I don’t think I can find the words to express how much I love the reclaimed t-shirt dresses by Angela Johnson. I’m in love with the idea of reclaimed and repurposed clothing. I have found myself sitting in front of a sewing machine on many occasions looking for ways to extend the life of a garment. A way to make something old, new again.
The dress from the photo is a onesie dress which is custom made from your child’s outgrown onesies. How great is that? This is a wonderful way to reuse all those adorable pieces of clothing from the first few months of life. This dress will run you $100, but if you don’t have the mad sewing skills to create one, I think this just might be worth the green.
There is an affordable option for girls a bit older, for $40 you can order a t-shirt dress made from vintage/reclaimed adult t-shirts (you can even provide the t-shirt). They are cute, unique and sure to be a hit. My thought process is that a young child could get many years of use out of the shirts, growing from a dress to a top with leggings or jeans.
If you have a child approaching Prom Angela has just the dress for you! T-shirt Ball Gowns. These bad boys will run you up to $400, but are sure to be a one of a kind. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an article of clothing I would be willing to drop that kind of dough on, but if I had any reason to wear a ball gown I would be hot for one of these!
Because I’m not inclined to spend a lot of money on something I can make myself, I am now on a mission to create, for the kids of course. I’ve started a stock pile of previously loved clothing to make new again. It could be a while before anything good comes of it, but you’ll be the first to know when it does!
I’m sorry, but $100 or even $40 for repurposed clothing is just another example of people seeing the “green” movement as a way to make big bucks. These kinds of businesses turn people off by leading them to think that being green is costly. It is the same thing in the construction business; companies believe that building a LEED standard building is costly when, in fact, there are many simple ways to build green buildings without the flash and fame that green technologies might bring.
One of the best ways to live ecologically is to live simply. Stop accepting the idea marketed to us that we (or our children) have to look like fashion plates, and that ecological living requires purchasing expensive clothing or services. If you want to spend $100 on one item of used clothing, that is your affair, but it is not a good example of ecological living.
Those t-shirt dresses are gorgeous! I also love making clothes for my daughter from reclaimed fabric – so much so that I cannot bring myself to buy new fabric..(or even new clothes!). Why would you when there is so much useful fabric on its way to landfill or the rag trade.
I love the idea of making those much loved infant clothes last longer! It’s a fabulous memento (much like t-shirt quilts that I make!). For me, this is something to make myself, but for some who don’t sew it’s still a neat idea. This isn’t a big business or a fancy company, simply a designer who is making clothing from previously loved clothing. All reclaimed/recycled clothing I have found is on the pricey side. Not for everyone, but well loved by some.
We use lots of reclaimed fabric (and I’m finally using up the old stacks of fabric I have boxed up!). It’s adds an extra twist to our projects!