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sustainable fashion

What is sustainable fashion?

24th September 2023 by Fiona Mobbs Leave a Comment

For me, the word sustainable means a couple of things:

The first aspect of sustainable fashion is durability.  Buying clothing that stands the test of time (in terms of the material, stitching quality and style), can be worn many times and still look current or like new is a sustainable choice.  Coco Chanel’s Little Black Dress (LBD) is perhaps the classic example.

But sustainable fashion also encompasses the production process. For example, that the material is sourced in a way that doesn’t harm future resources, that workers are paid fair wages to sustain them and their future production skills, and that the finished products aren’t sent too far, creating a negative environmental impact.

Things we can do to be more sustainable and prevent clothing waste:

Buying new or nearly new

  • Don’t buy just for buying sake (although that may sustain workers/skills), buy to wear more than once.  Different accessory choices can help a garment look fresh and be more versatile. (Remember “price per wear” and if you haven’t heard this, ask your consultant.) Have you heard of Roberta Lee’s #100wears concept? If not, read about it here.
  • Before you buy, research how and where products are made (this information is more readily available now).
  • If you decide you now don’t like an item for any reason (within the return period) return it for someone else to enjoy.
  • Buy with a little more forethought: what will it go with? If you know your colour and style, does it conform with that?
  • It is now fashionable to buy second-hand. This is keeping the life of the garment going, and you can pick up some bargains (and perhaps help a charity at the same time).

Hiring

  • If you know you only want to wear something once, consider hiring. There are now several options for this, including Hurr (designer dresses, bags and clothes), By Rotation, My Wardrobe HQ and Hirestreet. Celebrities do it (and not just because they believe in sustainable fashion!) so why shouldn’t the rest of us?

Swish/swapping

  • Swishing is a term for swapping one garment for another. This can be a cost effective way to revamp your wardrobe. Where I live, in Southampton, there is a monthly Clothes Swap (advertised where and when on Southampton Clothes Swaps Facebook Group). I think this is part of a bigger network of clothes swaps around the country, probably easy to find through social media.

Before you let go

  • When you have decided an item is no longer serving you as it is, could you have it altered in some way or have something added to it to keep it going a bit longer?
  • Consider photographing your favourite piece if it has just come to the end of its life, or take it to a good dressmaker to get another one made. You could do this if you just love something and want another in a different colour or material.
  • If you no longer want it, if there is life left in it, consider gifting to a friend or family member, or selling through a dress agency or online. Or donate to charity.
  • Finally, if nothing else comes to mind, could you have it made into another garment (eg patchwork trousers, cushion, pillow – depending on the material, or use it for practice sewing, or rags)?

(Some further tips on what to do with items when you no longer want them here).

If you are stuck not knowing what to do with your wardrobe items, please reach out. I absolutely love giving you ideas so that you can hang onto your clothes (and accessories) that you must have bought, or were gifted, for a reason. I’m sure the reason wasn’t to throw it away or give it away just because the occasion to wear it (or the problem you found with it) hasn’t been solved yet.

Contact Fiona on 07469 246722

Your Colour & Style Consultant

Filed Under: Wardrobe Blog Tagged With: love your clothes, make your clothes last, sustainable fashion, wardrobe edit, wear your clothes more

Wardrobe clear-out? What to do with the rejects!

14th February 2022 by Fiona Mobbs Leave a Comment

It’s good to sort out your wardrobe from time to time.  Whether your circumstances have changed, or just your taste, sometimes we’re all guilty of hanging on to clothes that we just don’t wear any more. But with sustainable fashion such a talking point at the moment, and some well-known brands under fire for selling things so cheaply there is no incentive to care for your clothes, we can all do our bit to reduce our carbon-footprint and help the environment.

Here’s my brain dump of ideas for how to get the most out of your clothes, even if you’re not wearing them anymore.

Donate to charity

OK, let’s start with the obvious one.  Clothes that are clean and still wearable could go a long way to raising money for a good cause. Apparently, during the first lockdown, many charity shops were inundated with donations (much of it tatt, I gather).  However, now we are getting back to a bit of normality, it seems as though many are accepting donations again, but it might be worth just checking with your preferred charity before you dump a bin bag on their doorstep!  In Hampshire, our Air Ambulance will collect a minimum of three bin bags full if you can’t get to a shop: more details on their website.

Swap or exchange

If you have friends who are also ready for a clear-out, why not arrange a dress swap?  Now we can meet in larger groups again, you might feel more comfortable doing this.  Make a deal that everyone brings at least two items that are clean and ready to wear, so they can all take at least two away with them. From time to time, I have organised big exchange events (called ‘swishes’) for clients and friends so do let me know if you think the timing is right for another!  Many high streets today also have ‘dress exchanges’ where more high-end clothes can be taken; “A Change of A Dress” in Romsey is my nearest and they will take quality pre-loved garments if you haven’t got friends who might want them.

Sell online

Of course, there is a multitude of online platforms where you can also sell clothes you don’t want.  Vinted is one I seem to see a lot of but there are others, like Depop and ThredUp. I gather you can even sell clothes on eBay if you want to. I can’t say I have used them personally so please check them out yourself before you commit to anything, but it strikes me they might be a way to earn a little something from your cast offs.

The dressing up box

If you don’t have children of your own, would any of your old clothes or accessories be suitable for friends, a local primary school, or even your local amateur dramatics group?  This year’s bonfire night Guy could be the best dressed yet!  Even items that are really large or interesting fabrics (I’m thinking of table-clothes that are out of fashion!) could be turned into a costume for the Leading Lady in the next show.  It wouldn’t hurt to ask, at least.

Needle and thread

Could you give your clothes a new life with a little adaption?  If something is – technically – still good enough to be worn in public, could you shorten it, crop the sleeves or add some decoration to give it a new look?  If it’s not quite in such good condition, there may still be parts you can salvage.  The ‘rag bag’ is an easy option but you could also have the most colourful jam pot covers or lavender bags!

Donate by weight

If what you are sorting out really doesn’t have the scope to ‘live again’, then there are organisations who will take clothes, fabric and textiles to recycle based on weight.  Prices may vary slightly so worth checking out who does this in your area.  (And, while I mention other fabric and textiles, I know some vet practices and animal shelters will take old blankets and bedding for their animals so why not ask your local one?)

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: How can I dispose of clothes I don't need, reuse recycle repurpose, sustainable fashion, what to do with unwanted clothes

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