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As a fashion enthusiast, you probably like to follow fashion trends. And just to keep up with trends, you probably buy a lot of fast fashion. Additionally, fast fashion is cheap.
Or that’s what we think. In truth, fast fashion is pretty expensive in other ways. It harms our environment as well as workers who work in the fashion industry.
As a response to negative fast fashion, a new movement, known as slow fashion, was created.
It’s a great thing that you’re here because we’ll explain the concept of slow fashion, and also tell you how maximizing the lifespan of your clothing can contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle.
What is slow fashion?
As you can already imagine, slow fashion is the polar opposite of fast fashion. The goal of fast fashion is to quickly produce cheap clothing items in response to fast-changing customer demands. That’s why so much clothing is so carelessly made and not intended to be worn for a long time.
The slow fashion movement combats this. It promotes a sustainable and mindful approach to fashion and prioritizes quality over quantity. Ethical practices are also a priority to slow the fashion movement.
And if you want to become part of this movement, you can. With these 9 effortless ways, you can not only maximize the lifespan of your clothing but also contribute to slow fashion movement.
- Invest in quality clothing pieces
When buying new clothing pieces, you should adopt a new mindset – quality over quantity. This means that instead of buying many different kinds of clothing items of low quality, you should invest in one or two quality pieces.
Clothes that are made with better quality materials, especially eco-friendly materials are meant to last longer. They are more durable and their design is more timeless.
If you want, you can even look into creating a capsule wardrobe. Capsule wardrobes are sustainable because they invite you to curate a wardrobe of only several quality clothing pieces. They also counteract the impulse to buy more clothing than you need.
- Research slow fashion brands
More and more fashion brands are becoming slow fashion brands. Many brands are starting to prioritize sustainability and ethical practices in clothing production.
This means that you have more options to look into. Explore and research different slow brands and find the ones that have the same values that you do – treating staff fairly, caring for the environment, and so on.
- Wash your clothing less
This tip doesn’t imply that you should wear dirty clothing. Quite the contrary, this tip implies that you should wear your clothing more than once before washing it. Wear the clothing items at least 3 to 4 times and only then wash them.
Washing clothing too often can damage and loosen the fibers of your clothing. By washing your clothing less frequently, you’re maximizing the lifespan of your clothing.
- Hand wash your clothes
And when the time comes to finally wash your clothing, instead of machine washing them, you should hand wash them. Hand washing your clothing is the best way to make your clothing last longer.
You can schedule a few days of the week for the hand-washing. Now, you don’t have to hand wash every piece of clothing, only clothes of delicate materials should be hand washed. This means knitwear, sportswear, swimwear, raw denim, and undergarments to name a few.
Hand washing prevents clothes fading, shrinkage, and damage that happens in a machine. Simply follow the instructions that are provided on clothing labels.
Washing clothes this way is not only less expensive, but it can also preserve your clothing items.
- Wash them inside out
For the clothing that you wash in the washing machine, we have another tip on how to preserve it. Washing clothing in the machine causes the rubbing of different materials which leads to faster fading and damage. To avoid this and prolong the life of your garments, you should wash your clothing inside out.
Doing this might be a bit more work for you but you’ll preserve the color and prints on your clothes.
- Eco-friendly detergents are better
Eco-friendly detergents are another great way to prolong the life of your clothing pieces and protect the environment. Say goodbye to the detergents with harsh chemicals that only damage your clothing.
Instead, you can try using gentler, eco-friendly detergents. These detergents are better for your clothing as well as our environment. And with them, you don’t have to worry about your clothing tearing and fading. Plus, eco-friendly detergents are so harsh on our skin.
- Air-dry your clothing
Dryers also tend to damage your clothing. They can damage the fabric and the elasticity of the garments, plus, they can also shrink the clothing.
If you want to avoid this kind of damage, you can if you air-drying your clothing. Of course, this will depend on where you live and what laws you have there. If you can, you should hang your clothing and let it air dry.
Not only is this better for your clothes, it’s also better for the environment. You will be consuming less energy and thus, saving the environment and your money!
- Store them properly
But that’s not all you can do to protect your clothing and maximize its lifespan. The way you store your clothing also contributes to its longevity.
For example, you shouldn’t hang your heavy sweaters on hangers. They are too heavy and can break your hangers, plus they can get stretched this way. Instead, fold them nicely and store them on the shelves in your closet.
You should hang your pants on quality pants hangers, and for the rest of your clothes, you should use high-quality hangers that won’t bend easily or damage your clothing.
- Try mending your clothing
If you learn how to mend your clothing, you could prolong their life. Acquire some basic sewing and mending skills and you’ll be able to repair the smaller damages.
With these skills, you won’t need to get rid of damaged clothing, instead, you will prolong their life and contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle.
Bottom Line
Eco-friendly, slow fashion is all about finding ways to make your clothes last longer.
If you want to start your slow fashion journey and at the same time prolong the life of your clothing, you should research slow fashion a bit more, declutter your wardrobe, invest in quality garments, and learn to properly care for them. All of this will take a bit more of your time, but it will be worth it.
Read more: Why Should You Wear Maternity Clothes?
