A new life for old footwear
The pandemic has made us more inclined towards sustainability
The pandemic has made us more inclined towards sustainability. Many are now looking for zero-waste options for daily chores. Fashion is also navigating a seismic transformation, as we realign our sartorial choices and move towards re-wearing, re-styling or upcycling clothes and accessories. Repurposing has made its way into many closets and added a fun twist to even footwear. Now repurposed footwear is also something many fashion enthusiasts have been enjoying. Here are a few DIY tips and tricks you can use to revamp your old shoes, and give them a new lease of life.
Paint them: Make your old sneakers look colourful by hand painting them. “Handpainting your footwear is a great way to sync them to your personal style. You won’t find another piece like it in the market,” says blogger Sone Kanwar, who suggests stencil work for sneakers. Abstract painting, a splash of kaleidoscopic colours and geometric shapes would look good, too!
Patch work: Cut out some patches from your old clothes and stitch or stick them on your sneakers. You can match them to your clothing, too. Old stilettos can be jazzed up by cutting a lace top and masking the shoe with it.
Bling them up: “Studs and sequins are a great way to add bling to your footwear. Just use some shoe or fabric glue to stick the studs,” recommends Kanwar. This will add a quirky twist to your worn out footwear. You can also use some glitter, crystals, pearls or Swarovski.
Dazzle with tassels: Pull out tassels or danglers from your old clothes, and stitch or stick them on the shoes. Make sure you don’t stick them close to the sole as they may cause you to trip when you walk.
A gladiator twist: Cut vertical strips from your old clothes, stick them over an old sandal and leave the two ends long and loose. The loose ends can be used to wrap around the ankle and turn it into a pair of gladiators. This way you can recycle both your old clothes and footwear.