Repurpose Clothing

Clothes that tell a story: What do your clothes say about you?

Clothing is an essential need, but it is not just that. A fact, whether you like it or not, is that what you wear matters. The outfit you choose makes a statement, and you get to decide what statement that would be. We are now living in a world where that statement can say so much more, can be so much more.

Repurposed or Upcycled Clothing is an opportunity in and of itself to revive, to give new life to materials that may otherwise add to the waste we generate. It is an opportunity for you to be creative in the way you express yourself. Repurposing old clothes is not a new practice, it is a rather old one. It is what we did with clothes until fast fashion took the world by storm, until a meaningless chase to look like everyone else wearing the trendiest outfit took out all individuality from how you look.

Slow fashion is trying to change that. It has something for everyone. It can help you tell a story, not just about yourself but about what you believe in and why.

“I am…”:

Imagine walking into a room full of people, wearing a unique printed top with a dye pattern on it that can never be recreated. It is the only piece that caught your eye, you could instantly see yourself wearing it. It wasn’t mass-produced with millions like it, rather made out of an old shirt that was dyed in natural colors that formed an accidental pattern, that appealed to you. It is now a part of your story, your individual uniqueness in a world of billions.

“I understand where and how I can make a difference, and I am doing my best. ”
Clothing and textiles production releases 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases every year – that's more than the combined emissions for all international flights AND shipping. Even though daunting numbers and the huge impact of the industry on the environment may seem out of one’s control, when you really think about it, it is the consumer who has the real power. The choices you make set the path for what needs to be produced. One sustainable handmade product enables an ecosystem for change.

“I spend my money on creative choices. Thrifting is like a satisfying treasure hunt”

Accessible and sustainable: curating your own individual aesthetic has never been easier! Various thrift stores online are spearheading this change. Thanks to them, making a shift away from fast fashion is a scroll away on Instagram. Everything from ethical upcycled clothing to jewelry is available in these stores meant exclusively for preloved quirky items. We celebrate them, and the choices you make can do that too. There are many ways to repurpose an old item; many innovative styling bloggers will show you three unique outfits out of one old piece of cloth or ten ways to make ‘less seem like more’. All of these are a part of a movement to make style sustainable. Set out on a thrifty hunt for the most ‘you’ outfit you can create…

Some Cool Thrift stores to check out:

- Bombay Closet Cleanse
- Curated Findings
- Carol’s shop and tea room
- Lulu Thrift
- Panda Picked
- Mumbai Thrifts
- Shop with Love
- Paradime Thrift