Get crafty this holiday!

Let’s give Santa a break this holiday. Yes, you read that part right and clear.

This holiday season, we are going back to our old garments and upcycling them into new stylish trends.

I am talking about becoming Santa’s little helpers and letting our imaginations run wild as we get crafty this year.

Before you start murmuring, remember that we are trying to help Santa here because he’s getting a little too old.

He needs us this holiday to be eco-artists to create festive wonders, and of course, to save a little money for food and movies.

Why are we doing this? It’s because we want to be superheroes and heroines to save planet Earth from climate change.

On December 1, this year, during the opening of Swahili Fashion Week, Mustafa Hassanali, who’s the founder of the event and a renowned fashion designer, urged the youth to endeavour to preserve the environment by keeping their old clothes.

“It’s up to you to save the world. You know you can make your clothes look more attractive if you decide to practice upcycling,” he shared.

Smart World didn’t end there. We also talked to parents, fashion designers, and children about how they could try their hand at being crafty this year.

Fashion designer, Abdul Samata shares that being able to upcycle and re-use opens up room for creativity in children.

“Speaking creatively, this means that they will be able to understand composition, proportion, and colour theory as they explore creative hand and machine sewing, weaving, and jewellery-making techniques,” he says.

“This means that children will be able to grow into responsible consumers and strong stewards of our planet.”

He further added that you can use an old sweater that doesn’t fit you anymore and make it into a pair of cosy mittens to show off.

“You can see that you are not only keeping yourself warm but also helping the mother planet stay safe,” says Abdul.

According to a tailor in Sinza Kijiweni, Hanifa Jamal, it is important for children to know and understand the three R’s.

“Reduce, reuse and recycle but it is the upcycling aspect that is a new mantra which every child is supposed to know now. It is not all the time that parents are supposed to go into their pockets for a brand new outfit. Sometimes these new materials can be found in the stitches of a repurposed gown or the buttons of a reinvented shirt,” she shares.

She further added that being crafty shows the kids that they can make a big impact with small actions.

“Boys and girls, you need to understand that you’re giving your clothes a second chance to spread joy,” she shares.

You hear that? It’s time that our old t-shirt becomes a festive tote bag or patchwork pillow.

This year is all about eco-friendly workshops, scissors, threads, and a sprinkle of creativity.

12-year-old Justin Frank, who lives in Kimara, Dar es Salaam, shares that the best gifts are all those that are made with love and lots of imagination.

“This Christmas season, I made a wreath from my dad’s old ties. I did not know that reusing and upcycling saves the world; from now on, my friends can call me an earth inspector and I will be making sure I insist that my friends also do their part to take care of the environment,” he shares.

Cherry Christopher, a 10-year-old girl in Mikocheni, says that she upcycles her old clothes every holiday season and uses them to create gift wraps among other things.

“I have been making these for almost two years now. I usually craft and create some special designs that I sell to my friends and online; others I offer to my relatives,” she shares.

“It’s really fun being able to create, and it doesn’t need to be perfect, but it feels good to know that our creations are helping others and the earth,” she adds.

According to a father of two and resident of Kipunguni, Ukonga Dar es Salaam, Mr Thabit shares that it’s time for parents to encourage these young minds to create and craft with the tools they have.

“I am really happy to see how this new generation is now showing that the true magic of holidays lies in creativity. Not all the time, but most of the time, I teach my children that the most enchanting gifts are the ones made with recycled love,” he shares.

Speaking with a mother of three and creative designer, Matrida Raphael shares with Smart World five ways to upcycle old clothing for children this holiday season.

Before she jumps us into those ways, she reminds us that simple clothes that can be easily upcycled for children.

“I believe we all have our old clothes, but to start, clothes like t-shirts, sweaters, pants, skirts, socks, sweatshirts, jackets, shoes, or denim are easily upcyclable, and this year you can start with them,” she explains.

Dye it

It doesn’t matter how old it is or how stained that t-shirt used to be, you can also get creative and upcycle it with some dye.

“You don’t need to be a professional to be able to dye your clothes; your parents can help you buy some fabric-safe dyes, or you can use scraps you have around the house.

“You can use avocado skin and pits; you can use beetroots, curry powder, or turmeric; and the list is long,” she shares.

Embroider it

Here is where some of the magic starts to appear, because you don’t need to be a magician to be this creative.

“This is a technique that involves needles and thread to create a pattern so that you can add texture to your old clothes. It enhances the beauty of your old stuff,” says Matrida.

Cut it

This is another way you can change the look of those old jeans you have. You can cut it by making it short and then rock it this year to look like a brand new design from the store.

Turn it into a tote

It’s time to go out with style this holiday; instead of a plastic bag, go with a tote, making your own eco-friendly bag.

For this, you can use an old sweater for this project to go to the grocery store, or you can use it as shoe bags, shopping bags, or anything else the same as a traditional cotton bag.

Wrap for gift

Let’s save all the money that we’re going to spend this year on wrapping paper because we are going to make our own wrap.

This wrap is from our old clothes, and we can make it to help send gifts to our closet ones on this occasional day as we are waiting for Christmas.

So as the glitter settles and the holiday tunes play, it's clear that this year Santa will stay home at peace, eating his pilau and cold soda.