How to make your clothes last
Black Friday is approaching soon and its deals are pretty tempting. With all these new fits on the racks and the change in season, it’s hard to resist treating ourselves to a shopping spree. Although it’s not a crime to treat ourselves, it is important to keep in mind that even though these items may be on sale, they are costly in other ways. Fast fashion is guilty of contaminating, polluting, dislocating communities, and so much more. So how can we be stylish and avoid contributing to these unethical practices?
There are several ways to go about this, including thrifting or buying from sustainable fashion brands. However, the most sustainable way to dress ourselves is by using what we already own.
In this blog post, I present a list of ways to make your clothes last in your closet for a longer time period.
Washing Your Clothes
The tags stitched in our clothes tell us a lot about how to care for our clothes. These tags tell you what your clothes are made of and how you should care for them. By following these instructions, you can avoid causing damage to your clothes while washing them. Additionally, be more mindful of how often you wash your clothes. Washing your clothes less frequently keeps your clothes from stretching, fading, or shrinking. Now, I’m not suggesting you don’t wash your clothes at all. Rather, wash your clothes after two or three wears if possible. You can also be more gentle with your clothes by hand washing them. This technique is especially useful for delicate fabrics. Also, protect the designs on your shirts by washing them inside out.
Image from Weavable
Drying Your Clothes
Some clothes lose their elasticity when dried at a hot temperature. Consider hand-drying your activewear, heavy sweatshirts, and other clothing items that may be affected by the heat of the dryer. Again, you can refer to the tags in your clothes to figure out the most sustainable way to dry your clothes.
Image from The Berkshire Edge
Repairing Your Clothes
It’s very common to get tears on our clothes or a lost button. Repairing clothes isn’t as hard as it seems. With a simple repair kit from your local store and a YouTube tutorial, you can easily expand your wardrobe’s lifespan.
Image from Inhabitat
Keeping Your Clothes Looking New
One tip I have to keep your clothes looking new is to bleach your whites a couple times a year. It’s very likely to develop stains and coloration from frequent wear. You can also use a fabric shaver to remove any pilling from your clothes and keep them looking new.
Image from Good Housekeeping
Instead of going Black Friday shopping, I encourage you to use this time to make repairs, learn about fabric care, and keep maintenance of your clothes. Also, instead of spending money on Black Friday Deals, consider allocating some of that money to Giving Tuesday. This Giving Tuesday is a great opportunity to donate food and clothes at shelters, volunteer at local organizations, and donate to local impact projects such as our partner organization, Planting Justice. This holiday season allows us to focus on practicing gratitude by centering sustainability.
