Free Clothing
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If you can plead poverty, places like Salvation Army thrift stores will give you an expense account or deep discounts on items.
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[edit] Warm Improvised Clothing
If the weather changes quickly or you get a slush or snow storm you will need to improvise some warm clothes until you can get some.
[edit] Boots
You can turn regular shoes into winter boots by putting a wool or warm sock onto your foot followed by a sealed plastic bag and then finished with a cheap sport sock to protect your plastic bag. Don't expect the plastic bag to last for long hikes but it will let you travel outside without fear of immediate soaking in cold slush. We have found that one or two layers of bread bags work well. It is important to change to dry inner socks at least twice a day or when they feel damp.
[edit] Insulated Coat
If you already have a thin insulated coat you can boost the insulating power by carefully cutting stuff holes in the liner where you can insert crumpled balls of newspaper as an insulating layer, be careful that your cuts are not destroying your coat. If you plan to use paper balls as removable insulation on a regular basis you might consider sewing long pockets into the inside you your jacket for this purpose. Something like this http://www.15belowproject.org
[edit] Rainwear
Most hardware stores sell plastic sheet by the meter or yard, we often use this for shelter and greenhouse building projects. Another use is to create a somewhat durable rain poncho for a few cents. Open a head hole and form a hood from extra plastic sheet. You can join everything using packing tape. This should get you by for around a week which we hope will be time to find something better. Rainwear worn as a top layer will also increase the insulating power of a jacket even if it is not raining but don't seal yourself up so much that condensation and sweat destroys the insulating power.
[edit] Free shoes
Write the shoe company of your choice claiming you were in a motorcycle accident wearing their shoes and that you were hospitalized, but your feet came out totally unscathed thanks to their shoes.
They'll usually send you at least one free pair. I pulled this scam with Adidas and got 2 pairs of $120 running shoes totally gratis. Just find some pictures of motorcycle wrecks online and send them along as "proof." (note: Does not work with Nike, one of our authors tried)
[edit] Improvised Sandals
You can cut out pieces of semi-thick cardboard slightly large than outlines of your feet and cover them completely with clear packing tape. Drill or punch small holes...
- Between your big and second toe, and just past the ball of your foot (on both sides) for flip-flops. String chord or straps from the middle hole to the side holes.
- On both sides of your toes and just before and after your heel on both sides. String cord or straps diagonally from behind your heel to in front of your heel in an X pattern, with clasps/buttons (of course!), and then also just across the tops of your toes. Now you have some handy, sturdy, water-proof sandals.
Experiment with cardboard layers/thickness and strap materials. You could even use discarded shoe soles and laces! The benefit of sandals not made from tires is that you won't smell like asphalt on a hot day.
Tire Sandal Warning: Make sure the tire does not have steel cables running through it for reinforcement! Only nylon or rayon will work.
Links to TireSandal HowTos
[edit] Make Your Own
If you can beg or borrow a sewing machine, loose comfortable clothes are just a few stitches away. Try asking grandma for her old Singer machine, or ask your mother; she might think you are getting over your rebel phase. Start with simple trousers, skirts, and ponchos. For material, you can recycle cloth from damaged or otherwise unsaleable clothing discarded by thrift stores, or you can buy unmatched cloth remnants at an on-the-bolt fabric store. With a little practice you can even make your own tents, backpacks, and bivvy sacks. Look for camping gear sewing patterns in 1970's vintage books. Knitting is a good way to spend your time if you are at a sit in demonstration (regardless of gender). Knitting needles also are a discreet defensive weapon even if they are plastic.
What follows is the original text
FREE CLOTHING
If shoplifting food seems easy, it's nothing compared to the snatching of clothing. Shop only the better stores. Try things on in those neat secluded stalls. The less bulky items such as shirts, vests, belts and socks can be tied around your waist or leg with large rubber bands if needed. Just take a number of items in and come out with a few less.
In some cities there are still free stores left over from the flower power days. Churches often have give-away clothing programs. You can impersonate a clergyman and call one of the large clothing manufacturers in your area. They are usually willing to donate a case or two of shirts, trousers or underwear to your church raffle or drive to dress up skid row. Be sure to get your sizes. Tell them "your boy" will pick up the blessed donation and you'll mention his company in the evening prayers.
If you notice people moving from an apartment or house, ask them if they'll be leaving behind clothing. They usually abandon all sorts of items including food, furniture and books. Offer to help them carry out stuff if you can keep what they won't be taking.
Make the rounds of a fancy neighborhood with a truck and some friends. Ring doorbells and tell the person who answers that you are collecting wearable clothing for the "poor homeless victims of the recent tidal wave in Quianto a small village in Saudi Arabia." You get the pitch. Make it food and clothing, and say you're with a group called Heartline for Decency. A phony letter from a church might help here.
The Salvation Army does this, and you can pick up clothes from them at very cheap prices. You can get a pair of snappy casual shoes for 25 cents in many bowling alleys by walking out with them on your feet. If you have to leave your shoes as a deposit, leave the most beat-up pair you can find.
Notice if your friends have lost or gained weight. A big change means a lot of clothes doing nothing but taking up closet space. Show up at dormitories when college is over for the summer or winter season. Go to the train or bus stations and tell them you left your raincoat, gloves or umbrella when you came into town. They'll take you to a room with thousands of unclaimed items. Pick out what you like. While there, notice a neat suitcase or trunk and memorize the markings. Later a friend can claim the item. There will be loads of surprises in any suitcase. We have a close friend who inherited ten kilos of grass this way.
Large laundry and dry cleaning chains usually have thousands of items that have gone unclaimed. Manufacturers also have shirts, dresses and suits for rockbottom prices because of a crooked seam or other screw-up. Stores have reduced rates on display models: Mannequins are mostly all size 40 for men and 10 for women. Size 7 1/2 is the standard display size for men's shoes. If you are these sizes, you can get top styles for less than half price.
[edit] Original Sandals
What follows is the original text
SANDALS
The Vietnamese and people throughout the Third World make a fantastically durable and comfortable pair of sandals out of rubber tires. They cut out a section of the outer tire (trace around the outside of the foot with a piece of chalk) which when trimmed forms the sole. Next 6 slits are made in the sole so the rubber straps can be criss-crossed and slid through the slits. The straps are made out of inner tubing. No nails are needed. If you have wide feet, use the new wide tread low profiles. For hard going, try radials. For best satisfaction and quality, steal the tires off a pig car or a government limousine.
Let's face it, if you really are into beating the clothing problem, move to a warm climate and run around naked. Skin is absolutely free, and will always be in style. Speaking of style, the midi and the maxi have obvious advantages when it comes to shoplifting and transporting weapons or bombs.
