A strawberry print can change how you see an old pair of pants. The garment is still there, with its original shape and fabric and all the work that went into making it. We add something to it, and suddenly it's a pair you might choose for a different reason.
That's the approach behind our upcycled kids pieces. We work with an existing garment rather than starting with new yardage. The added print is ours; the original clothes still deserve to be understood as the particular pieces they are.
Four pieces with different starting points
The Levi's 505 kids jeans are a size 5 pair in 100% cotton, with screen-printed strawberries at the knees. The Cherokee shorts are size 4, also 100% cotton. On those shorts, one strawberry printed a little lighter than the other. We include that detail because it's part of this actual pair.
The Studio V pants begin with a size 7 garment made from cotton, polyester, viscose and spandex. The 365 Kids shorts are a size 4 cotton, recycled-polyester and spandex blend with an elastic waist and drawstring.
Giving all four pieces strawberries doesn't give them the same fiber content or fit. Keep the original label and care information with any guidance for the added print. They're useful together.
A few words that can get mixed together
Secondhand or pre-loved tells you that a garment has had a previous owner. Upcycled points to a change or added use, like the print on these existing clothes. Vintage points to age or an earlier period. Deadstock generally means older stock that wasn't used, and reclaimed material has been recovered for another use.
A piece can fit more than one of those descriptions, but they're worth keeping separate. New jeans with vintage fabric pockets start as a new garment. A pre-loved pair with our strawberries starts as finished clothing. We like both approaches, and the product's own story tells you which one you're looking at.
Buy the pair, not just the label size
Compare the actual waist, inseam and rise with a pair that fits your child. A number from an older garment or a different maker won't always line up with the clothes in the drawer. Look at the knees, hems, seams and closures too, and ask about anything the photographs don't show clearly.
Our secondhand measurement and condition guide gives you a more detailed way to do that comparison.
There are a few ways clothes keep going
You can see the changing assortment in our vintage and pre-loved collection. The Kids' Community Closet at 700 Lombard is a separate neighborhood clothing-share program, with its own visiting and participation details.
Sometimes the useful next step is an added print. Sometimes it's a repair, or passing a piece to the next child while it still has plenty of wear in it. We like making room for those different possibilities in the shop.
Leave a comment