Earth Day Every Day: Why a T-Shirt Quilt is the Eco-Friendly Choice

On April 22 of every year, we celebrate Earth Day as a reminder of the importance of our planet and the environments in which we live. During our day-to-day activities, it’s easy to set environmental concerns to the side in favor of convenience. However, time and time again it’s proven that every little bit helps and we all can do our part to contribute to a healthier planet.

Go green this Earth Day!

So, this April challenge yourself to consider how your actions affect the environment around you. How much waste do you produce? What can you do to reduce your carbon footprint? Which items do you discard that could actually be upcycled, donated or repurposed?

In honor of Earth Day, let’s take the time to answer these questions and address other concerns of environmental impact in one simple and wonderful way – creating a t-shirt quilt, a meaningful and eco-friendly way to preserve your memories and help the planet.

UPCYCLE AND REDUCE WASTE

Never throw out your old t-shirts again!

One of the biggest first steps you can take towards more sustainable living is to embrace the practice of upcycling. More and more people are upcycling old belongings by transforming them into something brand new. Often people upcycle used or broken household objects like containers or furniture and use their creativity to give them new life. Used cans and jars can be upcycled into planters or storage, and furniture can be upcycled by redecorating and repurposing. Your t-shirts and clothes can be upcycled in the same way to create beautiful and meaningful t-shirt quilts.

When you create a t-shirt quilt, you’re giving new life to your belongings and fighting against textile waste. Your t-shirt quilt can decorate your bedroom, living room or any wall of your home with a quilt filled with all of your favorite memories – now that’s what we call upcycling! Also, this practice of reducing waste helps keep more textile products out of landfills. In a single year, the average person in the U.S. throws away 81.5 pounds of clothes. By saving and upcycling shirts, you’re reducing your carbon footprint and gaining a new keepsake.

SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE AND HANDMADE CHOICES

Sustainability in every stitch.

Another major component to your t-shirt quilt’s eco-friendly power is contributing to the cause against mass-production of goods worldwide. At the current rate, carbon emissions from the fashion and textile industry are projected to double between the start of the decade and 2030. The environmental consequences of such emissions could be catastrophic.

This, however, can change, and it all starts when we all make the conscious decision to embrace products created by hand, such as the t-shirt quilts at MemoryStitch. We handle your well-loved t-shirts and clothes with care rather than contributing to mass-production. Supporting small businesses is crucial during this time of global change, and every small effort against the effects of excessive carbon emissions will see tremendous benefits for future generations.

GIVE GIFTS THAT ARE BUILT TO LAST

Enjoy the outdoors with your favorite memories.

Finally, t-shirt quilts as gifts also support sustainable practices because of their durability and encouragement to carry the practice forward. As gifts and heirlooms, quilts hold historic precedent. Quilts are built to last, passed from generation to generation, carrying the storied history of a person or family with it. Our t-shirt quilts are no different. At MemoryStitch, we make sure your memories are stitched together to be durable and to last for years to come. 

Rather than a disposable, mass-produced gift bought in a store, a t-shirt quilt is a gift that shows your loved one that you care about them and support sustainable causes. Think about the practices of upcycling not only as a way of preserving the Earth but also as a way of preserving you and your loved one’s history. Make your memories last into the brighter tomorrow brought on by sustainable choices today.

WRAP UP

To celebrate Earth Day and bring eco-friendly habits into your life, it’s important to draw your attention to the ways you can start making a difference today. By embracing sustainable practices like upcycling, thoughtful gift-giving and responsible manufacturing, you can play a part in reducing harmful carbon emissions and waste. Take some time to get inspired on other ways you can reduce your carbon footprint this month and beyond, and remember that every little bit helps!

Your green Earth Day journey can start today when you create the perfect t-shirt quilt for you or your loved ones with MemoryStitch. Take a look at our easy-to-follow manufacturing process that keeps you and the importance of preserving your memories at the forefront by visiting our How It Works page. After that, check out our full collection of t-shirt quilts and other keepsakes. And make sure you stay tuned to our Instagram and Facebook for every update on MemoryStitch sales and more!

Happy Earth Day! 

Written by Zander Gibney.