Sustainable Style: Upcycling Workout Wear

The reason we have chosen gymwear to discuss is because of the rising popularity of new brands forming, such as Tala, Bo+Tee and Adanola. These brands are creating both gym and loungewear, which, while very similar, has had a booming success. Gen Z seems to be prioritising wearing comfy clothes but also their fitness, which explains why all these brands are smashing it but also the urgency of spreading the message on what to do with your old gym clothes.

Gymwear is something that we all need, too but it needs to be comfortable, breathable and flattering because that is what makes us more comfortable and motivated to smash out a good workout. But we all grow out of love for our gymwear or maybe it just doesn’t fit as nicely as your newer items, leaving us with an array of gymwear that we no longer have any use for.

So here are a few eco-conscious DIY tips for upcycling your old gym clothes.

Cleaning Rags

Old gym clothes are perfect for becoming new and improved cleaning rags around the house. As gym leggings, sports bras and shorts are super absorbent, breathable and of good quality, they are perfect for wiping up dirt but also are reusable. Simply cut out squares and sew the edges to lock in the seams and prevent them from fraying.

With a bunch of new cleaning rags, you won’t need to buy disposable ever again.

Workout Headband

A headband is sometimes necessary during your workout sessions because hair can be extremely annoying and even create some form of sensory overload. You’re sweating and your fringe keeps sticking to your head. it’s a nice feeling so solve the problem by creating workout headbands to keep the hair out of the way but also absorb any of that sweat.

Simply cut a strip of fabric from your old gymwear, sew the seams on the inside out so you have a seamless headband and then sew the two ends. Creating the perfectly tailored sweatband. You won’t need to spend £10 plus for a branded, low-quality one.

Tank Tops

I found this idea from my partner, who wasn’t happy with his gym tops all having short sleeves. This restriction on his armpit caused him to sweat more but also didn’t give him a full range of motion so he began to remove the short sleeves by cutting them just before the seam. You can also cut off the neckline seam if it is too high but this is an option that isn’t mandatory.

This DIY protection is the perfect hot summer solution rather than buying a whole array of vests.

Yoga Mat Strap

If you have an old gym back of some sturdy gym wear or even an old towel that is on its last legs, then you can great a sold yoga mat strap that not only makes transportation of your gym stuff easier but also brings these old items a second life.

Like you would make a headband, you will do the same by creating a strap. Just ensure that the strap is considerably longer than the yoga mat, as you can always make a strap shorter rather than longer.

Create a Patchwork Bag

Saving all your leftover fabric, including your unwanted gym clothes, you can cut out squares and form them all together to create a tote bag. This is one of the easiest ways to turn something unwanted into something both useful and functional. This is also something that you could decide to resell and make your old pieces into a new second income.

Sweatpants into Shorts

Another idea that I got from my partner is turning his old sweatpants he loved but no longer really fit him length-wise into shorts. There are always times in the gym when sweatpants shorts would be both comfortable and handy when joggers are too much. These are a great solution for creating something functional but you also have some spare fabric to create something else; maybe go towards your patchwork tote bag.

Final Thoughts

Upcycling your old gym clothes is a great way to breathe new life into your no longer functional items while remaining eco-friendly. It’s not realistic to want all of the clothes that you gather throughout your life but it is to create new and useful items that can be used by yourself or others. Give these ideas a try with your old items.