The more money you spend enriching your wardrobe with designer clothing, the more effort you should put into prolonging the life of each item. This prevents you from spending your clothing budget on repeat purchases for items that didn’t last long, but it also ensures that your lifestyle is as environmentally-friendly as possible.
If you buy designer clothes for your entire family, you can teach your children how to keep their clothing in good condition as well. This keeps your household eco-friendly while showing your children that they can enjoy luxuries without wasting natural resources. Every piece of clothing and every accessory counts, and these tips will ensure that you maximize the use of every item.
Learn About Fabric
A nonprofit organization known as Wrap UK recently launched the SCAP Extending the Life of Clothes Design Awards to search for fashion designers with an eco-friendly edge. This competition will reward designers for creating clothing that is more sustainable. In addition to a cash reward, Wrap UK will provide ongoing assistance to help the winning designer further develop their sustainable clothing line with the goal of getting those items onto the racks for consumer purchase.
It will take some time for a designer to win that competition and get their longer-lasting clothing on the market, but you don’t have to wait to start buying clothes that naturally have longer lifespans. Polyester and cotton are two of the most durable fabrics available, so you may select items made from those fabrics rather than silk and other options.
Avoid Unnecessary Washing
You don’t need to toss your jeans into the washing machine after wearing them only a few hours. You may not even need to wash them after a full day of wear. Unless you spill something on your clothing, sweat excessively or otherwise soil an item, you can hang it up in a well-ventilated area to air out without washing. Not only does this prevent the fabric from weakening due to excessive washing, but you save money and the environment by conserving laundry detergent and water.
Keep It Cold
When you do need to wash clothing, only use cold water. Hot water weakens the fabric, decreasing the lifespan of every item. You will also notice that your colors fade much faster if you use hot water, requiring you to purchase new clothing far sooner than is necessary.
The heat from a dryer can also contribute to destruction of fabric fibers. You will have times when you need to quickly wash and dry an item for immediate wear, but you should try to line dry your clothing whenever possible.
Select Gentle Laundry Products
Harsh detergent, bleach and some scent boosters are far too harsh on your fabrics. Designer clothing will last much longer if you use a mild detergent and stay as far away from bleach as possible. Some laundry detergents contain bleach, so make sure you read labels and do your research so that you know what you are putting on your clothing.