Upcycling Book_12.pdf

Maximizing the utility of your wardrobe
THE PATH TO
SUSTAINABILITY
senzatempofashion.com | @senzatempostyle

REINVENTION, REPAIR
Sustainability isn’t about buying a garment
made with a list of “sustainable” adjectives —
playing Buzzword Bingo.

It’s about buying a garment and wearing it
repeatedly — and for many years.

It’s about, maximizing the use of what you
buy through reuse.

Buying a quality garment helps ensure a long
life, but with a little care and creativity you
can help extend the life of most any garment.

Through repair and repurposing, any item can
be revived and reused to be more
“sustainable”.

This book is meant to be a quick reference
guide to inspire you to tackle the most
common reasons garments are disposed of
instead of being reused.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SENZA TEMPO’S APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY

General alteration tips

Adjusting darts

Re-
fi
tting an oversized shirt

Reinvention and Revival by changing the
neckline or sleeves

Repurposing an old dress into a skirt

Revival through buttons and trims

Repairing accidental damage

Prolonging life through care & care toolkit

Additional Resources
REPURPOSE, REUSE

Removing darts or shortening them will loosen
the fit of a garment as you can see below.
The left side has the full dart in tact.
SIMPLE ALTERATIONS

A good seamstress can help you figure out
how to move, change or add the darts on a
garment to best suit your shape.
Before you buy a
garment, look at
the seams. They
not only tell you
about the quality,
but how much it
can be altered.

Most Senza Tempo
garments can be
let out 1-1.5
inches due to
generous seam
allowances.
Higher dart = more
streamlined fit

QUICK FIXES FOR A MORE FLATTERING FIT
Darts give a garment shape. Adding them to
a garment like an oversized men’s shirt
give it shape.

Darts were added to work with the
original pleats
Another idea to take in an oversized shirt is to add
gathers along the side like Uma Thurman’s white shirt
in Pulp Fiction (note: the pants she wore weren’t long
enough and they were on a tight budget so the costume
designer cropped them by simply cutting them off -
another great way to update an old item)
Original pleat
Dart added
Takes out volume from
what was a very
oversized shirt

Changes don’t have to be dramatic,
sometimes something it’s as simple as
changing the shape of the neckline.
REINVENTION

Never be afraid to take something apart to
revive a style, though. Alexander McQueen
once said — It’s only clothes!
Changing the
sleeve length,
removing the
sleeve or changing
the shape of the
sleeve to
something like the
photo to the left
can all revive an
old style.
Dior, Kent State Museum Collection

Many dresses can be broken up into their
separate pattern pieces.
REPURPOSE

A skirt is likely to be worn more frequently
and in more situations than a strapless
dress. This simple alteration gives an
occasion dress a new life as a skirt which
can be worn more frequently.

Adding a border or trim around to the hem,
cuff made or inside of a collar can instantly
transform the look of a garment. Lace,
ruffles, ribbon can all be purchased from
local craft stores like Joann or Michaels.
REVIVAL

VINTAGE INSPIRED REVIVAL
Senza Tempo sells
custom removable
collars inspired by
60’s haute couture
which trickled down
to home sewers.

This simple
“accessory” helped
change the look of a
dress enabling
longer wear.
These can that can
be temporarily
(hand) sewn into
dresses or blazers
for easy removal.

A variety of
detachable collars
or cuffs can found
on Etsy.
senzatempofashion.com

@senzatempostyle

Adding
decorative
buttons to
pockets or the
cuffs for
embellishment
customizes an
otherwise
simple garment.
REINVENT
Swapping out plain
buttons for
something more
decorative like
these mother of
pearl is a cheap
and easy way to
revive an old
garment.

Damage that isn’t on a seam

Embroidery, sewing a patch or even using
fabric paint can all be used to to mask
the damage can all help salvage a garment
and customize it.

Faded items

While it can be hard to find a
professional to do this for you Rit Dye
kits are an at home option.

Tattered Hems

Cutting off pants or jeans when you don’t
mind an unfinished look. Many brands
charge extra to achieve this look. It’s an
excellent way to “save” old pants or
shorts whose hems have become tattered.

You can also make them cropped or the
truly vintage way to salvage a pair of
jeans or sweats is to make them shorts.

Bleach Stains

Fabric paint or embroidery are the easiest
at home solutions if you can’t find a
professional to reweave a fabric.
REPAIR

✴ Pilling

✴ Color fading/discoloration

✴ Fabric breakdown

✴ Accidental damage

✴ Holes

✴ Loss of dimensional stability/shape
A longer-lasting wardrobe starts with
buying better quality garments, but
better care can help extend the life of
any garment you buy.

Most of the damage to our clothing comes
from the type of detergent we use, how
something is washed and the dryer.

Pilling, color fading and discoloration,
fabric breakdown and a loss of
dimensional stability can be in part
addressed or prevented with a little
extra care.
TOP PROBLEMS
According to research the following issues are
the top problems that prompt people to dispose
of their clothing:

A cold water wash on a delicate cycle
and simply hanging items to dry (or
using the air cycle) is much gentler
on clothing.

Wash like with like — not only when it
comes to colors. For example, don’t
wash towels or jeans with more
delicate fabrics, jersey or knits.

Pilling and general wear and tear can
come from fabrics rubbing up against
each other in the wash.

For items prone to pilling, like
micromodal and other jerseys, washing
them inside out on a delicate cycle in
a mesh bag with an enzyme or gentle
detergent like Dirty Labs can help
prevent this from happening.
CARE TIPS
You can
fi
nd a more
comprehensive list of
CARE TIPS on our
website and on social
media >
Use a pillowcase
on top of
delicates when
ironing to protect
any delicate
fabric.

Detergent for delicates (e.g.,The
Laundress)

Detergent formulated to prevent
color fading & pilling (e.g., Dirty
Labs)

The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar for
travel emergencies

The Laundress Stain Solution

White Vinegar

Castille Soap

Wrinkle-release spray

Large mesh bags — to protect items
prone to pilling and other
delicates during wash

Padded hangers — keep them wrinkle
free without causing tension or
stretching clothing
CARE TOOLKIT

✓White vinegar is one of the most
versatile products in your care toolkit
and absolutely essential.

✓A vinegar soak helps remove yellowing
in silk and other fabrics. Use it when
you are rinsing silks to remove any
residue soap leaves behind help restore
silk’s luster.

✓Adding it to your regular laundry cycle
helps remove detergent or fabric
softener build up — you’ll notice that
your towels will feel more absorbent
when you do this. And it removes smells
and odors.
VINEGAR — A LONG LASTING
WARDROBE’S BEST FRIEND
✓Use in place of
detergent when items
aren’t terribly
soiled.

✓Many detergents today
are very harsh,
vinegar is often all
you need.

The History & Reuse

During WWII, both Europe and the US
faced rations on wool, silk and
cotton. Women were encouraged to
appliqué over holes, remodel and
repair their old clothing as part of
their patriotic duty to help win the
war. Read more >

Books on wartime fashion

Make Do & Mend

Fashion on the Ration

Dressed for War
READING & RESOURCES
Why Reuse is Better than Resale or Recycling

Spring Cleaning Your Closet in Four Steps

You Can’t Greenwash Quality

Upcycling Book_12.pdf

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