Re-Purpose that Design, Re-style that costume, Recycling an idea!

by Skip Stewart, Senior Writer, CostumeUniversity.com

I recently took a class about creating ideas. In this class I was reminded of the term Re-Purposing.  It means to use an idea or project you previously created for something else, now for something new.  This is a great idea for costuming.  In community, college and non-professional theaters they do this all the time…its called “reusing” something…today we call it “Re-Purposing”.

Re-using a long coat that was used in a scene of a show this month, can be folded up on an angle in the front lower half to make a cut-a-way style coat for a show next month…this is repurposing.  This is a great way to repurpose older, long tux coats. Dresses are easy to do this with as well.  Some people simply call is re-styling. Today it’s re-purposing.

Patterns are a wonderful place to re-purpose.  Using a pattern from one era or one style and using it on a different but compatible style costume is re-purposing.  Simply change out the sleeve or the collar and use a completely different fabric and you have a totally new costume…read more at CostumeUniversity.com

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