippa K. ‘There are so many brands and products already in the market that we should have easier access to,’ says Skrami. Fast Feet Grinded Fast Feet Grinded are urban miners, seeking out wasted resources that gain new value when repurposed. In this case it’s our discarded trainers. Globally, an estimated 12 billion pairs of trainers are produced each year, of which at least 90% will end up in landfill. The Limburg-based company employs workers with a distance from the labour market to upcycle rubber, foam and fibre from unwanted trainers to make spongy surfaces for playgrounds, athletics tracks and sports fields – or materials for new trainers. This contribution to a more circular economy in sportswear has attracted partnerships with brands such as Decathlon, ASICS and Intersport. RE LOVE FASHION by RE LOVE Foundation Three-year-old creative agency RE LOVE FASHION is an anomaly in the sector: its mission is to reduce consumption. Fronted by the striking blue-haired Antoinette van den Berg, a trend-forecaster and stylist known in fashion circles as the Lady in Blu, the Amsterdam agency is forging a new path in a polluting industry by promoting what she describes as ‘joyful alternatives to enjoy fashion: reuse, retouch, restyle, repair and repeat’. ‘If we really want to reduce the pollution of the fashion industry, the most effective solution is to consume fewer new clothes,’ she told DutchNews.nl. ‘How nice is it to wear something that you know didn’t pollute?’ Source Read the full article

[kicksaddictny]

Steve Aoki's Dim Mak x Candiani Denim Denim Collaboration

With over a decade of friendship built over a shared passion for creating music and supporting shared responsibility for our planet, Grammy Award winning DJ/music super producer Steve Aoki and denim master Alberto Candiani, owner of the Candiani Mill, announce the launch of their first collaboration, Dim Mak x Candiani EC-01, a limited edition jean that will stand as a showcase of the future of denim. A testament to the intersection of creativity and innovation that has been the hallmark of their respective success stories, the jean is made with an unprecedented level of attention and detail for true denim aficionados.

Completely made in Los Angeles with fabric created by globally-recognized Candiani Denim Mill and hand painted by Aoki and his Dim Mak artisans, the EC-01 jean ($150.00) will debut on Friday, May 15, 2020 at 8AM EDT on www.DimMakCollection.com and the Dim Mak App available on iTunes and Googleplay.

The new 5-pocket straight-fit jean is an incredible feat in modern water-saving and sustainable manufacturing. Crafted with ReGEN Denim - a statement indigo selvedge fabric created for the 80th Anniversary of the Candiani Mill the EC-01 jean is made without using any fresh cotton. The exclusive denim fabric is composed of equal parts recycled cotton, made from the mill’s own production waste, and REFIBRA™ Technology, a recycled fiber created by Lenzing using cotton waste. ReGEN is the same fabric that won the ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award in 2019, the most prestigious award in the textile industry.

The denim’s wash required very little washing at all.  The distressed, vintage-effects, and even the artwork itself, was created by using laser technology to gently burn the fabric’s surface with varying degrees of intensity.  The yarn is dyed using Candiani’s water-saving Indigo Juice® and Kitotex® technologies which enhance the custom laser treatments that give the jean its signature look. The whole process of creation allows for incredible savings in terms of water, chemicals, and energy compared to conventional denim, without compromising the aesthetics, performance, and durability of the final product.

In the hands of Dim Mak, the EC-01 jeans have a deconstructed pop art meets manga aesthetic which has evolved from Dim Mak’s ‘AOKI 1of1’ series, where Steve Aoki, the multi-platform, modern day renaissance man has been upcycling clothing and making original, one-of-a-kind wearable art pieces.  Working at the Candiani Design Center in Los Angeles, Aoki chose hardware and learned about denim treatments and processes before adding another very personal touch to each pair – individually hand painted Yōkai, the Japanese demons including the misunderstood Rokurokubi, the mischievous Karakasa kozō, and monstrous Gashadokuro - with the help of Dim Mak’s artists at Aoki’s Las Vegas home, where Aoki has a design and recording studio.

“When I visited the Candiani Mill in Italy,” says Steve Aoki, “Alberto showed me how they were able to reuse waste in making new, even better jeans. I was inspired by their conscientiousness toward the earth and wanted to bring that mindset into Dim Mak with our first collaboration.”

“Steve and I did this collaboration to have fun, and we did,” reveals Alberto Candiani. “We leveraged each other’s expertise and style to create a one-of-a-kind jean that is a true reflection of our friendship. This project was incredibly fun for both of us, made better by playing with the right ingredients.”

[k00277470]

Artist Research - Sustainability

UMA NOMAD

Uma Nomad is a small business in the Netherlands run by three sisters. They do everything they possibly can to make their clothing sustainable and ethical.

The fabric: All the fabric they use are waste material, second hand, broken and/or rejected which due to small imperfections, stains or tears cannot be used for their original purpose anymore.

Zero waste: They use zero waste pattern making by fitting the pattern pieces as precisely as possible on the fabrics they're using, using at least 92% of the fabric. With the leftover pieces they make bags to send the clothing pieces in, superhero capes for kids and headscarves. The smallest pieces are used for lining, drawstrings or borders.

Ethical: They have an atelier in India, in which their tailors and seamstresses get treated really well in a safe and comfortable working environment and they get paid a fair wage, by the day. Their packaging is biodegradable and they offset the CO2 emissions of the shipping of their packages by planting trees.

Atelier Borealis

Atelier Borealis was started by Bo Bleeker, who is currently studying at Akademie Vogue in Amsterdam and is graduating this year end of May. She makes commissioned clothing and costumes as atelier Borealis. I’m using her as an artist reference as she is also focussing on sustainability a lot. For the collection she is currently working on for her exams, she is using recycled jeans. When she started working on “waist not” she asked for old garments made out of jean fabric to reuse and upcycle those for her collection.

Stella McCartney

She focusses on creating clothes that are meant to last and believes in creating pieces that are not going to damage the environment. The main focus of Stella McCartney is to push her brand towards circularity, innovative materials and investing in cutting-edge technologies to decrease environmental impact. She has deeply embedded cruelty-free and ethical practices in the DNA of her brand and firmly stands against the use of leather, fur, skins and feathers in her collections. She found more environmental friendly and sustainable alternatives for most materials. Her sustainable approach also extends to her entire business, her offices are number one on the green list and she makes use of renewable energy to power her stores and studios in the UK.

[urxgfscloset]

How and Why You Should Ditch Fast Fashion

It’s no secret that clothing in today’s time is seen as disposable and worn more for aesthetic purposes rather than functionality and durability. With new styles, colors, and sizes being available almost every day it seems like the more feasible option for purchasing new outfits. Websites such as Shein.com and Forever 21.com offer exclusive deals, low prices, trendy styles as well as marketing geared towards teens and young adults. Buying from companies that recycle textiles, pay their workers a livable wage and offer an ethical workplace for employees do tend to charge more for their products, and make them less accessible to people who don’t have very much disposable income. Although this sounds like fast fashion is the better option, there are more solutions: Recycling clothing, buying second-hand, and reducing waste. Given this, I am only a broke college student who enjoys clothing, rather than someone who has done extensive research about pollution and sweatshops. This is just some light reading I have done about why recycling clothing and thrifting is all around better for the environment and your closet.

Firstly, recycling clothing. You may notice that there are designated spots in your nearest recycling bin that are meant for paper, plastic, and aluminum cans, but none for cloth items. The term “recycling” in this case does not always refer to melting down plastic or metal and turning something into a new object, but rather that we take our old clothes and reuse the fabric it is made out of to create something new. In “10 Easy Ways to Recycle Clothing and Fight Fashion Waste,” by Erica Eller from the company Goodfair, the blog mentions that 'the average person only wears about 20% of the clothing in their closet’, as well as the fact that 85% of that clothing ends up in landfills when most of it is recyclable. Erica goes into detail about what you can do to recycle/upcycle your unworn clothing. She even provides information on how to compost clothing made of natural fibers! You can read her full blog here.

Secondly, I want to talk about thrifting and buying secondhand clothing. As I mentioned before, I myself am a broke college student looking to re-vamp her closet and style. Thrifting in general is enjoyable to me, I can find pieces that have been pre-loved and have character. Old limited edition band t-shirts, blouses that have timeless style, and jeans that are perfectly worn-in are all some of the things that I have thrifted right in my small hometown. By doing this I am not only updating my wardrobe but I am also saving a large chunk of cash as well as reducing waste and pollution.

This brings me to my third and final point: reducing waste.

Up-cycling your clothing:

if you happen to find some worn-out t-shirts, you can turn them into small bags to grocery shop with. By doing this, you’re preventing the T-shirt from going into a landfill along with reducing plastic waste that is acquired while grocery shopping.

You can use old T-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, and even blankets as rags to clean your house or vehicle.

Repairing clothing:

This point, in a way, ties into recycling. When the lining of your favorite winter coat tears, you can take pieces of an old T-shirt or flannel to repair it. Use your old clothing as scraps to repair other clothing you still want to wear (Brands such as Patagonia will repair your items for little to no cost).

Donating, Selling, or Exchanging

Donate to a thrift store, just make sure you know the process for the specific store you are donating to.

Sell your unworn but still trendy clothing on apps such as Depop, Poshmark, Facebook, even on Instagram! Plato’s Closet has been a lifesaver for me since starting college. I have made several hundred bucks off of my unwanted clothes as well as saved that much, if not more on purchasing gently used items.

Set up a clothing swap with a friend- or a few friends. Every few months, my best friend Kait and I will bring clothing we no longer wear to each other's houses and trade pieces before donating or selling what neither of us wants. It works as a nice refresh, you know who owned those clothes before, and now some of these clothes may hold sentimental value

Buying, Wearing, and supporting the production of sustainable and ethically made clothing does not always have to break the bank. Sometimes, beginning the journey away from fast fashion begins will smaller actions here and there, however small, over time these actions will make a huge difference.

[scarfculture]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Levi's Jeans Stretchy.

[wastelesscrafts]

I used one of your tutorials a while ago to mend the thigh holes in an old pair of jeans - thanks! However, I then realised that they are simply too small and are uncomfortable to wear. I feel awkward about donating them to a charity shop because of my amateurish repair so do you have any suggestions for what I could do with the fabric, please?

Upcycling denim

Too bad the jeans ended up being too small. But hey: next time you need to mend a pair of jeans you'll have experience to draw from, which is invaluable!

You could always try to upsize your jeans, but if you'd rather not you can also repurpose it as a source of fabric. I've got a post with ideas on upcycling jeans, and you'll find plenty on Pinterest too.

You could also put them in your sewing stash. That way you'll have denim to patch different pairs of jeans with in the future.

[fabricsking]

Top 7 Fashion Trends of the Future

We are riding the waves of sustainability. Brands and businesses are being pushed onto the edges by protesters. Demanding a better future. A future in which the forests are greener, rivers are flowing with water, natural habitats are preserved, farming is ethical and workers are paid fairly.

We have seen some bold and ambitious goals declared by brands in recent years to tackle this issue. They have promised to cut carbon emissions, increase pay for workers, source resources in an ethical way and conduct a sustainable business.

In this article, we will look at the fashion trends that will become more prevalent in future society.

 1.     Lab-made fashion trends

We are aware of the fact that most natural fibers used in the manufacturing of our garments contain some level of toxic content. Many of our garment items would have been the result of high electricity usage, water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and chemical-ridden dyes that end up being dumped into rivers.

For the cultivation of natural fibers like cotton, it is reported that pesticides and insecticides are heavily used. Water requirement is also intense. Whereas, synthetic fibers hold similar issues plus toxic chemicals involved in the production process.

Lab-made fashion is potentially the fabric of tomorrow. They will be bio-engineered using living bacteria, algae, yeast, animal cells, or fungi. Disposal of such fabrics won’t harm nature as they will be broken down into nontoxic substances. This will be a revolutionary product that will help us reduce waste and pollution.

“Besides being biodegradable, another major benefit is that many of the organisms involved can be grown to fit molds-producing the precise amount of textile needed to create an article of clothing without generating excess material to discard.” — Schiros, Assistant Professor, Fashion Institute of Technology

Schiros developed fibers from algae that are naturally fire-resistant. She believes that algae-based fabrics are the future.

 2.     Cruelty free fashion

Did you know that around 4 million animals are harmed each year to produce some of the favorite pieces of clothing? Yes, what we are doing to the poor creatures is torture. Many brands like Victoria fashion and Gucci have declared that they stopped making garments that are sourced from animals.

Cruelty-free fashion simply means items that do not use animal-based materials. But we have noted that cruelty-free means also not toxic synthetic material. Both are harmful and not sustainable.

Consumers are becoming highly conscious about the material used for making their clothes. It was because of the great awareness campaigns launched by animal welfare associations and due to increased customer demand.

What are the things to avoid using:

- Feathers: Feathers are collected from live birds. They have torn out while the bird is alive and once they grow back, it is again torn until it dies.

- Furs: Collecting furs results in the death of millions of animals like foxes, minks, rabbits, and dogs

- Silk: The worms are boiled in order to extract the silk material

- Leather: Leather can be considered waste material as it is taken from dead animals. Mostly sourced from the food industry. Still, it is similar to that of furs. Animals are killed in the process.

- Wool: Wool is taken from farm animals. Although it is a comparatively less toxic technique, it is still considered cruelty to an animal.

Which are the certifications that guarantee that the products are cruelty-free?

- PETA

- Animal Free

- VeganOK

- FurFree

 3.     Custom made fashion

In order to reach sustainable living, consumers have to decide on buying fewer items. But without compromising on the quality. Most of the time, fast fashion and retail fashion stores provide items that have low quality. It fades or becomes grey faster and you lose interest to wear them again.

Meanwhile, custom-made clothes last longer and provide a fresh look for longer periods of time. We have acknowledged the fact that custom tailoring is comparatively expensive, but people are willing to pay the price.

What are the benefits of custom-made fashion?

- Choose desired fabric: Many times we wish for a certain piece of garment to come in a different color or composition. In custom-made garments, the consumer has the freedom to select the fabric. Which gives higher satisfaction to them.

- Make designs that suit you: Steve Jobs was famous for wearing black turtle necks and blue denim jeans. The black turtle necks were designed by a Japanese designer. Everyone associates him with his choice of style. Likewise, each individual has their own choice of style. Mass-produced clothes limit the consumer from expressing him completely. But custom-made clothes do.

- Quality item: One can source high-quality fabrics for making an item rather than buying readymade garments made from cheap fabrics.

- Gets the best fit: Custom-made means, custom fit. Depending on your body type, you get the best-fitted item. The necks, sleeves, and lengths are perfect in this case.

- Personal touch: One can always add that personal touch to the custom garment.

More people are opting for custom-made garments and it will continue to increase in the future.

 4.     Upcycled fashion

Upcycled clothes are those types of clothes that are made from old clothes. Old clothes are collected, cut, and sewn into new clothes by adding more value to them. Upcycling means giving new life to old clothes. And the demand for upcycled clothes is increasing.

This is an effective way to minimize the impact of fashion on the environment as this process does not add much to the existing materials. It just reuses them, continuing the life and cycle of a garment.

“Reuse (discarded objects or materials) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original” — Oxford Dictionary

What are the benefits of upcycling clothes?

- No need for new resources

- New garments are not manufactured

- Save electricity

- Do not pollute water

- Labor is less

- Cost-effective

- No pollution when compared to fresh clothes.

Certainly, we can see the benefits of upcycled clothes. In the coming years, people would be more inclined towards buying such items.

 5.     Vegan fashion trends

Yes, people are going vegan on their clothes as well. As a part of conscious living, people are ditching meat along with their desire to wear products that are made from animals. Vegan fashion is similar to cruelty-free products. Both do not promote fashion items made from animals.

Vegan clothing became popular in the year 2020. With greater awareness of the effects of climate change, more people are willing to do their part in reducing their carbon footprint. Besides it matches their way of thinking and lifestyle.

In vegan fashion:

- Animal leather is replaced by fruit leathers

- Silk with plant silk

- Synthetic fleece

- Faux fur instead of wool

It is reported that more than 250000 men and women from the US alone are demanding vegan fashion to be available around them. In the UK, these numbers are around 600,000. On average, a ‘vegan’ labeled product sells 37% more than a normal labeled item. The sales of vegan products are increasing year over year. In the future, we can see more people choosing vegan fashion.

 6.     Recycled fashion

We often hear our parents saying that the latest fashion is just a reintroduction of vintage clothes. It is true. Fashion and styles are often promoted in cycles. Now clothes will also undergo reintroduction through the recycling process.

Recycling is a process in which old clothes are collected and processed in order to extract resources and make new items. It is a great technique to decrease the number of items from ending up in the waste fills. It is reported that more than 60% of the garments end up in landfills after a single use.

But today, brands like H&M and Adidas are embracing the recycling process and rewarding their customers for choosing to recycle their garments. More people are inclined towards buying these recycled items.

Read about recycled cotton & climate crisis

 7.     Pre-owned garments trends

Can you believe that the worldwide pre-owned fashion market is estimated to be more than $40 billion? The pre-owned market is highly sought after by consumers around the world.

What's behind this craze?

Consumers are aware of the fact that most clothes are a worn couple of items. Some occasional items like bridal wear and suits are also highly in demand in such markets. Buyers can save a lot of money at the same time reducing the impact they have on the earth. The pre-owned market is expected to grow 15% to 20% annually in the next five years.

These are some of the fashion trends that we will see growth in the coming future. What is your opinion on this subject? Would you like to add to the list?

For any type of woven fabrics manufacturing, contact us.

[danielablagojevicfmpyr2]

Recycled / Upcycled

Recycling involves the destruction of waste in order to create something new.

Upcycling takes waste and creates something new from it in its current state. 

Recycling is practical and upcycling is highly creative and can involve a wide variety of techniques and materials to create the finished product

There are four processes for creating recycled clothing. The first is resale and upcycling through the likes of UK charity shops and design projects. The second is resale to foreign countries for used clothes markets and third is raw material recycling for natural textile. Finally, there is raw material recycling for synthetic materials, like rayon, polyester, polyamide and viscose.

Polyester textiles are shredded into chips which are melted down and used to create new polyester fabrics. Other synthetic materials are broken down using chemical processes and the raw materials are used by other industries, like car manufacturing.

While researching up cycling, I found these amazing trainers where they reuse textiles instead of wasting them. The brand Wair transforms discarded jeans and workwear, into modern and affordable trainers. The brand was founded in 2019 in Copenhagen. They are developing a sustainable and scalable way to upcycle large amounts of textile waste that would otherwise be thrown out or incinerated.

[brentfashioningourhistory]

THE COLOURS OF A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE . We want to give a huge thank you to Jean-Ali Jiwan @jeanali_kapdaa for offering this fantastic free presentation exploring the role of sustainability within the world of art, design and business. Tune into our IGTV presentation to gain insight into this wonderful business and it's ethos! . KAPDAA – The offcut Company @kapdaa_offcut . What does KAPDAA do? – saving offcuts from turning into landfill waste and transforming them into sustainable products + KAPDAA’s sustainable HUB. . Why does KAPDAA do it? – Helping communities by developing artisans’ skills + zero-waste process all the way through. “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”- Chinese proverb [...] . Photo Reposted from @kapdaa_offcut . #tbt when we had the #meetthemaker event at @wolfandbadger! Hope we have the chance to plan an event very soon! 👆🏻Here you see a simple explanation of what we do: the fabrics leftover from making the jacket is what goes into making the notebooks. Reuse♻️Recycle♻️Reduce Waste • • • #circularfashion #sustainablefashion #ecofriendly #ecofashion #luxurybrand #luxuryfashion #responsiblefashion #changetheworld #slowfashion #fashion #ethicalfashion #handmade #sustainability #ecofashion #preloved #conciousfashion #zerowaste #recycle #upcycle #supportsmallbusiness #fashioningourhistory (at Wolf & Badger Studios) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLq1xmnA-y8/?igshid=13godp61930km