From Old Clothes To New Bags
February 25, 2008 by Noel
Filed under Green Living
When we go shopping, one of the things that we can do to help the environment would be to bring with us our own shopping bags. And when I mean our own shopping bags, it means having a bag that is reusable. When we purchase a new item at one store, for example, the store does not need to give you a plastic bag or container. All you need to do is stuff your newly purchased item in your shopping bag.
That is what Yu Xiuqin has been doing. Yu Xiuqin is from China and when she goes shopping she uses a bag made from an old pair of jeans. She has been the target of some jokes because of her bag but she is happy with the thought that she is helping the environment.
If we all would be turning our old clothes to new bags which we could use when shopping, we all would be doing Mother Earth a huge favor.
[Via China View]
[Image from Il Blog Di Tippitappi]
There is a small company in Colorado doing just this. Turning old men’s shirts into bags.
I have made my own purses from jeans, too. Just cut off the legs, added a few snaps and a strap, voila! Cute bag with extra pockets. And if you go to the thrift store and buy some really large ones, you can make laundry bags, backpacks, and more.
We actually have some bags made from t-shirts that I got on Etsy.com from a seller. They are cute and kitchy. It’s not so much a problem anymore at grovery stores but I certainly get a few odd looks at like Target or Babies R Us. C’est la vie. Cuter bags will maybe get more people to carry them
Another way to help the planet is to get the normal plastic bags from the grocery store and then save them and donate them to the library. I know that mine has to buy bags if they are not donated so it does cut down on how many are produced.