You can make not only a bag or a rug from jeans, but also furniture covers, animal beds, aprons or even braided accessories.
Milda admits that lately she has been taken over by her denim passion – weaving bags. To knit them, she usually uses jeans stitches, which are usually left over from creative dreamcatcher workshops.
Personal album photo/Weaving bags from denim strips is a calming activity for Milda.
The woman does not hide that the relationship with old clothes depends very much on what we call “old” in general: “I let go of those clothes that get old just sitting in the closet because they don’t fit or I don’t like anymore. But those that are loved, worn constantly, it’s hard to let go – I repair them, I keep wearing them.”
Personal album photo/Denim dreamcatchers are great not only as a hope for a quieter rest, but also as an object to get lost in.
Still other clothes she keeps because of memories or because she sees future creative projects in them. “There are such items that I keep reviewing and I promise: I will get back to you soon,” M. Paukštė smiles.
She points out that there are so many clothes around us today that the need to constantly buy new ones often becomes more of a habit than a necessity.
“I bought my last new clothes maybe five years ago and I really hope that I won’t have to do it for a long time. I even rarely buy second-hand clothes. My closet and all the hundred DĖKui hangers in various places in Vilnius County are living proof that there are too many good, unnecessary clothes in our environment, that we still need to buy new ones,” says Milda, who is confident.
If you need a bed for a cat or a dog, why not make it from old pants?
Personal album photos/Milda bought jeans for the workshop only at the beginning of her activity. Now using those given by workshop participants.
Denim is one of the most grateful materials for creativity
Repurposing, as Milda says, does not start with the trendy ideas of social networks, but with a very simple need. If you need to update an armchair or ottoman at home, she suggests thinking about denim fabric. If you need a bed for a cat or a dog, why not make it from old pants?
Personal album photo/Denim beds for keeping pets or things. They use the inner or outer seams of solid jeans.
According to her, denim is one of the most grateful materials for creativity, because it is strong, easy to combine, and has many details that can become the highlight of a new item.
In the content project “Change attitudes, not things”, organized by the Environmental Project Management Agency, we will share real stories about how to save things and help them live not only a second, but many more lives.
“Jeans are a very personal garment. Everyone either owns a pair of jeans or has an opinion about them. And it’s practically impossible to wear them without leaving a hole in them,” she explains.
M. Paukštė says that different jeans are suitable for different purposes. For example, for sewing handbags or bags, it is better to choose a stiffer, non-stretchy fabric, and for tearing strips, elastic jeans are very suitable. Those who constantly create with jeans, eventually know very precisely what shade, width or stretch of material they need.
Personal album photo/Denim horses on a stick inspired children for a fun race.
Soc. Network videos are often misleading
When asked if anyone can make such projects, Milda says that everyone can try, but a good result requires both time and patience. “You can’t even cook an omelette without a pan and not knowing how it differs from scrambled eggs,” she laughs.
Personal album photo/Milda wears a denim apron during a creative workshop and is happy with the remaining original jeans pockets.
However, some things do not require great skill. For example, it is very easy to tear strips from jeans and tie a toy for a pet. However, in order to sew a bag, an apron, a bedspread or a hammock, you already need to know how to sew, choose the right fabrics and spend time on it.
One of the most common mistakes of beginners, as Milda observes, is the expectation of a too quick result: “People watch short videos on social networks, cut up jeans that are still quite good, get disappointed with the result and throw everything away.”
Personal album photo/Denim crowns are very often used in Milda’s studio. Many people are interested in trying them on like a denim wig.
According to the interviewee, short videos are often just inspiration, and quality work requires both tools and practice. She herself admits that experimentation takes up most of her creative time. “When you do it for the first time, you make a lot of mistakes, you hesitate, and then everything starts to go faster,” she says.
Personal album photo/You can also create various toys for pets from denim scraps by tying knots.
Dreaming of weaving a rug for the bathroom
At home, Milda found a rug made of jeans for the dog, toys for the pet and a large sewn denim bag the most useful. The studio has long used a chair covered in denim, a workshop apron, woven baskets and even a crown, which she says many visitors want to try on.
Not only jeans, but also most clothes can be reused.
She admits that she still dreams of weaving a rug for the bathroom, but she can’t find the right shade of jeans.
Personal album photo/Jeans can also be “dressed up” with a book or notebook.
The interviewer is convinced that theoretically it is possible to reuse not only jeans, but also the majority of clothes: “It is estimated that even 90% of clothes in the world are thrown away without using their potential.”
In her opinion, today the market is full of cheap new things, so people often no longer see the point in repairing, saving or sometimes even washing: “In the future, we will talk about these times in the same way that our parents talked about the deficit, and our grandparents – about the times when one pair of shoes was enough for several family members.”
Personal album photo/Denim shopping baskets can be made using the top or bottom of jeans.
Creative workshops for schoolchildren
M. Paukštė is happy that the attitude towards sustainability in our society is changing little by little. This topic is increasingly being discussed in schools, communities, and organizations and companies are getting involved.
She also feels this during the creative workshops she leads for schoolchildren. “According to the Culture Passport program, students come to learn about weaving or learn how to make a dream catcher. For this, we use jeans that are no longer needed, and with each class at least six jeans get a new purpose. This is much more sustainable than buying new fabric,” says the founder of the studio.
Personal album photo/You can create a new fabric from denim: make a rug, table runner or wall decoration.
When asked why it is important for her not to throw away, but to use again, Milda answers very simply: “I just feel much better creating from what others refuse to use, because I think it is already worthless. Then I am most happy with the result and myself.”
And sometimes, as she says, the thing itself seems to hint at what it could become, you just have to be ready to hear it.
Personal album photo/Jeans are very suitable for creating various toys and festive decorations.
The article was prepared during the implementation of the project “Publicization of waste prevention”
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