What Can You Do With an Old Tank Top?

An old tank top can be recycled into a new piece of clothing.

Tank tops are wardrobe staples for most people, but unfortunately these wardrobe staples don't last forever. Upcycling is the process of turning something old into something new and usable, and there are many ways you can upcycle your old tank top. Reusing old clothing saves you money, protects the environment from unnecessary landfill waste and provides you with new fashion statement pieces.

Things You'll Need

• Iron-on patches
• Needle
• Thread
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Eliminate stained and dirty pieces of your tank top by reworking it. If the shirt is in otherwise good condition but has stains on the front or back, apply patches to it to create a message or graphic tee. Many craft stores sell iron-on patches that don't require sewing. If you're handy with a needle and thread, however, you can sew any piece of fabric onto the front or back of your tank top for an entirely new look.

2. Turn your tank top into and undershirt if the armpits or bottom portion of the shirt are stained. Many shirts are too low-cut to wear without something underneath, but wearing a full tank top can create bulk and an awkward look. Instead, simply cut off the bottom portion of your tank top and wear it underneath V-necks and other low-cut pieces of clothing.

3. Use your tank top as an environmentally friendly shopping bag. This works best with long tank tops because they are roomier, but a short tank top can be turned into a small bag for buying a few things at the grocery store. Simply sew up the bottom of the tank top and you'll have a bag. Then cut off the straps and sew the ends of the two straps together. Sew this back onto the bag to create a long handle.

References

• Upcycling; Danny Seo, et al.
• Upcycling; Gunter Pauli, et al.