Australians are a fashionable bunch, perhaps even too much so. On a per capita basis, we are now the second highest consumer of textiles in the world, only trailing the United States. Each year, we purchase an average of 27 kilograms of new clothing and dispose an average of 23 kilograms of clothing to landfill.
That’s a staggering number of valuable materials being sent to landfill just to put clothes on our backs, representing approximately 93 per cent of all the textile waste we generate. Not to mention, every bit of clothing that ends up in
landfill also represents a waste of the water and energy required to produce it.
Further compounding the issue is the composition of textiles globally, with approximately 60 per cent of all clothing made from synthetic materials. This is includes polyester, acrylic and nylon textiles, which are all derived from plastic.
In total, more than 800,000 tonnes of leather, rubber and textiles were discarded 2018-19 with a recycling rate of just 7 per cent according to the most recent National Waste Report.
To put it simply, there is clearly significant work to be done to build a circular economy for textiles in Australia.
year and has a huge impact on the environment, so how can we turn our unwanted garments into something useful?
- 6x15cm scrap fabric
- 8cm elastic - Sewing machine
- Thread - Fabric scissors - Pins - Needle
Using the scrap piece of fabric, fold it in half lengthwise, right sides together. This tube will form the casing for the elastic.
Next, sew along the length of the raw edges, leaving the ends open and backstitching at the beginning and end.
Turn the tube the right way out and thread through the elastic. Join the elastic ends together with a pin and and sew the overlapping elastic several times in different directions.
Last but not least, close up the raw ends of the tube. Adjust your fabric so there are no twists, then match up the seam
Step five:
Your scrunchie made from upcycled fabric is complete! Now you can make lots more with all different fabric scraps and old clothes!
- 1m of heavy scrap fabric - Scissors - Thread
- Tailors chalk/ pencil - Tape measure - Sewing machine - Pins
Step one: Cut fabric pieces using the pattern attached on the next page.
Step two: Sew the raw edges of all the fabric pieces. This will make sure the edges don’t frey.
Step three: Sew long length of fabric 20cm from the top of body of the apron. Repeat on the other side. Sew head strap onto the top of apron body.
Step four: Finish the bottom of the apron by hemming to your desired length. Now your DIY apron is ready to use! Remember you can use old clothes tablecloths and any other fabric to make this apron.
