Recycling Clothing with No Sewing Skills Needed
HYG-5505-92
Barbara H. Drake
When we think about recycling clothing, we often envision long hours at
the sewing machine remaking garments. However, recycling need not require
sewing skills or a huge time commitment. Through recombining, reusing in
creative ways and accessorizing, we can continue to wear old favorites.
Recombining
Evaluate clothes that have not been worn in a year or more. If the
garments fit, are in good condition (not worn out or without permanent
stains or damage) or are still in style, they may be candidates for
recombining.
The idea is to look at your wardrobe in a fresh way. Recombining is
simply rearranging wardrobe pieces and putting different items together.
Separate "outfits," coordinates or suits. Try with other wardrobe pieces,
recombining into new outfits. Try on these new combinations and see how they
look. Accessorize them. If you like the look, write down the descriptions of
the new outfits so you don't forget how the recycled pieces are to be used.
If you are stuck for ideas, look at fashion magazines. Today, a variety
of colors, textures and fabrics combine for fashionable and exciting looks.
Don't be afraid to experiment!
Reusing
Put your creativity to work by inventing new ways to wear garments.
Here are some ideas:
- Wear a shirt dress unbuttoned as a long jacket or coat. Roll up the
sleeves and turn up the collar.
- Wear a shirt as a jacket or beach coverup.
- Wear a worn shirt under a crew neck sweater.
- Use a scarf as a belt.
Recycle men's/boy's clothes into women's/girl's clothes
- Wear a man's shirt as a "big" top. Roll up the sleeves and knot at the
waist. Wear over a turtleneck, by itself, or under a vest.
- Men's sweaters look great belted or wear them as big tops over stirrup
pants or leggings.
- Wear men's ties with big shirts and vests.
- Dye men's T-shirts or undershirts and wear alone or with overshirts.
- Dye boxer shorts for great jams or shorts.
Accessorize
Accessories provide a quick and inexpensive way to update an outfit,
extending its wear. One way of doing this is through hosiery and shoes. Look
at fashion magazines to determine proportion as it relates to leg color,
shoe color and heel height. What is being shown? What is most flattering to
you? Scarves, belts and jewelry are good items to collect. These items don't
take much storage room and can be recycled into the wardrobe to add spark to
an outfit. Consider purchasing an accessory which can add life to several
recycled wardrobe pieces.
If All Else Fails
If the recycling ideas mentioned are not appropriate, you don't have
sewing skills to remake the garment, but the garment is still in good
condition, consider selling the item through used clothing consignment
stores or donating the item to a charity. Take an income tax write-off for
your donation by assigning a value to clothing items for what they would
sell for at a thrift shop. Guidelines are attached to this fact sheet. For
charitable contributions of non-cash items, such as clothes, you will need
to complete the IRS form #8283 if the value of the items is over $500.00,
but does not exceed $5,000.00.
Garments or other textile items that are no longer useable can also be
donated to charitable organizations for textile recycling. These
organizations sell unusable textiles to commercial recyclers who are able to
recycle over 93 percent of textile materials into products such as wiping
cloths, roofing materials, patio furniture, box spring padding, and
automobile insulation. Some textiles, especially wool, can be recycled into
new garments and blankets. Recycling is better than discarding textiles with
the trash and having them deposited in landfills.
Depending on condition and original retail price:
Children's
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| Clothing
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Price Paid $
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| All misc. infants
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.00 - 3.00
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| Child's - age 2 to 20
|
1.00 - 3.00
|
| Child's coats and jackets
|
3.00 - 5.00
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| Junior Child's 10 and up
|
3.00 - 15.00
|
Women's
|
| Clothing
|
Price Paid $
|
| Blouses
|
1.00 - 5.00
|
| Coats - Average
|
5.00 - 15.00
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| Coats - Better Winter
|
15.00 - 40.00
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| Dresses - Summer
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3.00 - 15.00
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| Dresses - Winter
|
8.00 - 20.00
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| Skirts
|
1.00 - 10.00
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| Slacks
|
1.00 - 7.00
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| Ladies Suits
|
5.00 - 25.00
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| Pant Suits
|
5.00 - 25.00
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| Sleepwear
|
1.00 - 3.00
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| Shoes
|
.50 - 5.00
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| Ladies Boots
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2.00 - 10.00
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| Purses
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.50 - 20.00
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| Gowns/formals
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8.00 - 25.00
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| Sweaters
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2.00 - 8.00
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| Blazers
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5.00 - 10.00
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| Scarves, Hats, Gloves
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.50
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| Costume Jewelry and Watches
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.50 and up
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| Raincoats
|
1.00 - 20.00
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| Knit Tops
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.50 - 5.00
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| Robes
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1.00 - 5.00
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| Jeans
|
.50 - 4.00
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| Warm-up Suits
|
2.00 - 15.00
|
Men's
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| Clothing
|
Price Paid $
|
| Suits
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10.00 - 40.00
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| Raincoats
|
8.00 - 20.00
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| Winter Coats
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8.00 - 40.00
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| Windbreakers
|
3.00 - 15.00
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| Sport Jackets
|
5.00 - 15.00
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| Golf Jackets
|
3.00 - 5.00
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| Trousers
|
2.00 - 9.00
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| Dress Shirts
|
1.00 - 6.00
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| Outer Jackets
|
3.00 - 15.00
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| Knit Tops/sports Shirts
|
.50 - 5.00
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| Pajamas
|
.50 - 2.00
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| Warm-up Suits
|
1.00 - 5.00
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| Sweaters
|
2.00 - 6.00
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| Cashmere/ultrasuede
|
25.00 - 50.00
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| Tux
|
15.00 - 40.00
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| Sox
|
.10 - .50
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| Ties
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.50 - 2.00
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| Hats, Scarves, Gloves
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.50 - 4.00
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| Belts
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.50 - 3.00
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| Shoes/boots
|
.50 - 5.00
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| Robes
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1.00 - 5.00
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| Sport/knit Tops
|
.50 - 5.00
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| Swimwear/shorts
|
.50 - 3.00
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| Jeans
|
1.00 - 4.00
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| Vests
|
1.00 - 5.00
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Designer Clothes
| Label - For example: Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Oscar De
La Renta, Perry Ellis, Valentino
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Depending on Condition and original retail price:
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| Clothing
|
Price Paid $
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| Sweaters
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18.00 - 35.00
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| Vests
|
12.00 - 20.00
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| Blouses
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| Silk
|
18.00 - 35.00
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| Cotton/poly/misc.
|
8.00 - 18.00
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| Skirts
|
20.00 - 45.00
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| Blazers
|
25.00 - 45.00
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| Slacks
|
20.00 - 40.00
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| Dresses
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| Evening
|
85.00 - 200.00
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| Daytime
|
75.00 - 150.00
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| Coats/outdoor Jackets
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| Regular
|
50.00 - 80.00
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| Rain
|
25.00 - 40.00
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| Suits
|
50.00 - 100.00
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| Suede and Ultra Suede Clothing
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| Dresses
|
65.00 - 85.00
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| Jumpers
|
55.00 - 75.00
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| Suits
|
65.00 - 125.00
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| Skirts
|
30.00 - 45.00
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| Vests
|
40.00 - 65.00
|
| Coats
|
75.00 - 125.00
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| Blazers
|
30.00 - 50.00
|
| Average - For example: Anne Klein II, Ellen Tracy, Evan
Picone, Helen Sidell, Liz Claiborne
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Depending on Condition and original retail price:
|
| Clothing
|
Price Paid $
|
| Sweaters
|
10.00 - 20.00
|
| Vests
|
6.00 - 10.00
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| Blouses
|
| Silk
|
6.00 - 15.00
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| Cotton/poly/misc.
|
6.00 - 10.00
|
| Skirts
|
8.00 - 15.00
|
| Blazers
|
18.00 - 30.00
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| Slacks
|
8.00 - 15.00
|
| Dresses
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| Evening
|
35.00 - 75.00
|
| Daytime
|
25.00 - 65.00
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| Coats/outdoor Jackets
|
| Regular
|
20.00 - 40.00
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| Rain
|
15.00 - 20.00
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| Suits
|
20.00 - 40.00
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| Designer Sportswear
|
| Tennis and Golf Skirts, Shorts
|
4.00
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| T-Shirts
|
3.00 - 8.00
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| Jogging Suits
|
15.00 - 45.00
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| Miscellaneous Designer
|
| Robes
|
10.00 - 20.00
|
| Nightgowns
|
6.00 - 10.00
|
| Belts
|
2.00 - 35.00
|
| Hats
|
5.00 - 15.00
|
| Purses
|
8.00 - 45.00
|
| Skin Purses
|
25.00 - 65.00
|
| Gloves
|
2.00 - 8.00
|
| Scarves
|
2.00 - 10.00
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Note: Check your local area concerning appraisal of used clothing.
Prices may vary from one locale to another.
Sources
Smith, Joyce and Pitts, Norma. Revitalize Your Wardrobe - Recycling
Clothes for the Family, Teaching Outline, Ohio State University
Cooperative Extension Service, June 1983.
Weiland, Barbara and Wood, Leslie, Clothes Sense, Palmer Pletch
Associates, 1983.
Also, see article on
Recycling Clothing
Using Your Sewing Skills
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pages in this section are provided by Ohio State University for educational
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