Classic football shirts are essential to many fans and sports enthusiasts. It’s not just about the shirt itself, but also the nostalgia and history that comes with it. This is why many fans opt to collect classic football shirts. And nowadays, especially during the lockdown in 2020, due to COVID-19, more interested fans started their collection.
However, although collectors aim to preserve and take good care of classic football shirts, there are instances when they get damaged and can no longer be included in your collection.
In this article, we’ll give you a list of ideas you can do to recycle old and damaged classic football shirts.
1. Create a Quilt or Blanket
Unfortunately, if most of your classic football shirt collection has been damaged, and there’s no way to fix them, you can just turn them into a blanket or quilt. This way of recycling allows you to preserve the best part of a shirt, which is the back number with the surname or the front print, indicating the team name.
In this project, you need to know how to sew. It’s good if you have a machine, but you can also try hand-sewing.
2. Turn Them Into Pillows
Meanwhile, if you don’t have a lot of damaged classic football shirts, you can also create a pillow or pillowcase using what’s left. The ideal size would be the same as a throw pillow, especially since there’s not enough fabric to work with.
Of course, if you can’t even make a throw pillow using the remaining fabric of a classic football shirt, you can at least use the prints, and the base can be another similar fabric.
3. Frame Them
If you don’t want to change anything about a classic football shirt, but it’s too damaged to be used, framing it can be the best option. You can either feature the back part or frame the whole shirt, even if the damned parts are exposed. Besides, featuring the exposed parts of the shirt is a way to show how much the shirt has gone through.
4. Use Them for Craft Projects
Recycling a damaged classic football shirt isn’t just about the prints, but also the main fabric. So, if you’ve already used the most essential parts of the shirt, you can still use the remaining ones for your art projects. For instance, you can create coasters, shopping bags, and bookmarks.
And even if you have other projects in mind, don’t hesitate to try making them using the remaining fabric from your classic football shirts.
5. Donate to Charities or Local Clubs
Do you want to help your fellow football fans who don’t have the means to obtain classic football shirts? Donating the old shirts can be a great option. Of course, you should check the shirts thoroughly if they can still be worn. If not, donating them might not be a good idea.
Meanwhile, if it’s the time of the year when you declutter old pieces from your classic football shirt collection, you can just donate them, instead of selling them.
6. Use as Gym Wear
If the football shirts aren’t good enough to be worn in football games, at least give another purpose as gym clothes. Besides, if you have authentic football shirts, they can be one of the most comfortable gym clothes you’ll have, especially since they’re made from lightweight materials and high-end fabric.
7. Turn Them Into Bags or Totes
Another idea when utilising the printed part of a classic football shirt is to make a tote bag. As you know, tote bags are rectangular, making it easy to pattern the shape of the bag from the back part of the football shirt. Of course, don’t forget to add an inner lining to create a body for the bag.
Meanwhile, if you don’t have much fabric left, you can also try making a drawstring bag. It’s relatively smaller than a tote bag, so you still have another option when making a bag.
8. Sell or Trade for Collectors
Even if classic football shirts are ruined or old, there are still fans and collectors who would pay to obtain them. Of course, the price isn’t the same compared to the ones in mint condition, but you can still earn something that you can use to buy other classic football shirts.
9. Make a Memory Collage
If the damaged classic football shirts hold sentimental value, you can turn them into a memory collage. You can either make a scrapbook or a wall collage. In doing so, cut out the most essential parts of the shirt. Then, collect all photos, tickets, and other elements that can create a whole memory just by looking at the collage. In addition, you can write a few notes or mini storeys connected to the memory you’re planning to recreate.
Final Thoughts
Having a damaged classic football shirt can be a sad thing, but you can still turn it into something else. By trying these various ways, you can still have the shirt and use it for another purpose.
Let us know how you recycled yours by leaving a comment below!