Threadlines
The Thread Up Oxford Newsletter - February 2025
The True Cost of Jeans
Who doesn’t love a great pair of blue jeans? In fact, the average American owns seven pairs of jeans. But what do our favorite jeans actually cost us? And no, we’re not talking about the price tag. Let’s talk about the environmental cost.
Textile production represents about 10% of global carbon emissions, and producing a single pair of jeans takes nearly 1,000 gallons of water. That’s the same amount of water one person would drink in seven years! And the impact doesn’t stop when the jeans leave the store.
At the end of their lifecycle, clothing has an even greater impact. Each year, more than 11 million tons of textiles are thrown away in the United States alone. So how can you make sure your favorite pair of jeans doesn’t end up in a landfill? Here are a few simple and sustainable solutions:
Keep Them
Trends are always changing, but a timeless pair of jeans never goes out of style. When shopping, avoid “trendy” designs that might fall out of favor quickly. Instead, opt for high quality classic, versatile styles you can wear for years and across multiple seasons. To keep those jeans looking their best, avoid washing after each wearing, allow them to air out and spot clean only. This will reduce wear and keep your items looking their best for even longer!
Mend Them
It’s always a bummer when your favorite jeans end up with a hole or a ripped hem. But mending isn’t as intimidating as it might sound! With a needle, some thread, and a couple of YouTube tutorials, you’d be surprised how easy it is to repair small defects and extend the life of your jeans.
Donate
While the average American owns seven pairs of jeans, we only tend to wear four or five of them. If you have a pair that’s been sitting untouched in your closet, don’t toss them out—donate them! Local organizations like Thread Up Oxford redistribute gently used textiles within the community. That pair of jeans collecting dust in your wardrobe could become someone else’s new favorite.
Upcycle
Got jeans that are too far gone for mending? Get creative and give them a new purpose! Old jeans can be transformed into planters (see tutorial below), tote bags, potholders, coasters, or even quilts. Upcycling not only reduces waste but also adds a personal, creative touch to your home.
Trash? Think Again
Okay, we’ve all been there: a pair of jeans so tattered or stained they seem beyond saving. Before you throw them in the trash, consider donating them to Thread Up Oxford, we accept ANY QUALITY textile materials. If every person in Oxford donated just one pair of jeans each year instead of throwing them away, our community could save 11.5 tons of textiles from landfills annually!
Make a Difference
By keeping, mending, donating, upcycling, or properly recycling your jeans, you’re making a positive impact on the planet. Small steps add up to big change. So, what will you do to give your jeans—and the environment—a second chance?
1,600 Pounds of Clothing Donated—A Big Step for Relief Efforts
In January, Thread Up Oxford made a significant impact by donating 1,600 pounds of high-quality clothing to Matthew 25: Ministries, helping provide relief across the U.S. and around the world. We worked to load 81 bins—the equivalent of $567 worth of recovered clothing—into four large Gaylord containers.
This effort wouldn’t have been possible without the many volunteers who helped sort through donations over the weekend. A BIG thank you to everyone who participated!
Why This Donation Matters
Maximized Impact: These clothes will now serve those in need rather than sitting in storage.
Financial Savings: Reducing storage needs helps us save money and operate more efficiently.
Improved Space & Workflow: Clearing critical space in our facility allows us to better manage incoming donations.
Efficient Transportation: Large-scale organizations like Matthew 25 Ministries operate strategically, ensuring that their trucks pick up large donations in the most fuel-efficient way possible.
Seeking Local Distribution Partners
While large-scale donations are valuable, Thread Up Oxford is also committed to supporting local organizations that serve those in hardship. We are actively looking for partners in and around Oxford who would benefit from a steady supply of clothing for those in hardship. If your organization might benefit please reach out!
📧 info@threadupoxford.com
📞 513-273-1701
Together, we can make a difference—one donation at a time.
Upcoming Events
🛍️ Bag Sale at Thread Up Oxford
🗓️Saturday, February 15th | 🕐 1–4 PM
📍 5156 College Corner Pike
Fill a bag for just $3! We provide the bags, and you stuff as much as you can into a bag without breaking it. You can purchase as many bags as you want!
Upcycled Denim Planter Tutorial
For those jeans that are just to far gone to mend, check out this quick craft tutorial to turn an old pair of jeans into a cute planter or small catch all basket to help organize your desk. I used a pair of jeans from the Freejects table at Thread Up Oxford, scissors, a needle and white thread. This project could also be done without sewing using safety pins in place of the hand sewn stitches.
Find a pair of jeans to upcycle, the Freejects table inside Thread Up Oxford at 5156 College Corner Pike is a great place to find some if you don’t have a pair in your closet that need to be upcycled.
Cut the bottom of both legs off. How high you make your cut will determine how tall your planter/basket is. I cut mine about 8” up from the hem.
Turn one of the legs inside out and put it inside the other leg, making sure to line up the hems.
Sew or safety pin the bottom (opposite the hem) of your planter. Leave the hem intact to provide stability to your planter/basket. To make your basket stand up sew or pin each corner at an angle, then snip off the extra fabric to reduce bulk.
Now turn your planter/basket inside out, fold down the top and voila you have a quick and easy planter or catch all basket! This project came together in just 10 minutes!
