Used shirts, reborn as bibs for adults

There are few products more eco-iconic than those that are stylishly but obviously constructed from other used goods. We’ve already covered a few examples—bags made from old airline seat covers, town banners or discarded wrappers, for example—but it wasn’t until recently that we came across the idea of turning previously worn shirts into bibs. Sure enough, Margo Roth, a Michigan-based entrepreneur who sells nuts and homemade jams through her company Jemfruit, has begun offering what she calls Dirt Shirts—an alternative to a tied napkin or traditional adult-sized bib that offers a more stylish and dignified way to keep messy eaters’ clothes clean. Dirt Shirts are essentially regular collared, button-down shirts with the sleeves and most of the back removed. Adults in need of a little extra clothing protection while they eat simply slip the neck opening over their head, and the front of the shirt covers their own garments; most are lined, unless the fabric is heavy enough to do the job alone. Velcro squares sewn to the bottom even allow a “tray” to be formed to aid in catching crumbs. Dirt Shirts are available in a variety of styles, patterns and lengths for about USD 19. A video on YouTube demonstrates the Dirt Shirt in action. There is no shortage of used clothing out there, making the Dirt Shirt an excellent candidate for emulation by minipreneurs with a crafty bent. A bunch of shirts, a needle and thread, and you’re pretty much good to go! 😉