How to Love Your Clothes Again to Save Money and, Ultimately, Save The Planet

We cut meat and plant gardens. Single-use plastic is avoided. Old habits are hard to break when it comes down to clothes. It is amazing that January can be vegan, yet we choose to buy and borrow instead of repairing, dump instead of mend, or make do with what we have. Orsola de Castro is a co-founder and author of Fashion Revolution. She has always loved her clothes.

Loved Clothes last is not a 200-page guilt trip. It advocates for a change in mindset. It is easy to feel the penny drop moment when you read it. You realize that buying and selling can only do more harm to the environment than the exploitation of garment workers. De Castro explained that this is not the same as going on a diet. “This is about creating a joyful habit so others will want to adopt it.”

Do not confuse expensive with long-lasting

Although it is easy to believe that luxury brands are more reliable than high-street ones, there are many variables. De Castro says that it is ultimately your morals and relationships with clothing that determine what is valuable.

You can customize your clothes

De Castro describes customizing as a ‘cure for wearing the same clothes as everyone else. According to the book, ‘Almost all of what we buy now is made in a Hegemony of Sameness. So customising and personalising items to be different is small but powerful act sabotage.

Do not throw away things mindlessly

It will take at least 200 years for a polyester dress to be biodegraded in landfill. A pair of nylon tights will last 40 years. When you realize that there is no “away”, it will be easier to look at the journey of your clothes after they are gone. That journey is lengthy and has a huge social and environmental impact. Charity shops, which are often overwhelmed with second-hand clothes, end up exporting them overseas, where they can cause havoc for local textile industries. Donating is giving away a gift. It doesn’t necessarily mean throwing away something you don’t like.

Don’t Overwash

We put more chemicals and microfibres into our water systems the more we wash clothes. “When we think about our polluted waterways we assume that factories or agriculture are the culprits, but it’s also us, every day with every wash, consistently, relentlessly, releasing toxicants into their system.” Instead, steam, spot-clean and brush your clothes, as well as freeze (denim), to keep them fresh between uses.

Understanding the Difference Between Longevity and Circularity

Both are vital to sustainably living, but it is important to understand how they differ. De Castro says, “Circular is full-circle. From fibre back to fiber, and the ability to repeat this process ad infinitum.” Vintage, second-hand, shopping, swapping and renting are all possible. This is longevity, efficiency, and care. As consumers, we can make a significant impact.