If we double the life of our clothing from one to two years, we can help reduce harmful emissions from clothing production by as much as 24%. Not only does it reduce our consumption it also reduces our carbon footprint… and we are here for that!
We know that some clothing isn’t made to last. However, we hope that some of the following tips will help you extend the life of your favourite pieces by a few months or even a few years! Making your clothes last longer is a great step towards a more sustainable wardrobe (you can read our last blog post for more on this.) Get into these good habits with our guide to making your clothes last longer.
Buy quality pieces
Ask yourself this question ‘Would I want to buy one £300 jacket that will last me multiple seasons, or do I want to buy 4 £100 jackets each season?’ As well as being better for the planet, people and animals, high-quality pieces will last longer due to their materials and the way they are made. Don’t be afraid to spend more on staple pieces as you will value them a lot more and they will also last you a lot longer than any trend-focused pieces.
Wash less
Unless there is a visible dirty stain or your clothes start to smell, you shouldn’t wash them. I know this may seem like a strange thing to do but hear us out. Every time your clothes get washed, they are likely to be drained of their colour and lose their elasticity. Putting them in a tumble dryer may also make them shrink, fade or even fall apart! Try and wear your clothes at least three times before you decide to wash them again.
Wash your clothes inside out
To prevent your favourite clothing from fading or your t-shirt prints from cracking, was your clothes inside out. Doing this will preserve their colour and will prevent wear and tear on the other sides of the t-shirt.
Use a clothes line
The sun does a great job at drying our clothing compared to our energy-consuming tumble dryers. Unless it is raining, we recommend you to hang your clothes out on a clothesline or even a drying rack inside the house. This will be kinder to your electricity bill, avoid overheating and prevent your garments from shrinking. This is particularly important for intimate clothing and activewear as heat is known to break down the elastic and cause unwanted stretching.
Fold heavy sweaters
This may seem pretty obvious, but many of us are guilty of not doing it, including us! However, it can make a real difference. If you hang heaving sweaters, the fabric will start to stretch and you will be left with a droopy, out of shape jumper that you will no longer want to wear. Folding them will ensure that this doesn’t happen so you can continue to wear them!
Understand your iron
Many people do not set their irons to the right temperature when it comes to specific garments. This can result in shrinkage and potentially burning through your favourite clothes! If you set your iron one or two settings lower than what is recommended, you will be able to get most light creases out. You can also give your clothes a shake before hanging them out and give them space on the line, this will avoid any heavy creasing and will let you steer clear of your iron for even longer.
Learn basic mending skills
How many times have you thrown clothes out because a button has come off or a strap has gone loose? Instead of throwing it away or taking it to your local dressmaker, learn a few basic mending skills that will not only save your garment but your bank account too! A small, basic sewing kit will allow you to learn these skills.
Editor’s note
Images via Unsplash. This article has been published on 15th March 2021.
