A business shirt has a second life
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381799)
Rockingham, Australia
February 24, 2018 2:40am CST
When we go out using the chain-saw or cleaning up rubbish, I always wear jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. This protects me a little from scratches and scrapes. Sometimes we will be loading branches onto the trailer then later dragging them off at the spot where they’ll be burnt. It’s easy to get scratches when doing this so I try to wear appropriate clothing.
So today I borrowed one of Vince’s old business shirts to wear. It was one that had stains on the pocket from a leaky biro so it wasn’t one of his best ones. The trees we cut up today had been in a fire so we were both filthy by the time we finished. Although I’m smiling my brow is furrowed. We had just finished when the photo was taken and I was hot, itchy and starting to ache. But I’ll be right after a good sleep.
So I’m wondering, if you have business shirts or blouses, are your old ones recycled at the end of their ‘professional’ life?
41 people like this
45 responses
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Feb 18
I have had shirts that have become old and just comfortable for everyday wear and I have loved some flannel shirts that have worn out in the elbows and I make them into flannel short-sleeved shirts. I see by the photo that you have worked hard. Wish my surrounding looked like yours. Everything here is in ice and snow and we continue to be in the deep freeze.
4 people like this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Feb 18
@hereandthere real spring sets in about the second week of April. There can still be snow in March.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
26 Feb 18
@RasmaSandra sounds like a very long winter
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Feb 18
I always recycle old work shirts into "rags" to be used around the house for cleaning and such. Since I work for the government, and our work shirts have our city name and logo on them, we can't donate them to charity to help the needy, so we have to destroy old work shirts by either throwing them away or cutting them up into rags to be used for cleaning. Since I've been in my current job for over 15 years, I probably have close to 100 work shirts sitting in my closet, many of which I don't even wear anymore!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Mar 18
@JudyEv I have a wonderful jacket from a previous employer that I've had tucked away in my closet for years. I pulled it out recently and decided to try and unpick the logo on it so that I can go have a new logo embroidered over the spot where the old logo was. It is tedious work because if you don't do it correctly you can ruin the clothing!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381799)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Mar 18
@moffittjc If the embroidery is finely done you seem to have to take a stitch at a time. Can you not put a pocket over the whole logo or is it somewhere where you can't do that?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381799)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 18
It does indeed. I've seen shoulder bags made from denim shorts and they looked quite classy.
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
26 Feb 18
My dad wore a suit to work every day of his life working, so when he retired all his shirts were used by all of us when doing outside work. They are wonderful for saving our skin... You brought back a fun memory with that shirt photo...
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
2 Mar 18
@JudyEv You are very smart, my husband rarely had dress shirts so we didn't have them but my mother made wonderful aprons ( full body) that worked like a charm. My husband was a coach so shorts and t shirts were his work clothes.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381799)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 18
@PainsOnSlate I loved being able to say to the kids that they didn't have to worry about getting dirty or covered in paint or whatever.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
25 Feb 18
lol I haven't worked for a long time and hubs was blue collar not white color so he still wears his old tee shirts lol But that is a good use for his older shirt!!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
6 Mar 18
@JudyEv We met a very nice couple who we shared the dinner table with and it made the trip even more enjoyable.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
6 Mar 18
@JudyEv Or a cruise lol you do need a collared shirt to get in the dining room lol
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381799)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Mar 18
@BelleStarr Yes, we took a few - quite a few - on our cruise. It was fun to get dressed up each evening.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
25 Feb 18
Yes those old business shirts are great for working outdoors. I always keep a few handy for the garden during summer as they protect me from those nasty mosquito bites.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
24 Feb 18
I get maximum use from clothes and those that are past it usually end up rags.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
26 Feb 18
Oh yes, those style shirts are the best for working in summer. Lightweight enough to breath - but also dense enough to protect from scratches
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381799)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Mar 18
@FayeHazel Nearly all his old shirts are light-coloured.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
2 Mar 18
@JudyEv Thankfully it was light colored too
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
27 Feb 18
Some clothing I wear for decades until they fall apart or come back into style, lol. But yes, I will use former nice clothing as gardening or cleanup attire 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381799)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Mar 18
@dgobucks226 Dozens of ours are decades old!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
3 Mar 18
@JudyEv Yes, I have a few that are decades old. Oops, that sounds pretty embarrassing 
1 person likes this
@anikoonline (3250)
• Hungary
24 Feb 18
My business blouses are not comfortable, so I don't use it later.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381799)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Mar 18
@anikoonline Yes, we need to look smart when we go to work.
1 person likes this
@anikoonline (3250)
• Hungary
2 Mar 18
@JudyEv You're right. But I have to work pretty to work.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59648)
• Philippines
25 Feb 18
Most of mine are either donated or just simply given.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59648)
• Philippines
3 Mar 18
@JudyEv true. I'd rather give ti away to someone who would have use for these rather than keeping it all.
@mydanods (6513)
• Nigeria
25 Feb 18
I just discarded one of my beloved shirts. It was showing signs of discoloring It was sad to have to let it go. Maybe when one of the men that takes recycled materials come around, I will gift it to them. I make it a practice to buy new shirts every 6 months so I have lots of discarded shirts.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 Feb 18
Yes, recycled for sure. I donated a bunch when I retired and gave Anne some silk ties to use in her art quilts.
That photo looks like a hard day's work for sure.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Mar 18
@JudyEv I have a few ties left, but never wear them. I do wear a Snoopy tie at Christmas time and have some Jerry Garcia ties I may try to sell.
@Bullshark (3477)
• Netherlands
24 Feb 18
I sometimes do recycle clothes, but haven't recycled much of mine as most my clothes still look as new as the day I bought them...
1 person likes this
@Bullshark (3477)
• Netherlands
2 Mar 18
@JudyEv I am a master when it comes to keeping clothes durable... :)
1 person likes this
