How to Recycle Jeans - Don't Waste

Jeans are made from a material resistant, versatile and recyclable, therefore perfect to be reinvented instead of ending up rotting forgotten in the closet or in the garbage, the moment we decide to change them. In fact, a simple intervention of cutting and sewing And now your jeans become a bag (ideal for shopping), a laptop bag, a cell phone case. Or even a trivet or coaster.

Index of topics

Bag

One of the simplest ways to recycle an old pair of jeans is to turn them into a bag. To make one, simply cut the jeans just below the crotch and zip them up. After carefully basting the cut to the desired shape. If you don't have a sewing machine, you can leave the bag open, transforming it into a shopping bag. With the fabric scraps With the remaining items, have fun decorating your bag. For a more personal touch, use an old beaded necklace to create the shoulder strap. Alternatively, you can also use a belt. A bag made from a pair of jeans is ideal for grocery shopping and to avoid the shopping bags that are regularly offered to you at the checkout.

Laptop holder and cell phone case

Another option is to make a unique laptop or cell phone holder. This is the easiest and fastest method:

Measure the computer and add 2-3 centimeters per side.
Cut the fabric: used the legs of the jeans and open the inside seam.
Cut two equal rectangles (front and back).
Add the padding and insert a layer of soft fabric or felt between the two layers.
Place the rectangles right sides together and sew the three sides, leaving the top one open.
Turn the work around
Insert closure with button or zip

Make-up bag

Creative jeans recycling: lots of useful tips

Cut a pocket of the jeans leaving 1–2 cm of margin.
Fold the top edge and sew it.
Close the bottom, if necessary.
Add one zip at the top (optional).

The denim-fabric makeup bag is perfect for brushes, lipsticks, and mascara.

Trivet and coaster

A very simple way to recycle old jeans is to transform them into coasters or a unique trivet. The process is quite quick: cut off the leg hems and then roll them up and glue them together. For a more creative and unique touch, add some details like beads or colored ribbons.

Baby bib

Here's an idea for those who love cutting and sewing, as well as creative recycling: a denim bib for children. After cutting the jeans into a round shape, sew on some colored fabric. To close the bib, you can use snaps or colored buttons.

Chair upholstery

Denim fabric is also a good recycled material for covering chairs and furniture. An original idea, for example, is that of designer Tobias Juretzek who, using the fabric of a discarded pair of jeans, covered a chair, creating a design object. This was achieved through the use of a special resin that binds the fabrics to the metal frame of a chair: confirming that recycling and reuse, when done well, even simply, can be combined with innovation in both styles and materials.

What can you do with jeans pockets?

Le jeans pockets They're the most useful and easiest part to recycle. There are many solutions, like these five we suggest.

Wall organizerEspecially for the bathroom, they're comfortable, practical, and roomy. More pockets are needed, and therefore more jeans.
Carpet for the stayOriginal and vibrant. It's also very durable and easy to clean. The size is just right; just a few snips of scissors, needle, and thread are all it takes.
Work apron. It requires a little more sewing, but it turns out to be a very useful item.

What can become of the jeans we throw away?

Bag