Eco Fashion Week -- Recycled Clothing

With hundreds of new designs hitting runways in New York City this week, you can give your style a fashionably green flair with these tips--no catwalk required.

Tip #2: Trim your waste

An average American throws away 68 pounds of clothing and textiles every year, according to the Council for Textile Recycling. Local second-hand shops, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army make it easy to keep your share out of landfills--so why the waste? If you think an item is too worn to warrant donation, think again: A professor of textile and apparel management at the University of Missouri-Columbia tells E Magazine that even scraps can find new life in products ranging from paper to blankets and fencing. If you would rather give your beloved but outgrown items directly to a new wearer, try listing giveaways on a site like freecycle.org, which can help you connect with people in your city who will make use of your fashion finds.

Share your tips: How do you trim your clothing waste? What do you do with unwanted clothes?