Upcycling 101: Making the Most Out of Your T-Shirt

It happens to everyone: you’ve been wearing the same clothes for years, you haven’t been shopping in ages, and your closet desperately needs to be revitalized. You could go on a shopping spree, but you want to be environmentally conscious, and your wallet couldn’t take it, anyway. So, what do you do?

Take a good look at your closet. Got an old t-shirt? Great! It’s all you’ll need. In this article, we’ll talk about making the most from your t-shirt, from creating accessories, redesigning it, or making a new kind of shirt altogether! 

Redesigning Old Pieces

If you’re looking to revamp an old shirt and give it some flair, we’ve got some tips! For a grungier aesthetic, you can bleach your shirt. Bleach usually fades the shirt where applied, leaving an orange-whitish color. There’s tons of different routes you can take with this, so be creative! Don’t be afraid to go crazy with the bleach patterns. 

Image credit: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Bleach-T-Shirt#:~:text=Fill%20a%20spray%20bottle%20with,to%20transfer%20to%20the%20back.

Another cool design option is floral patterns. You can DIY this by pounding flowers into your shirt with a hammer. (If you want to read more about creating upcycled outfits based on this look, check out our cottagecore article!) 

Accessories

If the redesign options don’t resonate with you, consider making some accessories. Before making this first one, measure your wrist, or have a general idea of the sizing. You can make a boho-chic bracelet by cutting the fabric into three strips, and then braiding them together. If you want to make it multi-colored, you can take some fabric from another shirt and weave it in. 

Headbands are another option, for those who aren’t into jewelry (though there are plenty of sustainable options!). Instead of cutting up the fabric into smaller strips, you can simply tie it like you would a bandana. If you want a thinner headband, feel free to cut it to the size you like best. Experimentation is the key to crafting long-lasting, quality pieces! 

This next tip is dependent on what you have at your disposal, but it’s still worth mentioning. If your shirt is thick and/or large enough, and you have shoes that correspond with the size, you can also make shoelaces. This is a great option for those who want to revamp their shoes, but don’t want to spend any money. A change of shoelaces can instantly upgrade any pair of shoes!

A New Shirt

Make a crop top in seconds! Take your old shirt and cut the bottom half. This doesn't require any technical skills or sewing techniques. All you need is some scissors and bravery to revamp an old shirt. 

You can also try creating a cute bow top. Take the excess fabric leftover from your crop top, cut the remaining fabric in half, and tie it in the middle of your chest. Feel free to trim any excess fabric from the knot. This kind of top works great for summer parties!

Image Credit: Sara Traynor

If you're working with more fabric, you can always wrap it around your neck first, before wrapping it around your chest and tying it in the back. 

While these styles might not work for everyone, they’re a good start. We hope that they inspire you! If you have any new ideas, feel free to drop a comment.

Written by Sara Traynor

Sara uses she/her pronouns. Fashion and writing are her two favorite modes of creative expression, and loves to combine them in SFUSA. In her free time, she does crossword puzzles, reads, and watches SpongeBob.