Goodwill promotes that vicious cycle “Shop, Donate, Shop, Donate”. TLC’s “What Not to Wear” had Stacy and Clinton demonstrating weekly how to make over nominee’s wardrobe/closet. Cuyana promotes lean closets as a business plan by including a mailer for clothing donation with each clothing purchase.
https://www.cuyana.com/story/lean-closet
For the past fifteen years, I have travelled often, primarily to three destinations. For me the “twist” on lean closets is to have three functional closets in three different states with the goal to reduce luggage plus packing and unpacking. (Easy laundry access at each place makes this workable.) 1) Home base 2)Farm 3) Warm weather. As time goes by, transfers between closets wring a little more use out of my clothing.
I have an example for extending the life/value of clothing.
I still love the colors and pattern of culottes I purchased 25 years ago. The waist was always a little snug. I had it altered professionally to raise the hem and expand the waist. The alteration was very well done. However, the change was awkward because the culotte style tended to bunch up. My remedy removed the excess material and sewed it back as a true skirt.
From culotte to skirt
For a much more involved projects, check out “Go Green” Sew News Feb/Mar 2013. One article illustrates “Giving an old scarf new life as trim on a fitted sweatshirt jacket” or “Mix and match worn sweaters of a funky up-cycled shoulder bag” …..ahhh the possibilities…
elfcroft 
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