5 Creative Ways to Upcycle & Recycle Old T-Shirts

Is your drawer full of old t-shirts that you don't wear anymore? Don't throw them away! You can up-cycled them into new clothes or donate them to a clothing recycle program.

Check out these easy and fun ideas for how to recycle your old t-shirts into new clothes.

You'll be surprised at what you can create! And if it's clothing you feel can't be repurposed, then check out the list at the end of clothing recycle programs.

This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer may receive a commission if you decide to purchase, however, at no additional cost to you!

5 Ways to Repurpose Old T-Shirts Into New Clothes

Here are a few creative ways to turn your old shirts into new garments. After doing these DIY crafts you'll be so thrilled you chose the sustainable way of repurposing your clothing and reducing textile waste.

Turn Your Old T-shirt Into A Pair Of Shorts

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to turn your pants into shorts, look no further! With just a few simple steps, you can have your very own pair of shorts in no time. Make a new pair of shorts out of an old T-shirt by following these steps or this in-depth guide.

Cut the shirt horizontally about four inches below the armpits.
Cut off the sleeves of the shirt.
Fold over the lower edge of each leg opening and sew in place. Sew a seam up each side of the shorts.
Finish the raw edges of the shorts with a serger or zigzag stitch. Add an elastic waistband if desired.

With a little bit of creativity, you can recycle those old clothes into something new and stylish! Just remember to have fun with it and be creative!

Revamp a Jean Jacket

If you have a graphic t-shirt that you love and cherish, consider saving and repurposing the graphic! First head to a secondhand store and find a denim jacket in good enough condition to upcycle. Or use one that is already in your closet if you have one.

Then cut out the graphic from your favorite t-shirt. Sew it to the back of the jean jacket with some bold colored yarn and there you go!

A new wearable piece of art that repurposed your old tees! You could even add some pom poms or custom embroidery to add more character and color.

I chose an old tshirt with a big, fun graphic to add to my jean jacket and loved the result!

Cut Old Shirt To Make A New Tank Top

Have you ever tried upcycling an old shirt into a new tank top? It's actually really easy to do and only takes a few minutes.

Plus, it's a great way to give new life to an old piece of clothing. So next time you have an old t-shirt that you're ready to get rid of, try upcycling it into a brand new tank top instead! You'll be glad you did.

Here's a quick tutorial on how to upcycle an old t-shirt into a new tank top.

You'll need an old t-shirt, scissors, and a needle and thread (optional).
First, cut off the sleeves of the shirt. Cut along the seam of the sleeve, then cut straight across the armhole.
Next, cut a horizontal line across the shirt just below the chest. This will be your new tank top neckline.
Finally, cut off any excess fabric from the bottom of the shirt. If you want, you can hem the raw edges with a needle and thread or by using fabric tape.

And that's it! You've now upcycled an old t-shirt into a new tank top perfect for summertime weather. Enjoy!

I love to cut old shirts into tank tops specifically for training. This is especially great for those old shirts that aren’t cute enough to repurpose in other ways and can just be dirtied up.

Upcycled T-Shirt Quilt

While not a new clothing item, one of the best ways to upcycle old t-shirts that have sentimental value is by creating a quilt. This is something you can craft yourself or you can find somebody on Etsy to make it.

This is a great high school graduation gift, way to display your favorite concert tees, or just a meaningful way to cherish a bunch of old t-shirts. Enjoy your cozy quilt and your memories from your favorite shirts.

I found a local business to help me create the quilt and can’t wait to use them for future gifting - such a thoughtful idea!

Make Tote Bags

This is another great way to repurpose your favorite graphic tees! This can be a great bag to take to the grocery store or your local farmers market. If you’re looking for a visual step by step guide check out this guide. There are also new sew options!

First step is to find a t-shirt you want to make into a tote bag.
Next cut two equal size squares to sew together to create the sides of the bag.
Then use scrap fabric from the shirts sleeve or ends to sew the handles.

Have fun experimenting with different ways to repurpose your t-shirts and create pieces! Have fun with it and make them your own! Whatever you do, enjoy your new upcycled clothing item.

Clothing Recycle Programs

If you're not the DIY type of person or if your clothing isn't in good condition to be up-cycled into new clothes, here are some places that will take your old t-shirts and recycle them responsibly.

However, if your clothes are still in decent condition you can donate your old garments to thrift stores or homeless shelters.

Just be sure to do your research and make sure the organization you donate to will actually use the clothes. Unfortunately, a lot of donated clothing still ends up in landfills.

For Days Old Clothing Recycling

For Days Take Back Bags allow consumers to quickly clean out their closets in exchange for a store credit. For Days accepts clothing from any brands The products are sorted and then sent to their recycling partner.

Those partners resell what could have a second life and then the remaining materials for recycling into rags or shoddy.

Marine Layer's T-Shirts Made from Recycled Tees

Marine Layer’s Re Spun program converts your old t-shirts into brand new textiles. Promoting a circular economy and preventing unnecessary landfill waste, their ReSpun textiles are made with 30% to 100% recycled material. Now that’s a project we can get behind.

Select retailers such as American Eagle Outfitters, Eileen Fisher, and Madewell will take back some of their own garments to recycle. It’s worth asking retailers if they have any form of recycling program for their clothes.

Hopefully this guide has given you some creative ideas on how you can repurpose the old t-shirts in the back of your closet to give them new life. There are plenty of options to repurpose your favorite tee or dispose of it responsibly.

Meet the Authors

Clothing Recycle Programs By:

Emily Waddell is the founder of The Honest Consumer. She has always been passionate about business for good and has Bachelor of Science in Social Entrepreneurship. She currently lives in Seattle where she practices imperfect sustainability. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys supporting small businesses, clean eating, ethical fashion, and practicing slow living.

Crafter & DIY Upcycler

Paige is an independent strategic digital communications consultant and Richardson-centric blogger. She especially loves supporting and promoting small businesses with sustainable and ethical practices. Learn more about local businesses by following The Richardson Paige on Instagram.

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