Reconditioned, recycled, deconstructed, reconstructed, or used?

I think the current term is repurposed.

@BellaB I think the current term is repurposed.
Is that a term used if 80% or more of the original garment is reconstructed or if the new garment is made from material of the old garment? Would that label have to be included on the item if it was for resale, and if so, is that a law or just an unenforceable honest policy?

The legal definition is going to vary by jurisdiction. You’d have to look up what is legally required where you are planning to sell the item.

There is a lot of overlap within all the adjectives mentioned. The following definitions and examples are from my own personal observation.

“Used” indicates the item has been owned before. A new car becomes used the second the first owner drives it off the lot.

“Reconditioned” indicates that the item has been repaired, or has had parts replaced in order to extend the life of the item in its original form. Sometimes these types of items are sold with a limited warranty.

“Deconstructed” is usually used for items that were a part of a larger object and can now be used individually. An example would be items salvaged from a demolition of a building, such as bricks, tiles, wrought iron features, doors, windows, etc. This also applies to clothing, including such items as embroidered appliqués salvaged from old clothing.

“Repurposed” refers to any item used for something other than its original “purpose” or design. Many deconstructed items are repurposed.

“Reconstructed” again can refer to anything from construction projects to clothing and more. In the construction industry, it usually refers to a structure that has been “deconstructed”, that is, taken apart piece by piece, and constructed again, usually in another location. Barnwood Builders, if you aren’t familiar with it, is about a construction crew that specializes in deconstruction and reconstruction and/or repurposing of old buildings.

“Recycling” usually refers to the processing of discarded items so that the materials used in the creation of those items can be reused to create other items, such as recycled plastic, metal or paper. Broadly, the term can be used for all of the above

In your example of the cut-off jeans, the shorts would be used, where the items made by the legs would be reconstructed of repurposed denim. All of these are types of recycling.

You might be able to sidestep a lot of that discussion of “what is it called” by simply calling it “scrap” (which you may not like, as it seems to denigrate the final product) or “found materials”. And maybe that last term could actually enhance the final product by giving it an aura of craft (which it certainly does contain) and “artistry”. That also widens the range of materials that you could use on a project (to use your example of a purse), because a purse made with “used denim” would be expected to be constructed of “denim”. But a purse made of “found materials” could include sailcloth, khaki, tarpaulin, quilted outerwear or even tree bark. Who knows? The sky’s the limit with “found material”. Even if all it ever really amounts to is worn-out Levis.

@Yetanotheruser “Repurposed” refers to any item used for something other than its original “purpose” or design. Many deconstructed items are repurposed.
That seems closer to the mark with some of the items, like if material is added to a denim vest or jacket to make it into a dress, it would, in a sense, make something out of the garment than it was originally intended.

“Recycling” usually refers to the processing of discarded items so that the materials used in the creation of those items can be reused to create other items, such as recycled plastic, metal or paper.
I would think purses, bikinis, or skirts made from denim material that was originally jeans, etc. would be more recycled because the material is being reused even if not close to the original garment it came from.

@CWOTUS You might be able to sidestep a lot of that discussion of “what is it called” by simply calling it “scrap” (which you may not like, as it seems to denigrate the final product) or “found materials”.
Seeing it as scrap might be the hook if it were branded correctly, to give it a “green” slant, I guess, like calling it ”Recycled Rags”, or ”Repo Rags”, etc.

That also widens the range of materials that you could use on a project (to use your example of a purse), because a purse made with “used denim” would be expected to be constructed of “denim”.
I would think if other material made up 30% if it, such as leather, corduroy, suede, PVC, etc. the majority would still be denim so it would be accepted as a denim purse.

Even if all it ever really amounts to is worn-out Levis.
So many of the NEW JEANS look like worn out jeans already it is a wonder why there would even be any worn out jeans. I just know at the flea market, the thrift stores, yard sales and such there are so much denim it almost begs to be reused in some fashion because the denim is often still in usable condition even if the fashion they are attached to is not fashionable any longer.