When recycling isn't recycling...

Interesting post on this blog...
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VintageClothingRetroStyle/~3/47nn0otBSPc/

Basically I do sometimes see this happen, especially with craft/vintage: people 'upcycling' or 'recycling' things that are in perfect working order, perhaps to make something less hardwearing. one of the comments mentions 1950s magazines and books- which I'd see as part of history- torn up to make decor for a party. Technically recycling, but actually destructively turning something kept and interesting (and, in the case of sewing/cooking books, still useful) into something used once.

When do things cross the line between 'mending'/'re-using' and being needlessly cut up? Do you think there is a line>

What would/would you not 'recycle'?

For me it would be books and magazines in readable condition, or vintage/historical clothing that can still be worn. Torn old paper and beyond-repair clothes/my own raggedy old Primark t-shirts I will recycle, but only into things I WILL use more than once...

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9 replies since 2nd March 2011 • Last reply 2nd March 2011

Reply #1:

I totally know what you mean! I read the blog and loved it btw. I think that vintage things in good working order should be preserved in that condition. I'm not sure where I stand with the magazines yet, lol. But books and patterns def!

I collect random old looking books... and I mean old. I have a few from the 1910's and I love reading them. The stories inside are great. Even if not totally relivant to my everyday life. And I see people at craft fairs and things tearing them up to make stash boxes and purses. I havent asked whether or not the books were in a useable condition when they tore them up, but I realy hope they weren't. That would be such a shame.

Also that womans dress is completly the opposite of what shes claiming. I'd like to see the dresses she ruined to create her drab "red carpet look". I hope they were all full of moth holes and wine stains! hahaha XD

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Reply #2:

Well unfortunately, apparently at least 1 was a 1930s designer evening dress in good wearable condition. In the UK that would usually be upward of £100 and women have been known to delay their wedding while they scour for one that fits.

Surely a better 'eco' choice would be to have it altered to fit? And (miaow) a more stylish one perhaps?

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Reply #3:

I totally agree. I upcycle my jeans because they are all worn, so much so there are holes everywhere, unwearable!! If I was to buy a new pair of jeans and cut them up, it's not exactly the same thing. I don't know.

Unless the items are something that someone else was willing to through out anyway. My friend gave me a sack of her old clothing, I'm going to alter them and what not, I would say that was recycling/up-cycling??

Am I making sense?

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Reply #4:

this strikes a chord with me.. i often give my own (still wearable) clothes and even more often my kids stuff to charity shops where it can be sold to raise funds for a good cause. In the meantime i am looking for material to use in sewing projects, but i just havnt got the heart to cut up something still of use to someone else... do you know what i mean?? and i am really careful before cutting up my precious fabric collection.. which does mean that some bits i have been hoarding years before i find just the right project that is worthy of it!! I agree with the book thing too, i saw a project that has papered the walls with pages of old books, and a bit like the crockery smash stall at a fete you can only hope that the item being destroyed was pretty much broken already, (not just old..).

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Reply #5:

I think if something is junk (completely unusable) then it's ok to recycle it. I don't know though. I like to use those old AOL disks. I didn't realize they were so collectible.

I did make a craft out of an old shirt that didn't fit. but I loved. I also used some old wearable clothes my cousin gave me for crafts.

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Reply #6:

I find any of of my clothes with holes, I either fix or make something new from it

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Reply #7:

Yeah, I got book on T-shirt recon. I didnt have alot of shirts to work with and a friend recommended buying some from goodwill and I was like "it isnt the same! D:" recycling is remaking what can't be used. ><

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Reply #8:

I don't see the problem with cutting up a brand new shirt to make it into something else... It's not recycling, but it is modification... and modification is just fine now, isn't it?

Taking something that's old that's still in working order and turning it into something stupid (90% of "vintage" stuff on Etsy) makes no sense and I wouldn't venture to call it upcycling or recycling. However, to take something old that's broken and can't be fixed and turning it into something usable is an act that I would call upcycling or recycling.

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Reply #9:

Yeah- I can understand buying something to make something out of as 'crafting'.

But cutting up something old and valuable and making ugly/useless stuff out of it, I agree 100% with Monika, isn't on!

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