A wise woman once said; buy less, choose well, make it last. But what did she actually mean by this, and how can we implement this mantra into our everyday life? Here’s how I’ve interpreted Viv’s message:

Buy less – stop buying unnecessary clothes! Only buy what you really need (or what you really, really want a-zig-a-zig-ahhh) and opt for second-hand clothing whenever possible.

Choose well – if you are going to buy something brand new, find out about the brand you’re buying from… Are they ethical? Are they sustainable? Are they transparent about their supply chain? Select good quality clothes that you know will last a long time and that you’ll want to wear regardless of changing trends.

Make it last – treat your clothes with love and aim to extend their lifespan as much as possible. Take notice of how each item needs to be washed, how to store it properly and be prepared to repair them if needed.

If we start thinking of our clothes as life-long items, rather than disposable purchases, we can reduce the amount of clothing that gets thrown away. Waste is one of the fashion industry’s biggest problems, from overwhelming developing countries with charity shop rejects, to creating toxic landfill dumping grounds. If people knew how long it takes for clothes to decompose, maybe they wouldn’t be so quick to throw them away? I love Fashion Revolution’s illustrations showing the length of time it takes for different types of fabric to decompose in landfill… 

Linen takes the least amount of time (2 weeks), and polyester looks like the worst (+200 years) – so opt for natural fabric over synthetic wherever possible. Interesting that a leather bag would take 50 years to decompose, I wonder how long a pineapple leather bag would take? 

There is so much advice out there for keeping your clothes in good condition for longer and for fixing common problems, plus loads of videos that show you step-by-step guides. Here are a few of the main issues I’ve come across with my clothes and some advice on how to handle them… 

Jeans for life

 I used to recommend to people that they should put their jeans in their freezer instead of chucking them in the washing machine, however it seems that was false information! Levi’s CEO, Chip Bergh, has confirmed this doesn’t work and actually recommends not washing your jeans at all! 

When I read this, I felt a sense of relief, as I realised that I haven’t been washing my jeans either! I used to have cheaper pairs from ASOS or Topshop, and I would wash those as they were stretchy and cheaper so would attract smells quicker, but for my more expensive or vintage pairs I just won’t wash them. They don’t smell at all and I’m careful to not spill anything on them, and if I do, I get it off quickly. For a nice refresh, you can make a mixture of water and white vinegar and spray onto the jeans before hanging them on a line to dry out. 

Removing make up stains from clothes

One of the most common reasons we throw clothes away is because we get a nasty stain and think that the item can’t be saved, or we don’t know how to get rid of it. I used to get make up stains from foundation or lipstick on my clothes all the time! Here’s an easy way to get rid of make-up stains from your clothes:

1.     Add shaving cream to the make-up stain and rub it in, leave the foam to sit for 5-10 mins, then rinse it off under cold water.

2.     Repeat the process but this time rinse it off under hot water.

3.     Add to a laundry load for a final wash through. 

More stain removing tips can be found in the Fashion Revolution fanzine “Loved Clothes Last”. 

Embroidery to cover holes/stains

I found this post on the Cosy Project showing all these creative ways to cover up a bad rip or a stain you can’t get out. Don’t you think we should start sharing these creative solutions with each other more? And if we care less about our clothes looking perfect all the time, maybe there won’t be as much stigma about rips, stains or faded spots. I love that you can take something like a rip in jeans and turn it into a piece of artwork that make the jeans even more unique! 

Pulled threads

Another common cause for throwing out clothes is when you get a pulled thread or snag in a top or dress and it just feels like you’ve ruined the whole garment! I found this amazing hack for fixing these on the blog of the one and only Martha Stewart! It’s so simple to do, and all you need a needle and thread to match the garment.

I also found this really great website called Love Your Clothes with loads of tips for how to look after different fabrics and loads more repair guides - check it out!

Have you got any fashion fixes that you use to keep your clothes for longer?? Let me know! xoxox