10 DIY Halloween Costume Ideas

Can you believe that September is almost over? Halloween is just a month and a half away, and if you’re planning to go DIY with your costume this year, now’s the time to get started. Need some help in the costume department? Check out these eco-friendly Halloween costume ideas!

From the decorations and single-serve candy to the costumes themselves, Halloween generates tons of waste every year. Here in the U.S. around 70 percent of us celebrate Halloween, and experts estimated in 2011 that we spend around $2.5 billion just on costumes. Imaging if you could save that money instead of spending it on plastic and polyester costumes that you’ll likely wear once and then throw away or donate.

Related Reading: The Green Halloween Guide

You might think that you need crazy sewing skills to make your own Halloween costume, but that’s not true at all. The thrift store is your friend when it comes to finding the clothing parts of your costumes. If you can’t find exactly what you want, you can always slice, pin, dye, or use a few super basic sewing stitches on something that’s close to bring your Halloween costume vision to life. For example, if you wanted to dress as a pumpkin but were having problems finding orange clothes, you can always buy pants and a top or a dress in a light, solid color and dye them orange.

Of course, if you want your DIY Halloween costume to be eco-friendly, too, you want to use green and reclaimed materials as much as possible when you’re making it. Ready to get your costume on? On the next page, check out 10 Halloween costume ideas made from upcycled and reclaimed materials!

Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by hanna_horwarth