Meet Henry: The Shirt Turned Purse

One of my favorite things about upcycling is getting to take something overlooked and give it an entirely new life.

This bag actually started as a thrifted men’s button-up shirt.

And honestly? The bigger the shirt, the better. Extra large men’s shirts are usually my favorite because they give me the most fabric to work with. Smaller sizes can definitely still happen, but it turns into a little bit more of a puzzle.

Before I cut into anything, I always like to take a picture of the original shirt first. There’s just something fun about documenting the transformation and remembering what it used to be before it became something completely different.

Part of me has this ongoing idea that one day I’ll turn the “before” photos into little keychains or tags that go with the finished bags. Like a tiny throwback to the original shirt. Will that actually happen? Who knows. But I think about it constantly. 😂

Once I’ve thrifted the shirt, the process begins.

I carefully cut apart the fabric and start planning the structure of the bag. One of my favorite details is keeping elements of the original shirt intact whenever possible — especially buttons. I love when you can still spot little hints of the garment’s past life hidden inside the new design.

I also line the insides with a fun fabric because I love adding little unexpected details that make each piece feel playful and personal. Sometimes the inside fabrics are subtle, sometimes they’re chaotic in the best way possible. It really just depends on the vibe.

And yes… I absolutely give some of these shirts fake names in my head.

Like maybe this was Henry’s shirt.

Maybe Henry wore this to brunch. Maybe Henry worked in an office. Maybe Henry had absolutely no idea his shirt would eventually become a handmade purse.

And honestly? I think that’s hilarious.

Sometimes I’m deeply inspired by sustainability and thoughtful craftsmanship. Other times I’m fully in it for the bit.

But that’s part of what I love about upcycling — every piece comes with a history, even if you’ll never fully know the story behind it. Instead of ending up forgotten in the back of a closet or tossed away, the fabric gets another chance to become something fun, functional, and completely one-of-a-kind.

And I think there’s something really special about that.