Waste no more
some personal thoughts on consumption and how to take care of clothes
How sustainable is your lifestyle? I’m not saying this to make you feel assaulted, it just sometimes helps to reflect your own behavior. Today in our fast-changing times it is tempting to constantly buy new. Everything is available to us 24/7. This urge for new is mostly due to media, which keeps telling us that we need it all and we need it immediately. It’s not, that this leaves me totally cold and I’m far away from being perfect. From time to time I just simply think it is worth resting and reflecting. A ritual I keep practicing for a while.
Talking about fashion as a huge polluter for the environment we definitely need to reflect and act. Especially fast fashion, clothes made for fast consumption without a thought, is putting our future planet at risk. To break out of this circle we should take responsibility for our daily choices, not only for the clothes we buy.
hot tips for less waste in your wardrobe
commit to buying less
limit your everyday outfits and create a uniform (pieces that match your type and taste)
invest in pieces that last and are made from durable fabrics
buy pre-loved as much as you can
when buying new, make sure you really like that piece and will wear it beyond one season
don’t let marketing promises consume you
ways to increase the life span of your clothes
Cotton and polyester garments are easy to take care of. They can be hand or machine washed.
Silks can be hand washed in warm water. It’s important to treat wet silk gently. Do not ring or twist, and always use a mild detergent.
Wool sweaters and knits are fine to gently hand wash in lukewarm water. Suits and coats often need a professional cleaning.
Invest in a chemical-free mild detergent and use household ingredients like baking soda and vinegar to get rid of stains.
Dry your clothes naturally. A dryer damages the fibres in the fabric and consumes lots of electricity.
Store your clothes well. Jackets, blazers and shirts can be put on hangers. Avoid hanging sweaters, wools and stretchable fabrics as they might loose their original shape.