October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so let’s talk about ways you can clear out your bra collection while not filling the landfill. Luckily, there are many organizations that take gently-used bras. We’ll also talk about what to do with a well-worn bra and learn about artists who have bras as a theme in their work.

You can listen to my original podcast episode on the creative reuse of bras from October 2019 in this YouTube video:

Donate Gently-Used or New Bras

• Bra for a Cause (USA)
• Bra Recyclers (USA)
• Bra Recycling Agency (USA)
• BRAWS or Bringing Resources to Aid Women in Shelters (USA)
• Breast Oasis (USA) – only collect during the month of October
• Free the Girls (USA)
• I Support the Girls (USA)
• Smalls for All (UK)
• Uplift Bras (Australia, New Zealand and Asia)
• Women Giving Back (USA)

What to Make with Well-Worn Bras

Bra Purse

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bybu5Owgt0c/

Send clasps to a wildlife rehabilitation organization that works with turtles:

• Wildthunder Wildlife & Animal Rehabilitation & Sanctuary in Independence, Iowa
• Carolina Wildlife Rescue

Make your own bra extender

What to Make with Bra Insert Pads

• Convert them into knee pads by adding a pocket on the inside of a pair of work pants
• Protect your floors by using them as furniture movers
• Make a sleep mask
• Stitch them around hangers to keep clothes from sliding off
• Use them as base for a fascinator
• Give them to a seamstress or dress maker

Reusing Bras in Halloween Costumes

• Ears for an animal costume
• Snakeskin or fish scale makeup

Artists Who Creatively Reuse Bras

BraBall by Emily Duffy

Mariah Reading landscape painting

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaAVQf9nOCh/

Emily Dvorin baskets

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3AXDXXpyPl/

Bras from Creatively Reuse Materials

Ruby Silvious, Oribrami

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLoaC9qj_z4/

Veronika Richterová, Petprsenka, 2005

https://www.instagram.com/p/BznKpv0ppjN/

Knitted Knockers

Knitted Knockers connects knitters and crocheters with breast cancer survivors. They give out free patterns for how to knit or crochet prosthetics. You could knit a breast prosthetic from leftover yarn from a previous project although you need to check their list of approved yarns which are proven to work well.

Dress made from upcycled bras by Renee Sherrer at Social Fabric in Bellingham, WA

Show Details

• Script for this podcast episode about creative reuse of bras
• Trashmagination’s Pinterest board for bra creative reuse
• The Trashmagination podcast theme music is Kitchen from the Marian Circle Drum Brigade