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10 Cool Things to Do with Thrift Store Clothing

Author Bio

Jonathon Engels, a long-time vegetarian turned vegan, is currently on a trip from Guatemala to... Read More

Whether we admit it or not, a lot can be said about us by the clothing we choose to wear, be them top designer choices or bargain bin steals from discount stores. Thrift stores offer both authentic designer options and cheap knock-offs, but buying secondhand fashion can mean something altogether different: I care about people and the planet.

The fashion industry has had a hugely negative effect on the planet and its human population. One-season outfits are filling the landfills with barely used clothes, and garment factories are notorious for exploiting workers. While not an ideal solution, one way we can help with the situation is to make an effort to buy our clothing secondhand.

Repurposing secondhand clothing doesn’t have to stop there. There are lots of cool things a budding DIYer can do with thrift store clothing.

1. T-shirt/Sweater Comforter

In the summer, a collection of t-shirts can make for a great, lightweight comforter that is nice and snuggly without being too warm. Sweaters and sweatshirts can make for a warmer covering in the wintertime.

The fun part of this project is finding t-shirts with cool emblems or sayings or sweaters with the right patterns for making a nice blanket. Cut them into squares, sew them together, and settle in.

2. Button-Up Pillowcase

Button-up shirts come in an endless collection of stripes, patterns, and colors. They can be easily converted into cool pillowcases for throw pillows that can make the living room feel all the more livable.

The trick to making button-up pillowcases is finding the right combinations of colors to fit nicely or contrast enticingly with existing furniture.

3. Draft Stopper/Doorstop – Old Pants

Cutting off the legs or sections of old pant legs provides the perfect material for making draft stoppers/door stops. Stuff them with shredded cloth from the remainder of the Pants and/or other repurposed materials and sew the pant leg into a long cylinder. This can be put along the bottom of a closed door to prevent drafts from coming in, or it can be put in front of an open door to act as a doorstop.

4. Big & Tall Shirt Dress

Big and tall dress shirts can be easily converted into hip dresses for smaller adults, and normal-sized dress shirts work well as dresses for younger people. The basics to convert them into a dress is to either add elastic near the waistline or to cinch a belt or scarf above the shirt around the waist.

5. Baby Sleeping Bag – Pillowcase

Sheets are often donated to thrift stores, and they of course can often continue to be used as bedding. However, converting old pillowcases into baby sleeping bags can be a fun project for soon-to-be parents. Padding can be added to one pillowcase to make it a comfy spot, and a second pillowcase can be inserted into act sheets. It’s a cozy spot for young babies to nap.

6. Sock Cozies

One of the most painful things for chillaxers to do is give up a pair of fluffy, comfy socks. However, sometimes the toes have busted through and the soles have worn thin. Luckily, the ankles of old comfy socks—such as one might find in a thrift store—are perfect for making cozies for take-out coffee, beer cans, or pop bottles.

7. Denim Dog Toys

Denim was created as a tough fabric that would work well for clothing that needed to stand up to serious wear and tear. So, old jeans can be repurposed to make great, longer-lasting dog toys. Cut them into an appropriate pattern—bone, etc.—and stuff them with old material before crudely sewing them shut.

8. Sweater Socks or Beanie

Old sweaters are the most awesome when it comes to being comfy. Luckily, that doesn’t even mean they have to be used as sweaters. The sleeves can be cut off to make lovely socks (sew the wrist shut) or leggings (don’t bother sewing).

The same sleeves can be used to create cool beanies with a little bun or pom-pom at the top. Use the shoulder in for going over the head and get creative with closing up the other end of the sleeve.

9. Flannel Scarf

Old flannel shirts or even pajama Pants are easily repurposed into scarves. Just cut them into scarf-sized strips for a simple version, or several can be cut into chunks and sewn together to make a more elaborate, colorful scarf.

10. Braided Rug – Tees, Socks, etc.

In essence, braided rugs—sometimes called “rag rugs” were/are constructed of leftover strips of material, typically from clothing manufacturers. Well, the same can be done with well-worn clothing cut into strips of material. T-shirts and tube socks are especially good for doing this.

The fun part of making a braided rug, aside from making it, is collecting an eclectic amalgamation of colors to go into the pattern. Thrift store clothes are perfect for this.

Of course, the ideal cool thing to do with thrift store clothing is find a way to continue using it as the clothing it was intended to be. Layer it and funk it up for a style with a real personality. But, when that DIY bug gets into the system, it’s time to start exploring other cool things thrift store clothing can become. What a monumental start!

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