New Clothes are So Old Hat
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02.28.08
It's official darling, buying new clothes is so out of fashion. All the smartest women are trading names of dressmakers, dyers, shoemakers and cleaners. They are tweaking, pinning and reviving old clothes to make them look up to date. It's a reaction to the disposable fast fashion rage (and London Fashion Week?). The lifespan of a cheap garment is about six months--apparently charity shops are turning down these clothes because they don't survive more than three washes. Even Vivienne Westwood says: "I offer no choice but to ask for the end of indiscriminate consumption. If you have to choose something, save up and choose well."
How to do it...Change the buttons on your coat, add trim to a plain skirt, put a belt on a smock top or dye it black. Mix new with old, re-line old coats, take out the shoulder pads, take shoes to the shoemakers to be fixed up.
Or you can swap on-line. It’s a great way to recycle, stop spending so much, keep stylish and do your bit to save the planet. Whatsmineisyours was one of the first. More than 150 items are currently offered right now, you just register, add your dress size, shoe size and profile photo, then clean out your wardrobe, post your swap items, and let the fun begin.
Marks & Spencer has gotten into the act and is offering £5 vouchers in return for any of their clothing which is donated to Oxfam. So check out your closet, appreciate what you have already and stay away from the sales. :: Evening Standard
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you know, if you wash your cheap clothes on cold and air dry them, they last a lot longer. I've got a few $10 shirts I've had for more than 3 years...
Anyone know if there's anything like this available in the U.S.? I'd love to take part, but the shipping to the U.K. would kind of negate both the environmental benefits and the pound/dollar conversion would take care of the cost savings!
Thanks!
This is a nice idea, but the article touches briefly on what is a major problem for many people, including myself. More expensive, "quality' clothing simply does not come in my size. (For the purposes of this comment I will discount the quality hippie earth-mother mumuu market; since I'm only 23, I don't feel quite ready for that yet.) I'm 5'10 and when I'm at a healthy weight (which is some of the time) I wear an an American 14-16. Because people with lower incomes tend to be disproportionately heavier, clothes with a lower price on the tag tend to come in larger sizes. When designers change that, I'll take them seriously. Until then, I'll stick with my mix of buying cheap crap that looks nice and fixing things until I can't anymore.
I had lap-band surgery in September and have lost 60 lbs.since I started my healthier lifestyle. I have given away the clothes I used to wear to friends & family or donated to the weight loss support group clothing exchange. I thought about re-tailoring some of my best suits and then decided I deserved "new" stuff as a reward. I have been shopping in my local Savers store and have found several high quality, stylish garments in my now smaller size and in sizes I expect to pass through on my way to my goal. I even found a lovely suit of the same style and brand as one I gave away, only a different color. I also bought 3 bathing suits to use for my water aerobics classes in the pool at the YWCA. The clorine eats up spandex in about a month. One suit was even of the clorine resistant variety that usually costs well over $50 new. Shopping at used clothing stores is an adventure. The joy of the hunt is there. The fun of finding a bargain is there. Of course, the recycling is a major benefit too. Go Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers and the like!
SHUT UP! I've been doing this for years, and I really don't want any more competition! STAY AWAY FROM THRIFT STORES! GO BUY EXPENSIVE DESIGNER SUITS AND THEN DONATE THEM WITH THE TAGS STILL ON!
check out www.freecycle.org...
You can do this in the US. Check out swaporamarama.org--it's fabulous. Also google "reimagine fashion" in Ithaca. You can also find custom clothiers in all states through findadressmaker.com and paccprofessionals.org who can make clothes for women hard to fit. I make clothes almost exclusively from recycled stuff--a lot of people are doing this, but everyone's is different--and I also give workshops and parties on how to do it yourself. We rework clothes right on the spot and you take home all kinds of "new" things that used to sit around in your closet looking bored. Go to www.lyriccouture.com. The website also includes educational info and further links about the corruption, waste and pollution of our clothing and fiber industries.
Yes, freecycle! In the US there are local Freecycle groups (on yahoogroups) all over the country. Freecycle.org is the place to start to locate a group. If there is not one in your area you may consider starting one. People either post an "offer" of something they have that they want to give away, or post a "wanted" for something they need. The basic rule is that it must be free.
I have aquired a TV, a swing set, a king size bed, and many, many more useful items. I have also purged my attic and gargage of useful items I no longer need, and I've made some friends in the process. Not only does it keep stuff out of the landfill it saves you the money of buying some items new.