Recycled Materials in Fashion

In the last few years, it has become extremely popular to use recycled or repurposed fabrics and materials in fashion. Where one person sees garbage another person sees inspiration and creativity. Upcycling, repurposing and recycling are the new catch phrases in this eco-friendly fashion trend.

This movement is extremely important to the environment, as a large quantity of fabrics and textiles are thrown away each year – and not recycled. By repurposing textiles into fashionable garments, you can reduce the space needed in landfills, reduce the waste of resources, and lessen energy waste and pollution.

Upcycling is the process of converting unwanted or waste textiles into new, usable garments. Recycling textile fabrics such as factory surpluses or offcuts into fashionable clothing is one way to reduce waste. By reusing existing textiles and fibers, there is no need to make them from raw materials.

Repurposing is making clothing out of textiles and fibers that were initially used for other purposes such as car seats, table cloths, sheets, curtains, etc. By creating a blouse or dress out of an old sheet or curtain panel, you get something new to wear and the material is saved from taking up space in a landfill.

Recycled clothing can come from very different sources. Clothing can be recycled from existing clothing by making needed repairs or re-fashioning it into another piece of clothing. A common, simple example is making shorts out of a damaged or no longer worn pair of pants. Recycled clothing can also be something made out of polyester made from used plastic bottles.

One fashion designer, Nancy Judd, has put herself at the forefront of the recycled fashion movement with her company, Recycle Runway. One of her pieces is even featured in the Smithsonian’s permanent collection!

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