It’s really not that bad; it just needs a little...shaping... TO THE SEWING MACHINE!
Although it seems that all that is necessary is some thread scissors and a vision to take part in the viral TikTok trend #Thriftflip. #Thriftflip went viral back in March of 2020 during the pandemic. The trend has taken over the limits of an item’s potential from the bins and is redefining thrifting. So what exactly does the term “to flip” mean? Think of the concept of ‘house-flipping’, but instead of property it’s a second-hand article of clothing that the creator is buying, rehabbing, and reinventing. The possibilities are endless: turn a t-shirt into a three-piece with matching gloves, a crew neck sweatshirt into a corset top, or turn a muumuu into a cocktail dress fit to be a plus one at any wedding in just a few alterations. The concept itself is innovation at its most stylish. The idea of thrift-flipping is nothing new though. The act of upcycling an old item of clothing has been around since as early as 1940. So why is #thriftflip trending now? For consumers in the twenty-first century, it’s difficult to keep up with fast fashion with so many styles going in and out of season. So what did the consumers decide to do? Recreate the influx of the trends themselves, but without contributing to expensive overconsumption that comes with fast fashion, and so the worldwide trend skyrocketed. When you click on the hashtag #thriftflip, the transformations are unbelievable, unrecognizable even; with that said, altering clothes can be intimidating when it’s just you, the scissors, and an old nineties babydoll blouse staring straight at you in the face with nothing but a prayer in between the first cut. Luckily, countless instructional videos are circulating the internet
to help introduce and encourage thrift-flip beginners to make that daunting first cut. It doesn’t have to be an I.AM.GIA replica or include any sewing at all to fall into the broad category of a thrift-flip. For example, cutouts are all the craze in fashion at the moment, but who knows how long that will last. Before you invest in a new style, cut up an old fitted black tee shirt or pantyhose. For beginners at altering clothes, start small by adding details to some items of clothing that you already own. An old pair of jeans that are just a few inches too short? Cut them! Reincarnate them into some shorts or even jorts if you're feeling the timeless look of the 1970s. Maybe add some embroidery or stitch work detailing around the pockets to give them a new life. Take that old pair of jeans from high school that are just not in style anymore and paint them! or whip out some bleach and draw on a funky design. The possibilities don’t stop at clothing either, accessories can be turned into a flip as well. Take an old shirt and make a new fashionable bandana for your next picnic, or transform a corduroy jacket into a sustainable stylish tote bag. The beauty of thrift-flipping is the creative process that goes behind it. It is art, but instead of a canvas, it's second-hand fabric that is the masterpiece. Repurposing old clothes is a step in the right direction when wanting to contribute to the world of sustainable fashion by rejecting overconsumption with a simple D.I.Y. So next time you are cleaning out your closet to get it prepared for the next season, experiment and give #thriftflip a try!
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