We all have clothes we don’t wear. Either they are too big, too small or were an act of impulsivity that no longer lies within the confines of fashion.

Whatever the reason these end up in the back of the closet or sitting in a box to be shipped to the Salvation Army. If they are still in decent condition, donating used clothes is the best option.

However, if in a state of disrepair, clothes can be reused to create something new. Shirts are especially versatile. You can take old t-shirts, and by sewing of the bottom closed and some altercations of the sleeves, make bags.

These bags are great for toting books or supplies, and to replace plastic bags at the grocery store.

If you have a larger sum of un-wearable clothing, quilts can be made from them. You need only to cut identical squares out of the clothing and then sew them together. And just because old items were used to make the quilt doesn’t mean you can’t liven them up a bit.

The opportunity for embellishment is boundless. Adorn the corners with buttons and create art from thread if you are familiar with stitch work. Have fun with your crafty side.  If you don’t have particular need for the quilts, at least they could be donated. And would especially be appreciated in the winter months.

You can easily make cushions by sewing the bottoms of a shirt or skirt closed, filling it with stuffing and then sewing closed any other openings, such as sleeves and neck holes. These cushions can offer extra padding to pet beds or on the floor for light reading.

When the possibilities seem few, you can always use old clothes and towels to make cleaning rags. These rags could be dressed up for use in the kitchen or bathroom. Or kept away for quick clean ups in the garage.

If the clothes have truly extended beyond their lifespan, you can keep scraps of fabric on hand for crafts. So whatever the state of your old garb, there’s always room for reinvention.

Now, go clean out that closet!

It’s that time of the year again; the time when yours or your child’s clothes are just too small.  The time to make a good first impression.

Or, maybe you are just the type of person that stands staring into your closet and can’t find a thing to wear.

Do you want to look great without breaking the bank?  Allow me to tell you how you can do so.

Start shopping at more flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, resale stores, or on Ebay.

In a rough economy we all start to count pennies, but by shopping smart you can buy name brand or simply nice, fashionable clothing for an affordable price.

When entering a resale store, garage sale, or thrift store it is easy to become discouraged.  Since these places are where a lot of unwanted clothes end up, it makes many want them less.  You will also find that it may take a while before you find clothes that you like.  But, it is worth the time you spend.  These stores have amazingly low prices and nice things.

Resale stores and boutiques are new to me, but I love the idea.  Not only do they sell clothes and other fashions, some buy your old or unwanted jewels, scarves, clothing, bags, and shoes.  If your item is sold, you receive a percentage back upon the sale.  Any merchandise not sold or no longer wanted are donated to those in need.

These stores have become relatively popular amongst the fashion-driven people out there.  It provides shoppers with a good eye for fashion affordable prices to work with.  It also provides the less fortunate or money saving crowds with gently worn clothes as opposed to full priced new clothes.

I have purchased many things from resale stores and have yet to complain.

I just bought a couple of tank tops this summer that sell retail for $20-$25 each.  But, I purchased the two name brand tank tops for $13 total.  While I was there I saw a Nike performance shirt for only $7 and a fleece Columbia jacket for $11.

Reusing has become an art form and you get to save money doing it.

Are you tired of breaking things and purchasing new replacements? Do you wish you had the skills to fix the item yourself?

Do you live by the motto “Waste not, want not?” If so, then this article is perfect for you.

Nobody likes shelling out money unnecessarily, especially if an easy solution lies within reach.

Perhaps you didn’t think it was so simple to mend your sweater zipper, or unshrink your brand new t-shirt. Maybe your computer is so full of trash and garbage that you’d rather just wipe the thing and buy a new operating system.

We’re here to tell you to pick up the phone, call the repair guy you sent for, and let him know you’ll be doing it yourself with these great tips from Lifehacker.

Clean Up Your Computer
If your computer runs loudly and you’d like tone it down a few notches, try blowing the dust out with a can of compressed air, which you can purchase from your hardware store or in the electronics section at retail stores such as Walmart and Target.

Maybe you have an old computer sitting around, and you’re wrestling with the idea of recycling or finding new use for it. You can always turn it into an external hard drive and connect to it with a USB cable.

Repair Your Cellphone
Did you accidentally “brick” your smartphone while trying to root it or install 3rd-party software? Maybe you’ve downloaded malware that’s causing all sorts of problems. Instead of throwing it away and buying a new one (if you don’t have insurance coverage) consider following the advice found here. There are also solutions if you’ve dropped your phone in water, such as drying it out in a bowl of rice, which has proven largely successful on a variety of phones.

Reuse Damaged Clothing
“Waste not, want not” comes back to mind for the topic of apparel. There should never be any reason as to why you would throw away clothing, even if it’s unrecognizably dirty, ripped, or stained.

You can fix the zipper on old jackets and make it as good as new. Warm water and conditioner can unshrink shirts and pants. Poop stains can also be removed. And if all else fails, turn your clothing into rags, painting smocks for children, or simply clothes to get dirty in.

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Puma presents their newest concept of sustainable footwear, apparel and accessories for Spring/ Summer 2013.

The product will be sold to help its consumers reduce waste and lessen their personal environmental footprints.

PUMA will be launching a collection of shoes, apparel and accessories that are either biodegradable or recyclable.

When consumers return the used goods to PUMA’s “Bring Me Back Program,” the work will be done for them. With the PUMA “InCycle” collection set to hit stores in Spring/ Summer 2013, PUMA will take the first step toward reducing the environmental footprint of its consumers’ disposal.

By taking on the challenge of launching an entire line that is either biodegradable or recyclable PUMA is making noise and wants to be heard.

The PUMA InCycle collection includes the Lifestyle Sneaker Basket (biodegradable), the legendary PUMA Track Jacket (recyclable), shirts (biodegradable) a backpack (recyclable) and other things. According to PUMA’s 2010 profit-and-loss statement, production of raw materials such as leather, cotton and rubber are over 50% of PUMA’s environmental impact.

PUMA took notice and wanted to begin increasing the number of products made of more sustainable materials. PUMA InCycle uses biodegradable polymers, recycled polyester, organic cotton and other biodegradables to eliminate harmful hazards.

The PUMA track jacket is made using 98% recycled PET bottles. The backpacks will be 100% polypropylene. The biodegradable athletic shoe, the “Basket,” will be made with organic cotton and linen. The sole will be made out of biodegradable plastic. Every product within the PUMA InCycle collection will be labeled under the trademarked Cradle to Cradle certification program. Cradle to Cradle is the leading “green” certification program using a multi-criteria approach to address product design and manufacture from a sustainable perspective.

But, you can’t just dump a jacket in the recycling bin or bury your worn out sneakers in your garden. With PUMA’s “Bring Me Back” program, customers can return those unwanted and worn goods to the company’s stores. PUMA then does their part and will ship the products back to their suppliers and have them recycle the goods into new products. As for biodegradable clothing, one of PUMA’s contractors will shred them at an industrial composting facility.

The PUMA InCycle collection will debut in Puma stores worldwide in February.

Image: citizenbrooklyn.com

Have you ever bought a piece of clothing because on the tag it had the words “100% percent bamboo fiber”? These are often advertised as eco-friendly products from a sustainable resource.

While bamboo (a member of the grass family that can grow up to or more than a yard per day), may be renewable, the process used to make bamboo textiles is not.

The most common way is ‘cooking’ leaves and shoots in a harsh chemical process that involves soaking them in carbon disulfide, otherwise known as caustic soda, or lye. This process is toxic not only to the earth, but drastically effects the communities and workers near or at the industry site. Exposure to the process used to make bamboo rayon has been linked to serious health problems, as well as immediate tiredness, headache and nerve damage.

In 2009, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged four companies with making false green claims, as well as deceptive labelling. The ‘Natural Bamboo Fiber’ was not fiber, but rayon, which can be created with the cellulose from almost any tree. And the process used to create it was definitely not eco-friendly.

It is possible to tell, however, if that lovely scarf you bought is environmentally friendly.

Rayon under the brand name “Tencel” are produced in a closed loop process where the chemicals used to create the rayon are recycled and reused, and the trees are a lot more sustainable than cotton. There is also natural bamboo linen, produced in the same process as hemp linen. So if you’re tag says ‘bamboo linen’, or ‘Tencel’, it’s most likely what it says it is.

As for those ‘100% bamboo fiber’ tags, we’ve been bamboozled (pun very much intended.)

Sources:

http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=bamboofabric
http://organicclothing.blogs.com/my_weblog/2007/09/bamboo-facts-be.html
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/08/bamboo.shtm
http://duhbe.com/blog/2010/05/bamboozled-the-real-truth-about-bamboo-fabrics/

The Vicarious by Nature collection of fashionable, organic & eco-conscious contemporary clothing will be on show on March 8, 2012 at the Attire to Inspire fashion show as part of Los Angeles fashion week.

Founded in 2007 by Robb Hanson & Devon Craychee, Vicarious by Nature (VBN) is an eco-contemporary clothing line that fosters the ideals of quality and style with a “naturally” conscious approach. They aim to be forward thinking environmentally, while still being fashion forward.

Attire to Inspire, Breathe LA‘s second annual charity fashion show, will be held at the Conga Room in downtown Los Angeles. Other eco conscious designers featured in the show are Yotam Solomon and Moods of Norway.

Breathe LA is a non-profit organization committed to improving lung health and air quality for Los Angeles area residents. Breathe LA serves as a clean air and healthy living advocate and is recognized for its educational series and wellness programs including environmental education, asthma control for children and groundbreaking research.