Much-knitted: Mum turns old into new

Toledo, Ohio – Old sweaters can be turned into brand-new accessories with the help of graphic designer Haik Avanian’s mother. Avanian has set up Reknit, an initiative that allows eco-minded consumers to send old sweaters to his mum so that she may unravel the yarn and use it to make new, one-of-a-kind items, such as a scarf, beanie or iPod case.

‘We’re hoping people see the potential in reusing clothing made from yarn, and maybe start similar projects within their families and communities,’ Avanian says. ‘It’s a small habit, but many of these small habits can add up to a whole sustainable lifestyle over time.’

An increasingly austere sentiment has been rising among consumers, as we explore in our report on The New Sobriety. This attitude is also helping to drive a new Prohibition Culture in which people will likely continue to curb their purchasing habits over the next year.