How fashionistas take care of their clothes so they last forever

Clothing maintenance has become something of a lost art. Most of us can hardly remember the last time we gave a winter coat a good brushing or sewed on a loose button, if we ever did it at all. Clothes have become so cheap and plentiful that it seems pointless to take the time to look after them – after all it can cost just a few pounds to replace.

But the cost of constantly buying new ones adds up. By 2023, spending on clothing in the UK will reach a record £63.7bn. And calling the planet too. In 2021, approximately 711,000 tons of used textiles were thrown into the household waste bin – approximately 35 items per person per year, as a serious waste of all natural resources, materials are can’t be renewed, and the best workers that go into each item.

If we want to deal with bad fashion and wasteful spending, attention to clothing must return. Here’s how to keep your clothes looking their best for years:

Know your symptoms

Fifty-nine per cent of Brits can’t correctly identify washing symbols, which can lead to all sorts of laundry disasters, from shrinking your favorite jumper to hot wash in a silk blouse with iron. If that circled square doesn’t mean anything to you, find a laundry symbol guide online and save it to your phone or print it out and stick it on top of your washing machine.

Wash regularly according to the label

Once you know what all the signs mean, it’s important to wash your clothes correctly. Different types of fibers, colors and clothes require different types of care. For example, washing a fine merino fabric labeled by hand only in the machine can cause it to shrink. A quick label check can save a lot of heartache.

Rinse lightly

Frej Lewenhaupt, CEO and co-founder of Steamery laundry care products, says: “Most clothes don’t get tired, they get washed. Washing your clothes too often and in the wrong way will cause them to lose their shape and quality.

Instead of throwing your clothes in the laundry basket after each wear, Lewenhaupt recommends steaming between washes to remove lint and kill odor-causing bacteria. He says: “You can also refresh a garment by airing it outside overnight.” If it’s raining, try splashing it in the bathroom while you’re in the shower to use the steam.

Turn off the dryer 

Tumble drying is often the most intensive part of the laundry process, and can be one of the main sources of microfibre air pollution. Without environmental influence, drying can lead to rapid shrinkage, shrinkage and tearing. “Air drying is the easiest way to dry your clothes,” says Lewenhaupt.

Treat stains quickly

About 29 percent of us have thrown away a garment just because it has a stain. But dots don’t have to spell the end. “One of the worst things you can do when it comes to treating blemishes is to wait too long to treat them. The longer you wait, the more likely the stain is to penetrate. fabric for a long time, which makes it difficult to remove,” says Lewenhaupt.

If you can’t wash right away, she suggests placing a damp cloth or napkin over the stained area to retain moisture, and warns against scrubbing as that will push the stain into the fibers and to destroy the fabric. Remember to always test stain removal products on an inconspicuous area like the inside seam before using.

Fix, don’t replace

A study by WRAP revealed that mending adds 1.3 years to the life of a garment on average. Everything from burns, holes, and uncomfortable seams, to broken zips can be repaired at home. Mend What You Wear is a great online resource for sewing beginners, with tutorials for everything from mending gym leggings to mending clothes woven. And if you don’t fancy picking up a needle and thread, professional services like The Seam and Sojo can help.

Store your clothes carefully

Proper storage goes a long way in keeping clothes looking good for a long time. Cables should be folded rather than hung as they can wobble and stretch out of shape on hangers. For clothes that can be hung safely, avoid using hangers that are too wide as they can stretch the shoulders and cause wrinkles in the fiber. The end of the hanger should end around the shoulder of the garment. Likewise, try not to use small kid-sized hangers, especially on tailored items like coats and blazers that are more comfortable.

Putting cedarwood or lavender in your clothes is an effective, natural way to repel moths. Regularly opening all hoods and doors and having a good duster with a hoover will also help, as will moths like dust and dirt. For year-long storage, Lewenhaupt recommends an area with low humidity to prevent mold growth. He says: “Places such as the roof or a warm garage are suitable for storage during certain seasons, but do not put clothes too close to the heat source. Using airtight boxes or bags will keep germs out.

Buy wool, cotton and linen

Caring for clothes is important for longevity but some fast fashion pieces are made to the lowest standards like you are fighting a losing battle, so take the time to start by choosing quality from at first. “Choose your clothes like you choose your friends. You want them to be as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside,” says Andrea Cheong, secretary of Why Do I Need Something to Wear?and the army of Change Our Future podcast. After looking for any tell-tale signs such as snags, wonky seams or holes, he suggests turning the garment inside out to check the quality of the construction. He says: “If you didn’t bother it, there is something wrong with it.

According to Cheong, easy hook pulling is another must-do. If they come apart easily, if there are loose threads, or if you can see stitch holes, discard it.

Both Cheong and Lewenhaupt list the use of 100 percent natural fibers such as wool, cotton and linen as a sign of quality. When synthetics are mixed in, Cheong says it’s a perception that the brand is using low-quality fabrics and trying to add in technologies that are lacking. Low-body clothing that relies on elastic is something of a pet peeve for the writer. He says: “They don’t bathe well. Plastics do not perform well in heat, and over time they degrade and warp.

Step aside from synthetics and look for heavier fabrics, natural fibers, and fits that rely more on the construction of high-quality clothing than synthetics.

Know your clothes

“It’s very easy in fashion to get tempted by new styles and colors and lose sight of what you’d always like to wear,” says PhD researcher and designer Wendy Ward who, this year ago. adding a stitch to her clothes every time she wears them.

In doing so, Ward says he spends a lot of time with his clothes and looks at them in detail, which allows him to not only think about how they feel but how good for spotting stains or damage that can be repaired. before they become a bigger issue.

Ward says: “When I take the time to sew a garment, I look at … things that you don’t pay attention to when you put on your clothes. Constantly checking clothes, checking them and checking them builds a kind of relationship, so clothes stop being a temporary addition to wardrobes and become something important to invest in and take care of.