Easy ways you can upcycle and repurpose old clothes and accessories

Singapore produced 168,000 tonnes of textile and leather waste last year. We have also been producing more waste since we started staying home for the circuit breaker.

Instead of throwing away unused clothes and accessories that will generate more waste, why not try repurposing them?

Here are some ways to upcycle under-utilised pieces in your wardrobe and reduce your own fashion waste.

This is the easiest way to transform your old, baggy sweaters into something that’s more in style now.

All you have to do is cut off the bottom of your sweater using a pair of fabric scissors.

I recommend cutting slightly lower than where you want your new cropped sweater to end, in case it ends up being too short.

You can also use the fabric allowance to hem the sweater so you won’t have raw edges.

I’ve always wanted one of those trendy belt bags from ASOS, but they retail for upwards of $20.

If you’re like me and don’t have that kind of money to blow on a tiny bag, try these steps to transform a crossbody purse into a belt bag.

First, untangle the knots in the strap.

Next, remove one end of the strap and thread the opposite end through the holes.

All that’s left is to adorn the bag on your waist and tie the ends of the strap behind your back.

If you feel your jeans look too plain or you have small stains on them that you can’t get rid of, paint your designs on them!

For this project, you’ll need acrylic paint, fabric painting medium, paintbrushes, masking tape, a charcoal pencil or an artist’s pen. And of course, your jeans.

Before you start to paint on your jeans though, do wash and dry them so you can get rid of any dust that lingers.

If you’re painting the jean pocket, tape off the area around it so there won’t be any paint smudges.

You can see how YouTuber Maddie Cuan paints her jeans in the tutorial here.

Remember to only remove the masking tape once your paint dries!

One tip to prevent your paint from cracking after it dries is to turn your jeans inside out and iron the part you painted to make sure the paint sets.

I actually tried painting an old pair of jeans with my sister. It was a fun and therapeutic experience (with my sister doing most of the work).

We decided on a simpler design since we’re not really artists.

All you need is a knit t-shirt, scissors, marker or fabric chalk and basic sewing supplies.

This reusable grocery bag will be great for holding your fruits and vegetables from your supermarket trips.

You can find a detailed tutorial on how to make your own produce bag here.

When doing upcycling projects, you’ll probably have some chunks of fabric left over. Don’t throw them away just yet!

With just some fabric, elastic or an old hair tie (and basic sewing supplies of course), you can create pretty scrunchies that will hold your hair in place all day.

You’ll need a printer, scissors, transfer paper, an iron and an old plain t-shirt for this project.

What’s great about this project is that you can create your own designs and customise what you want to be printed on your shirt.

Do note that you have to mirror your image or design 90 degrees before printing on light transfer paper so that it will appear right side out when you transfer it onto your shirt.

Also, wait for your t-shirt to cool completely before peeling off the transfer paper backing so you don’t hurt yourself.

The next time you clean out your closet and end up with a big pile of clothes you want to get rid of, try repurposing them using these ideas or donate them instead!

Doing these upcycling projects with your family is also a great way to pass the time.