What to Do with Old Yoga Clothes: Sustainable Ways To Give Them a Second Life
Yoga and sportswear have transformed into many of our wardrobes’ finest staples. But what to do when they wear out or just don’t fit anymore? They can surely be environmentally friendly repurposed instead of just being thrown in trash. Here are ways to benefit the green planet by putting even your sportswear into appropriate disposal through recycling initiatives or even crafty DIY projects
1. The problem with activewear waste
Recycling activewear isn’t always a simple process, particularly when it comes to products which are mostly made from artificial materials such as spandex, nylon, and polyester. These fibers tend to be loomed not only to be stretchable and long-lasting but also become the slowest to biodegrade in landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), textiles form nearly 6% of the entire waste and end up in landfills. So, you can recycle or upcycle your yoga clothing to do your part in decreasing the amount of waste and making this world a better place for future generations.
2. How to recycle old yoga clothes
Activewear recycling has never been that messy. Here are some feasible avenues to ensure your second-hand yoga wear won’t hurt the environment in any way:
1. Corporate ‘Returns for Recycling’ Programs
These days, so many sportswear brands have take-back programs for used clothes, so they’re happy to allow consumers to bring back an item to recycle. Some of these customers are Patagonia, among other businesses, to collect the product and refer it to their partnered recycling facilities to decompose synthetic materials to finally produce new ones again. Now find out whether your best-loved have similar structures.
2. Centers for Textile Recycling
Near-metro textile recycling centers take any kind of old clothing, not just for sportswear, and then reuse or recycle it according to its sorting. Some of the organizations specialize in handling synthetic kind of fabrics like spandex and polyester. Websites like Earth911 help in finding recycling plants closest to you.
3. Donate gently-used articles
If your yoga clothes are pretty good, try donating them to thrift shops, shelters, or organizations that encourage lively living. Some organizations also collect sportswear for the needy and underdeveloped communities.
3. Creative Upcycle Ideas for Old Activewear
1.From Leggings to Headbands or Scrunchies
Cut up your old leggings into strips and sew them up into fashionable headbands or scrunchies. The stretchy fabric works just perfectly for these.
2.Make Reusable Cleaning Rags
Cut up old yoga tops or pants into little squares and use them as cleaning rags; they are excellent for dusting or to wipe down surfaces.
3.Make a Yoga Mat Bag
Sew a custom bag for the yoga mat using the fabric from horizontal yoga pants with a drawstring or zipper.
4.Pillow Covers
Use the fabric from yoga clothes to make unique pillow covers for your living space.
5.Phone Case
Fit the stretchy fabric of your leggings to sew a snug phone case. 
4. Why Recycling and Upcycling Matter
Recycling and upcycling your old yoga clothes aren’t just about waste reduction; it’s also about conserving resources. New activewear requires vast amounts of water, energy, and raw materials to make. By prolonging the life of your current clothes, you are helping to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry. And what can be even cooler is getting creative with upcycling-your own way to show off some personal style and reduce that carbon footprint!
