Do you have a pile of old clothes taking up space in your closet? Instead of throwing them away or letting them collect dust, why not give them a second life by upcycling? Upcycling is a sustainable and budget-friendly way to revamp your wardrobe while reducing waste.
What do you say you don’t know how or where to start? Don’t worry with the help of Semsahyou can learn how to REVIVE, RESTORE, REDEEM, RENEW and REUSE old clothes
Semsah offers sewing instructions for beginners, from mending to upcycling to making your own garments from old clothes. Founded by Sussana Mensah, a fashion apparel technologist, Semsah supports its sewing community through videos, workshops and 1–2‑1 coaching and accompanies you through the process of becoming an expert
accession Semsah is a good entry point for beginner sewers or those who want to learn to sew, learn how to make patterns and reuse their old garments. If you want to learn how to recycle your old clothes, join us Semsah Start your journey to sustainable fashion now
Check them out Semsah fashion YouTube
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You may be wondering, “Why should I care about upcycling old clothes?” Well, here are the benefits:
Reduce waste:Upcycling clothing helps reduce the amount of clothing waste that ends up in landfills. Around 350,000 tonnes of old clothing end up in landfill in the UK every year, according to a report by the Waste and Resources Action Program (WRAP). That equates to over 1 billion items of clothing, or 19 pieces per person.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans throw away over 10 million tons of clothing each year. By upcycling old clothing, we can reduce this waste and give our clothing a second life.
Save money: Buying new clothes can be expensive, but upcycling old clothes is a budget-friendly alternative. With a little creativity and some basic sewing skills, you can transform your old clothes into stylish and unique new pieces without spending a lot of money. Every little thing helps, especially at a time like this when everyone’s cost of living has gone up.
Express creativity: Upcycled clothing allows you to express your creativity and personal style. By choosing your own fabrics, colors and designs, you can create unique pieces that reflect your individual taste.
Improving sustainability: By upcycling clothing, we can reduce the fashion industry’s environmental impact. Producing new clothing requires many resources, including water, energy and raw materials. Upcycling helps reduce this demand and promotes a more sustainable approach to fashion.
Supporting local businesses like Semsah: Many upcycling companies and independent designers focus on creating unique and sustainable fashion pieces. By supporting these companies, we can help grow local economies and support sustainable and ethical fashion practices
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Now that you know the benefits, let’s get to know Susanna Mensah, the founder of Semsah, and her motivation for starting it.
What is your background and why did you start this company?
I have been working in the fashion industry as a fashion apparel technologist for over 10 years. I work with buyers and designers to ensure the brand vision and quality is maintained throughout the supply chain. This role taught me that every piece of clothing has a story, a person who brings to life what is often overlooked and underestimated.
I created Semsah as a platform to create value and appreciation for craftsmanship through Revive — Repair, Restore — Rework, Redeem — Upcycling, Renew — Tailoring and everything else to prevent clothes from ending up in landfills.
Where does your passion and drive for this business come from?
In 2012, I visited my family’s home in Ghana and saw the sheer amount of second-hand clothing, which made me wonder where it all came from and where it goes if it doesn’t sell. The answer to this was provided by the 2014 BBC documentary “This World 2014 The Secret Life of Your Clothes”. The documentary highlighted how clothing from charities ends up in landfills in countries like Ghana if not sold. This has an impact on the local textile industry.
This really opened my eyes and made me realize that as a consumer and worker in the fashion industry, I can’t just sit back and do nothing.
Are there innovations in the fashion industry that would help reduce waste?
3D FASHION – I am currently working on a 3D cutting system that can help reduce the number of samples in our company and ensure customers get a better fit when purchasing garments. Additionally, you can purchase the 3D designs as part of your wardrobe and own virtual clothing items.
CUSTOMIZED – There are companies that allow you to customize your design and cut it to your size.
RECYCLE FABRICS – H&M has announced that it will build a recycling machine to take back old garments and break down the textiles to make new fabrics.
CIRCULAR FASHION — This is a system in which our clothing and personal items are manufactured according to a more considered model: the manufacture of an item and the end of its life are equally important. This system carefully considers materials and production, emphasizing the value of using a product to the end, then going a step further and using it for something else. The focus is on the longevity and life cycle of our possessions, including avoiding waste and pollution. Essentially, the “circle” is a reaction to previous economic and social models that were previously “linear” and, incidentally, harmful to the planet.
What are your future plans for the company?
I am building my network of like-minded people in my industry to join the mission and create a greater impact of positive change. I also want to create more tutorials for beginner sewers and continue to provide them with the support they need to get started.
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