Loved Clothes Last: Prolong The Lifespan Of Your Wardrobe
When it comes to fashion, we are living in the era of throwaway. Textile waste numbers are soaring: we collectively create 92 million tonnes of fabric waste every year, with the number expected to rise to 134 tonnes by 2030. These numbers are alarming because textile waste affects the environment in many ways, including greenhouse-gas emissions and pollution of air and soil.
By Sascha Camilli: writer, speaker, activist, and vegan fashion expert.
A lot of the waste is due to the trend cycle, dictating what is "in" and "out", prompting countless consumers to get rid of clothing prematurely. But some of it could also be prevented by taking better care of our clothes, thus ensuring their longevity. By keeping clothes for longer, consumers can help slow down the harmful cycle of throwaway fashion, adopting a more considered mindset and a conscious approach to their style.
Someone who knows this all too well is stylist Rebekah Roy who, as a vegan and ethical fashion advocate, aims to instil a conscious mindset into her work. Her best tips for ensuring your clothes last longer:
Choose quality materials.
A long-lasting wardrobe starts at the material stage. "Invest in clothing made from durable fabrics," says Roy. This could mean organic cotton, hemp, linen or denim. Artisanship and manufacturing also plays a role: "Quality craftsmanship ensures that garments withstand wear and tear," says Roy.
Learn proper washing techniques.
Washing clothes less frequently has been a topic of conversation in sustainable-fashion circles for the last few seasons, as this not only helps save energy and water, but also aids in prolonging the garment's lifespan. Roy agrees, and advises to "use cold water to minimise fabric damage, wash in natural detergents, and turn clothes inside out to protect the colour and reduce friction."
Same goes for drying.
Roy is a big advocate for gentle drying. "Air-dry all your clothes. Everyone should be doing this. I wash my clothes in the late evening, then hang them up - that way they're dry in the morning. The quality of clothes is indeed maintained by air-drying, which, along with saving energy, also avoids the harshness of using a dryer.
Storage matters.
In order to prevent colour fading, Roy advises to "store garments in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight." She recalls learning this the hard way: "I wanted a beautiful black sun hat on my windowsill, and by the end of the summer, it had partially turned a dull grey." She also advises to "use padded hangers for delicate items and fold heavy sweaters to prevent stretching."
Learn to mend.
Spot a small hole? Button fell off? No need to get rid of it - mending your clothes can be easier than you think. Mending workshops can be found both in person and online, teaching you to bring those garments back to life. And you can be creative with it. "When I mend something, I often use a different colour thread or patch of fabric, as it gives me the feeling that I'm not trying to make the garment what it once was, but celebrate that it was so worn and loved," says Roy.
Don't overwear.
If you love a garment, you might want to live in it - but switching it up will give that item a much-needed break. "We often wear the same garments over and over again, even when we have other pieces that we love," says Roy. "Avoid over-wearing the same items by rotating your wardrobe. This prevents excessive wear on specific garments, allowing them to last longer."
Bonus tip: use a tipple
Roy has some unusual advice for freshening up delicate garments that have lost that fresh smell. "Turn it inside out, hang it up and spray it with vodka! I've done this when I've worked with bands – it's great for a tour wardrobe, holiday, or camping. Basically, vodka is a great disinfectant. The higher the quality of the alcohol, the fresher your garment will be. And no, your clothes won't smell of vodka afterwards."
Whatever tricks you resort to in order to prolong the lifespan of your garments, what matters is that you do it. The planet urgently needs us to halt the cycle of overproduction and waste, and what better way to do that than make endless memories with the garments you love?
By Sascha Camilli
About Sascha
Sascha Camilli is a vegan fashion writer, speaker and activist. Her book Vegan Style is out now on Murdoch Books. For more about Sascha, you can read our interview with her or read her newsletter Kind of Wild. You can also follow her on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Cover image of Laume Linen, second photo by Kris Atomic, third photo by Pina Messina, via Unsplash
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