Page Loader
Summarize
Unique ways to reuse men's shirts
Refer to this guide

Unique ways to reuse men's shirts

Jul 22, 2025
11:13 am

What's the story

Thrifting has become a cool way to score unique clothing pieces while being eco-friendly. Men's shirts, especially, make a perfect canvas for creativity. With a pinch of imagination, you can turn these beauties into trendy and functional pieces. Here are five creative ways to upcycle thrifted men's shirts, giving you practical ideas to breathe new life into these garments without burning a hole in your pocket.

Shirt dress

Turn shirt into a chic dress

Transforming an oversized men's shirt into a chic dress is both simple and stylish. Just remove the sleeves and adjust the length and you've got a fashionable dress for all occasions. Add a belt at the waist to enhance the silhouette, giving it structure and flair. Not only does this save money, you can also customize it according to your style preferences.

Tote bags

Create trendy tote bags

Men's shirts can also be upcycled into trendy tote bags with minimal sewing skills required. By cutting out large sections of fabric from the shirt's body and sleeves, you can stitch together durable bags perfect for shopping or casual outings. The pockets of the shirt add functional storage space to your tote bag design, making it both practical and eco-friendly.

Pillow covers

Design unique pillow covers

Using thrifted men's shirts as pillow covers is another excellent way to add character to home decor. The variety of patterns available in men's shirts ensures that you have endless possibilities to create unique pillow designs. Just cut out squares or rectangles from different parts of the shirt, and sew them together to fit your pillows perfectly.

Headbands

Craft stylish headbands

Not only are these headbands made out of thrifted men's shirts super fashionable, they're also ridiculously easy to make. Simply cut out strips from colorful or patterned portions of the shirt, and twist or braid them into headbands that add that extra flair to any outfit. They're comfortable because of the soft fabric and make for an affordable accessory option.

Aprons

Make customized aprons

Transforming a thrifted men's shirt into an apron is the best for cooking or even crafting. Just remove the sleeves and add ties at the waist from leftover fabric. This way the shirt's original collars and buttons are kept on the apron, adding style without the extra cost of buying new materials outside of thrift stores.