Ecouterre » DIY Eco-Fashion

Make a Raincoat Out of Recycled IKEA Bags

Yuka Yoneda — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:00:54 +0000

Now that IKEA has abolished plastic shopping bags in favor of reusable ones, some folks might have amassed more than their share of big blue bags. If that sounds like you, here’s a fun tip from reader Paul Mattingly on how to upcycle four of the Swedish carryalls into a sporty and conversation-starting raincoat. “The IKEA Raincoat is a thrifty and intelligent idea for keeping dry in the rain,” he tells us. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, Paul!

+ Ikea Raincoat at Instructables

+ Stephanie Casper

JGoods’ Sneaker Restoration Kit Makes Your Old Shoes New Again

Daniel Mendes — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:00:45 +0000

Instead of trading your old, beloved sneakers for a younger model, consider making them freshly wearable again with the sneaker restoration kit from JGoods. The custom-shoe company has cobbled a collection of tools (including brushes, sponges, finish remover, and leather paint) together to make your grimy kicks sparkle like new. No previous shoe-restoration experience is necessary. A comprehensive guide shows you how to spiff up and maintain your sneakers to keep them out of the landfill for longer.

+ JGoods Sneaker Restoration Kit $35

+ JGoods

CAT FOOD JEWELRY: Recycle A Cat-Food Can Into This Snazzy Ring!

Yuka Yoneda — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:00:16 +0000

If you have feline friends to feed, chances are, you amass quite a few empty cat-food tins at the end of the day (I have three cats, so when I say “quite a few,” I actually mean “a ginormous pile”). While recycling these cans the old-fashioned way is certainly laudable, why not use this free metal to your advantage by upcycling it into some shiny new jewelry for yourself? Heaven knows you deserve it for being such a devoted cat parent. Just follow our simple instructions to make this cute ring in the shape of a cat or any other design you think is the cat’s meow.

Read the rest of CAT FOOD JEWELRY: Recycle A Cat-Food Can Into This Snazzy Ring!

Upcycle Broken Christmas Lights into Sparkly Holiday Accessories

Tiffany Threadgould — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:00:55 +0000

Have last year’s Christmas lights been sapped dry of their holiday cheer? Don’t send them on their merry way to the landfill just yet. The perfect size for hanging from your ears or neck, these tiny lights can still shine with the addition of jewelry findings and some creative flair. Here, we show you how you can create your own holiday-themed accessories—for next to nothing—simply by seeing damaged goods in a whole new light.

Read the rest of Upcycle Broken Christmas Lights into Sparkly Holiday Accessories

DIY “Colour-In” Dress is a Coloring Book You Can Wear

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:00:29 +0000

Even if pajama-clad marathons of Project Runway are the closest you’ve gotten to playing fashion designer—Korto was ROBBED in the All Star Challenge—Berber Soepboer and Michiel Schuurman’s Colour-In Dress will have you rocking a frock of your own in minutes. Like a page from a coloring book, the fitted A-line shift is covered in a black-and-white print that you can fill in with the included textile markers.

Read the rest of DIY “Colour-In” Dress is a Coloring Book You Can Wear

6 Clever Ways to Upcycle Orphaned Accessories into New Treasures

Yuka Yoneda — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:05 +0000

A misplaced pearl earring. A locket with a lost chain. A glove missing its mate. We’ve all had run-ins with orphaned or defunct accessories, and oftentimes the heartbreak can be overwhelming. But the loss of an accessory doesn’t have to be the end of the world. With a little ingenuity and elbow grease, you can easily upcycle what you might consider trash into a brand new treasure. Here are six solutions for common wardrobe malfunctions that can be spiffed up in a jiffy.

Read the rest of 6 Clever Ways to Upcycle Orphaned Accessories into New Treasures

Recycle Halloween Candy Wrappers into Colorful Eco-Jewelry

Tiffany Threadgould — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:00:26 +0000

Now that Halloween is over and you’ve filled up on sugary sweets, a ghoulish pile of non-recyclable candy wrappers remains to haunt you. Here’s a trick for bringing your dearly departed treats back from the dead: Turn the discarded plastic packaging into wearable gems. With a little bit of tracing and cutting, you’ll have brand-new, low-cost beads that will last you long after your sugar buzz is gone. Click below the fold to learn how.

Read the rest of Recycle Halloween Candy Wrappers into Colorful Eco-Jewelry

“Refashioned Bags: Upcycle Anything into High-Style Handbags” by Faith and Justina Blakeney

Jasmin Malik Chua — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:00:41 +0000

If bags are your bag, but less so the eye-popping price tags or conspicuous excess, Faith and Justina Blakeney are the fairy godmothers you’ve been praying for to Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo your household detritus into swanky arm candy. Due to hit bookstores early next month, Refashioned Bags: Upcycle Anything into High-Style Handbags offers 24 upcycled carryalls, shoppers, totes, and clutches to emulate and inspire.

Read the rest of “Refashioned Bags: Upcycle Anything into High-Style Handbags” by Faith and Justina Blakeney

Freshen Your Step: 7 Ways to Makeover Your Old Shoes For Fall

Yuka Yoneda — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:00:28 +0000

Why do shoes have such a hold over our imaginations? From blue suede to those made for walking, no other accessory has inspired as many songs or so much frenzied devotion. But why, if we adore our shoes so much, is it so easy to chuck them when they’ve gone out of style or have fallen into disrepair? Don’t they deserve better? Before you kick your old pair to the curb, check out our seven tips for refurbishing and refashioning your footwear—and get set to fall in love with your shoes all over again.

Read the rest of Freshen Your Step: 7 Ways to Makeover Your Old Shoes For Fall

Turn a Vintage Apron into a Belt

Jasmin Malik Chua — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:26:50 +0000

Sprig.com has joined the ranks of the dearly departed, but we unearthed this video taken by former Sprigette (and current friend of Ecouterre) Brit Liggett. Here, Kate Kolstad from Cluttershop demonstrates how you can turn a vintage apron into a fancy-lookin’ belt—all for under $10.

+ Cluttershop