New from Old: A Denim Tale

Hat: Faire Collection via Connected (fair trade) | Tank: Everlane (made with transparency) | Cardigan: Vera Wang (clothing swap) | Necklace: Miriam Designs (survivor-made) | Jeans: i jeans by Buffalo (upcycled) | Shoes: Nisolo (made with transparency)

I had this pair of gray jeans that I loved. They weren’t a fancy brand, and they were one of the last fast fashion purchases I made. But they worked.

After a couple of years, the jeans faded. The color got a little funky. Something pink bled onto them. They didn’t look good. But they still fit great.

So one day I bought dye at the craft store. And a few weeks later, stir-crazy from winter, I dyed my jeans.

As I was preparing for the process, I read a comment online stating that dye jobs never turn out the way you expect, but they still can be great.

That was prophetic in my case. I was hoping to dye the jeans black to add a pair of sleek, black skinnies to my closet. After starting the dye process in my washing machine, I realized that my new-ish HE machine was too automated for me to follow the instructions to the letter. I discovered I couldn’t manually control the wash cycle, so the fabric sat in the dye for about half of the recommended time.

The resulting color was not black, but an odd sort of teal-gray. But you know what? I like it. The color is going to be great for spring and fall, and the jeans look way better than they did.

I’m not sure if any more color experiments are in my future — I like reusing an older piece of clothing, but the water and chemicals involved makes it a wash (ha ha) as far as I’m concerned. I have to admit, though, I felt empowered by finding a way to give new life to a beloved piece of clothing.

Tempted to try it for yourself? Let’s Be Fair has a great tutorial this week — head over there for step-by-step instructions and details!