A new look at old clothes

When clothing is no longer fashionable the typical response is to stuff it in the back of a closet and forget about it, but Ahwatukee Foothills' Spencer Kling has other plans for old clothing.

Kling has been "recycling" clothes since she was 12 years old. The process involves taking clothes apart, reconfiguring them with other clothing and sewing them back together. She crochets, knits and beads embellishments on her clothing to give it a special flair.

"I look at people wearing jeans all the time and think of new ways to put them together," Kling said. "I use scarves and doilies to make skirts or jackets from jeans, and I never throw a piece of clothing away."

Although Kling is concerned with the way her fashions look, she is also concerned with the way they feel to the wearer.

"The clothes I make have all been worn, so they're extremely comfortable. There's no need to break them in," she said.

The clothing Kling creates can also be a practical way to pay homage to a lost loved one.

"When people lose someone they are close to they can bring me something like a tie that the person owned. I make it into a new article of clothing, and it can be worn in remembrance instead of just putting it in a drawer and forgetting about it," she said.

It takes Kling about one week to create a new piece of recycled clothing. The articles of clothing can cost anywhere from $50 to $400.

"The price of the clothing depends on how much time I put into it," she said. "People should know that it truly is one-of-a-kind, wearable art. Whenever I wear the clothing I create people stop me to tell me how much they love it."

Kling has even received praise for her clothing from the judges on the TV show Project Runway.

"I had a lot of fun auditioning for the show in Chicago. They didn't invite me to be a contestant, but they said they were impressed with my imaginative approach to design," she said.

Kling is in the process of finding a boutique to sell her clothing. To view her clothing or to give her clothing to recycle, contact Kling at (480) 248-6673.