5 Ways to Keep Our Clothes Out of Landfill

Today we buy 60% more clothing than we did 20 years ago and around 300,000 tonnes of used clothes are burned or buried in landfill each year. The fast fashion industry promotes overproduction and overconsumption of cheap disposable clothing and this is something we wanted to change.  

If you've been asking yourself: “what can I do to be part of the solution and not the problem?”, you're in the right place. From choosing quality fabrics to learning new skills we’ve put together 5 tips on how you can move away from the fast fashion siren song.  

This was a British government campaign used during the War. From June 1941 until 1949, buying new clothes was rationed in Britain. The 'Make Do and Mend' campaign was part of the Government urging people to repair, reuse and reimagine their existing clothes during the Second World War.  

Although, today's issue is the polar opposite of rationing clothes we think it’s still a great idea. Small issues such as a missing button or a small tear can easily be stitched up and any fading or scuffs can be cleaned and chalked up to a good adventure. if you don't have a sewing kit to hand, most local tailors won't charge much for slight alterations or fixes either. 

If you’re after something more original why not go one step further and add your own touches to a garment? Add your own patches or paint straight onto the piece to give your piece a new breath of life.   

Buying pre-loved items is also a great way to help keep items from being sent away. Finding a good deal in an auction, charity shop or yard sale will make you feel great and you’re likely to get something very cool and possibly vintage! Don’t be put off by the idea until you’ve tried it... but if rummaging around old boxes isn’t quite your thing we have something that might spark your interest.  

We have a sale with all of our misfits that need a good home. Our relentless pursuit of perfection can often bite us in the behind and leave us with pieces that are unable to have their moment of glory. A missing popper, poor quality stitching or a wash that wasn’t quite right are some of the reasons they just don’t cut it. 

Anything that isn’t chosen will be sent to a recycling unit but we believe these unique garments deserve a home in your wardrobe!  So, take a look and maybe take something home...

If you’ve bought good quality, new or pre-loved, now you have to look after each piece. Proper care can help to keep their shape in years to come, look better and last longer, AND it’s better for the environment. It's a no-brainer.  

It’s a good idea to pack away the seasonal pieces that won’t see the light of day for half the year and rotate accordingly. Thick winter jackets have no place in a summer wardrobe so removing them from your space will allow you to fill it with pieces that you love to wear every day!   

We recommend investing in some quality storage boxes to keep things fresh and safe whilst they’re packed away. If your space is limited, try vacuum pack bags that will shrink mounds of clothes down and save up to three times more space. Not only are they airtight, dustproof and waterproof, but you can also reuse them again and again, knowing your clothes are safe.  

Click here to find out how to care for your denim jeans 

*According to a BBC article from July 2020