31 Stylish Ways to Upcycle Jeans

I've been upcycling for 2 decades now, believe it or not. If you're new here, my name it Terina and I am a leather upcycler who designs handbags, accessories, jewelry and home goods primarily out of leather clothes/coats that I save from going into landfills. But the thing that I have upcycled the most outside of leather garments is definitely JEANS! I've turned old jeans into everything from home decor to handbags. I'll share my 8 favorite ways to upcycle jeans here in this blog post and you can get the full list of 31 Stylish Ways to Upcycle Jeans as a download that you can always refer to if you run out of ideas.

1. Upcycled Jeans into Throw Pillows: I have enjoyed turning old jeans into soft, comfy throw pillows and as a bonus I get to utilize leather scraps I have laying around as symbols and shapes that I applique onto the fronts of the pillows. My son is 6 now and still has these 2 pillows in his room that I upcycled from my old jeans!

   
   

   

   

   

   

2. Upcycled Jeans into Duffel Bags: I find duffel bags to be so useful. Great for the gym, great as a carry-on when flying. So I made one for a friend and that led to a series of upcycled jeans that were turned into duffel bags from jeans that clients shipped to me for this very purpose. I enjoyed adding art and decorative elements that spoke to their personalities, as well.

   
   

   

3. Upcycled Jeans into Yoga Mat Carrier: I'm almost certain that this yoga mat carrier was the first bag that I ever made from old jeans. The concept lived in my mind for months. It just seemed like a very obvious idea since the jeans were already in the cyclindrical form needed to slide in a yoga mat. I simply increased the height of the bag with leather, added a leather base and appliques, and of course a shoulder strap.

   
   

   Get my full list of 31 Ways to Upcycled Jeans here

   
   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

4. Upcycled Jeans into All Other Bag Styles: Once I knew a yoga mat carrier and duffel bag looked great from upcycled jeans, I kinda went bananas with several bag styles from fanny packs to water bottle holders, clutches to totes! Jeans make AWESOME bags. Period. End of story! ;)

   
   
   
   

5. Upcycling Jeans with Fabric Paint: Recently, in the Eco-Fashion Lab, the community I run for people who want to learn to make what they wear, I had guest instructor Jerry Charles-Reid, owner of Thirsty Palette Paint, come in to teach painting on fabric. I may have been the host but I was in the (Zoom) audience learning and having a great time like everyone else! I took a pair of white jeans that I only pull out in the summer and gave them more wearability by adding black zebra stripes. In the video I have them on for Halloween, just for fun, but they will get lots of rotation with its newfound flair!

   
   

   Get my full list of 31 Ways to Upcycled Jeans here

   

   

   

6. Upcycling Jeans into Skirts: This is probably the jean upcycling project that I'm most known for. I'm obsessed with turning my old jeans that have become a little too snug into fashion-forward maxi-skirts! So much so, that I've taught it several times over the years as a workshop!

   
   

7. Upcycling Jeans into Boots: I've only done this to one pair of boots thus far but they came out great! Check them out on my Instagram.

   
   

   

8. Upcycling Skinny Jeans into Baggy Jeans: I, for one, am very happy to see the return of baggy jeans! But I see no need to buy new pairs when I have my fair share of jeans that can be combined to produce a cool two-toned extra baggy pair. I used a chevron, patchwork technique for the side panels. You can see the full process on my Instagram, as well.

Beyond these projects, I've also made jewelry, hair accessories and even a lunch bag from upcycled jeans! Get my full list of 31 Ways to Upcycled Jeans here.

After reading this blog post, I hope you are feeling motivated and excited to embark on a creative journey of upcycling your old jeans into stylish new designs. Upcycling your jeans not only allows you to express your unique style but also contributes to sustainable fashion practices by giving new life to old garments.

By transforming your jeans into something fashion-forward, you are not only saving money but also reducing waste and environmental impact. Each pair of upcycled jeans tells a story of creativity and innovation, showcasing your individuality and commitment to a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

If you're looking for more inspiration and ideas on how to upcycle your jeans, be sure to check out the full list of 31 Ways to Upcycle Jeans provided in this blog post. From simple alterations to intricate designs, there are so many possibilities to explore and experiment with, allowing you to unleash your creativity and revamp your wardrobe in a sustainable and fashionable way.

Enjoy!