How do you factor in the costs of fashion in your lifestyle?

Alix

I read this post from Vivienne Files which links to this excellent (and sad) article:

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ana.....nvironment

For me the answer has been minimalism - not in my style - but in the number and longevity of the clothes in my wardrobe.

I'm curious how the rest of you balance or think about this issue in your own lives / wardrobes.

9 years ago

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I address it by trying to be "better." Not perfect, but better than I might be if I weren't thinking about it. I don't buy polyester. I try to purchase thoughtfully, and I track wears to make sure my numbers are a lot higher than that shocking "seven wears per item" before passing on. I don't always succeed, but I do what I can.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I think about this a lot, and am very aware of how the textile/clothing industry can devastate the environment. Just go over to China where a lot of fast fashion originates if you want a taste of what unregulated mass production can do (cough, cough, hack). I only buy what I need, and keep it as long as possible. There are certain stores I just won't shop in because of their environmental depredations (hello, Zara).

9 years ago

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Xtabay, Zara (Inditex) has actually come a long way in the past four years. Greenpeace now gives them top rankings in their detox efforts:

http://www.greenpeace.org/inte.....x-catwalk/

9 years ago

Anonymous

This is such a great, great question. I do think about these things.

First, most clothes are worn only seven times before they are discarded!!!! How can that be???? Who are these people???? With the exception of special occasion outfits, I wear my clothes substantially more than that. I always assumed that most people did the same.

Second, I try very hard to buy responsibly and sustainably. This is not always easy. And it is a process for me. Becoming aware of the issue and then laying out steps to take action is part of the process.

Third, some of the steps I am taking. Identify retailers that have a reputation for sustainable practices: Eileen Fisher and Everlane are supposed to be in this category. Consider buying used garments at consignment and/or the Goodwill. Buy fewer clothes. Buy carefully with a plan. Buy natural fiber garments. Learn to sew. Speak out against fast fashion in real life whenever the opportunity presents itself. Lead by example. Accept that is a process and that things can over time.

Apply these rules not just to clothing, but to all purchases.

9 years ago

Anonymous

HI Jenn -- I'm glad to hear that about Zara. They have an abysmal environmental record so it's good to know they've cleaned up their act. Not ready to shop there yet (still mad), but I appreciate their efforts.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Jenn and Sterling say. Trying to educate myself and think about these matters helps. Making the best decisions I can with the knowledge and resources I have.

9 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I have a wee way to go....

Currently I:
- try to buy clothes that will have longevity both for me and in terms of wears
- try not to overbuy
- try to buy locally manufactured or designed or from local retailers
- try to mend and adapt where possible, eg get shoes repaired
- line dry clothing 80-90% of the time
- some second hand purchases

Where I have scope to improve:
- fabrications, I do have polyester clothing and in the most part it wears and washes well, but moving forward increasing the natural fibres
- choosing sustainable manufacturers more consciously
- being more careful with knits, have had holes develop very quickly in newish knits. Stop looking at tissue thin knit fabrics.
- more second hand purchases.

9 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I try to empower myself with what I will wear and the cost and quality of items. I love fashion but I love saving $$$ even more.

9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I keep clothes a long time, even fast fashion items...but I don't know what that's worth.

Everything is done on the dispose-don't-fix model now tho. My mechanic is pushing for 300K on my car only because it CAN be done - it's a manual transmission that I had wait for, to be factory built and shipped - and he says you can't with the cars now. They're meant to be junked well before 200K. My mother has also just decided not to get a fridge; hers is energy efficient and a salesman just told her all the new models are meant to be replaced in just a few years, like 2!

9 years ago

viva

Veteran

It's good to be challenged on this stuff, even though it doesn't always make me feel great about my habits. In almost all cases I wear items more than 7 times - - although I did buy a pair of pants that did not work for me this summer and that I had to consign without wearing. I do consign, which I like because it keeps my clothing in circulation and adds to their wears, and I buy from consignment too, which also adds to the general cycle of life. (I also donate, and I give to my sister. I almost never throw away.)

I am trying to buy more thoughtfully so that I wear things longer. Not everything will stay in my closet forever but my goal is to keep more things longer and to wear what I do have more often. As in all aspects of my life, I strive to be more mindful.

9 years ago

Kristin L

Veteran

For me, it's more about being mindful of what I need vs. what I want. I try to swap or buy most of my clothes 2nd hand. For things I buy or swap, I try to buy things that will last and I'll keep it until it's dead. If it doesn't work for me, I try to find a new home for it.

9 years ago

Penny

Veteran

Interesting topic. Purchases and contributions to local consignment boutiques likely help, although mostly I aim for thoughtful purchases that can be worn on many occasions and for many seasons.

9 years ago

Anna

Active Member

Very interesting article. I do buy a lot of clothing. I try to buy pieces that can go with/be worn with at least 3 other pieces. I don't always succeed but I am getting better. I try not to buy things that are too trendy. I attempt to buy things that are more classic and wear them with shoes, jewelry, scarves, belts to make them more up to date. Lastly, I donate professional clothing to Dress for Sucess as often as I can. Makes me feel better about spending and helps someone else at the same time.

9 years ago

Cerinda

Veteran

A work in progress. I do consider environmental sustainability (and hope I have instilled that value in my children), repair, alter, and air-dry, and shop vintage, consignment, and thrift. I wear my things as long as I can manage to be happy with them (and try to get mistakes out fast so they make someone else happy), share with a same-sized friend, consign, and donate the rest to a local shelter for women and children.

9 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Interesting topic. But, I think I am way more concerned about the overall amount of trash that everyone creates. I collect customer trash all day long. In and out burger and McDonald's wrappers. Starbucks cups. But I live in an area with very very expensive waste management. Thanks to poor past county management and EPA fines which they are passing back to us. So, I have learned to separate all trash, and recycle as much as possible. Food waste is either composted or collected for a friend's pigs. She further separates the waste between meat and non meat. The pigs are not allowed meat as they become too aggressive. (They love sweet potato fries!)

I spend so much time with trash. You would not believe the amount of trash I look at, operating a restaurant. I am completely unsquemish about it. Yes I do throw away textiles. They are unusable kitchen rags that have become black and soaked with food grade grease. My clothes go to a charity shop except for something that's ripped or stained. I just don't feel bad about my clothes trash as I see so much other daily waste. The clothing trash is so minor compared to everything else.

People throw everything away because it is easy. Someone else has to deal with their stuff now. They can feel neat and clean and organized and good. My car is clean because I dumped my stuff at your restaurant or gas station.

Which brings me to another topic. Water is so scarce where I live. There are times when I can not get a trickle out of the faucet because there's not enough from the ground water well source. Usually if I wait a few minutes I can get some trickle again. But, everyone expects our excellent water for free. But if I sell them a bottle of water for $2.00 I am better able to stay in business. It's our screwed up system where we expect excellent things for free -- like high quality artesian well water -- as well as modern water intensive plumbing -- for free. So I cannot monetize it. But the stupid plastic water bottle, I can charge a good mark up for so it helps fund my great "free" water and bathroom. Yet it is polluting so much. If only people could help support the "free" but environmentally cleaner, things better. I love it when people bring a plastic or stainless steel water bottle for me to fill. Thank you! But, why can't I get $1 for that, no, it's free. While the polluting alternative profits me. Maybe this time is coming. The ground water in California still has not recovered.

Thank you for hearing my rant.

9 years ago

Category