3 Easy Ways to Revive Old Apparel Through Embroidery – GWC Mag

In recent years, sustainability has been the name of the game for brands and consumers alike, leading to some remarkably creative approaches when it comes to recycling and reusing items. The Apparel industry is one space identified as a significant waste generator. 

According to the EPA, 85% of all textile products eventually end up in landfills. The fashion industry also accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions and 20% of wastewater. One way to circumvent this dire environmental situation within the Apparel industry is to find ways to revive old Apparel by making it wearable again and — more importantly — keeping excess waste out of landfills. 

Henry Ma, CEO of Ricoma – a leading manufacturer of embroidery and custom Apparel equipment, has seen many of his company’s customers use embroidery to breathe new life into old or damaged clothing. “Embroidery can be used to repair, revive, and extend the life of old clothes, thereby reducing the amount of waste generated by the fashion industry,” Ma explains. 

Ma offers up three great ways to revive old clothing with embroidery to not only freshen up one’s wardrobe but Support sustainability efforts as well.

Repair

Instead of throwing away clothes that may be ripped, torn, or frayed, embroidery can be used to repair the clothes and make them wearable again. “Repairing old or damaged clothes with embroidery allows you to extend the life of your favorite garments and keep one more thing out of the landfill,” says Ma. 

For example, one can cover up holes or tears in their favorite Jeans with beautiful embroidered designs and patches, as well as mend torn hems or cuffs with embroidered patterns. Embroidered patches can be used to hide scuffs and stains on everything from denim to leather. 

Embroidery can also be used to revive or repair non-clothing fabric items, such as draperies, blankets, pillows, or towels. These items can end up in landfills, contributing to our worsening environmental issues. 

Fashion Flipping 

One fun and sustainable way to use embroidery is fashion flipping. “Fashion flipping is one of the most popular trends in the custom Apparel industry,” Ma explains. “Designers and creators buy old worn-out clothes from their local thrift shop, and then use embroidery to make them more stylish.” 

There are plenty of ways to “flip” an old piece of clothing to make it new and fashionable again. For instance, one can take a vintage flannel shirt and add embroidered flowers to the cuffs and collar. You can also incorporate various elements into your design, such as applique fabric or 3D puff foam, to create interesting visual effects and give dated clothing a hip, modern look.  

Fashion flipping is also an incredible way to run a profitable business! Since the process involves reusing older clothing, overhead costs are significantly reduced and the overall profitability for the creator is increased. 

Appliqué Design Projects

To make custom Apparel more sustainable, incorporate appliqué fabric into your embroidery.

Appliqué embroidery involves combining multiple pieces of fabric or material into one design. One example of this has been quite popular in recent years and involves sewing band t-shirts as appliqués onto the back of denim jackets. 

Other uses of appliqués for “upcycled” designs include using lace or sequin material to take a piece of clothing from old and tired to updated and high-end. Old, worn materials can also be salvaged for use in appliqué projects. “You can even use old towels or terry cloth fabric to add a textured chenille effect to your embroidery,” Ma offers. 

Ricoma has several YouTube tutorials and articles to help people creatively reuse, repair, or repurpose old clothing. People can easily begin their own at-home businesses with this sustainable approach and can let their imaginations run wild with embroidery-based fashion designs. 

With fabric and old clothing pouring into landfills, and the garment industry having a significant adverse effect on the environment, finding ways to reuse and repurpose old clothing and materials is a great way to maintain a sustainable approach to fashion. “Embroidery offers a second chance for your favorite clothes and decor items,” Ma notes, “as well as an easy, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly way to earn extra money.” 

With the help of Apparel industry experts like Ma, who are committed to helping business owners find creative ways to repair and upcycle old clothing, a sustainable solution for the garment industry and the issue of climate change is no longer out of reach.

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