Let’s face it: students are generally not blessed with bulging bank accounts. Everyone wants to look good and express their own sense of style, but what if you don’t have the dosh to buy a brand-new pair of jeans or those killer boots you’ve been eyeing? Upcycling just might be the solution to your fashion dilemma.

Upcycling refers to the eco-friendly process of taking something you already own, changing it a bit, and creating something new and useful. Not only is it wallet-friendly, it’s great for the environment, too, since by using old garments, you’re not buying something that requires fabric fibres to be grown and processed.

Here are some ideas to get you started on revamping your wardrobe by re-purposing things you’ve already got!

• Have any old leather belts lying around? Cut into shorter pieces and with snaps inserted, these make great, tough-looking bracelets. If you want to get creative, you can always tool a design into the leather or add some old jewellery to the band with a drop of glue.
• So you bought a blouse or a shirt in a funky pattern, but just can’t see yourself in it anymore? Cut it down into a long rectangle or large square and you’ve got a totally unique scarf.
• Iron-on studs can easily be found at fabric stores or mass merchandisers. Apply them to the lapels of a jacket or the front pockets of your jeans to instantly toughen up your wardrobe with a touch of rock n’ roll chic.
• Snip the buttons off of jackets or blouses you no longer wear and swap them out on a different piece of clothing. If your mum has some older buttons, these look really cool strung together as jewellery—it’s completely unique and fresh looking.
• Girls, you know you have loads of old nail varnish bottles in your drawers or cabinets. Make use of those fab colours! One Project Runway USA contestant suggests using them to add designs to old shoes, which is much nicer-looking than the old Tippex designs we used to do as kids.

Before you start on a project, make sure you plan out exactly what you want to do; otherwise, you’ll end up tossing the item anyway. Work with items like t-shirts or jeans first—they’re tougher and more forgiving than more delicate items. Finally, your fashion creations are only limited by your imagination. In a world where fashion is homogenized and branded, assert your individuality (and save money!) by upcycling your wardrobe into something completely unique.

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