PART 1: HOW TO MAKE YOUR CLOTHES LAST LONGER

As we have mentioned on our blog posts before, when it comes to sustainable practices, one of the best things you can do is make the clothes that you already own, last longer. This will help reduce consumption and therefore reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill each year.

So here are KEEPER Denim’s top 5 tips on how to make your clothes last longer:

1. BUY HIGH QUALITY PIECES

Pieces made from high-quality natural fabrics, will wash and wear well overtime so you can keep them for many years to come. Although fast fashion is cheaper than slow fashion, consider how long those pieces will last. A cheap fast fashion jacket may be $100 but it will probably only last one season, where as a jacket from a sustainable label may be $500 but will last for many seasons.

2. USE WASH BAGS

These are great for your intimates which are made from thin, delicate fabrics. By putting them inside a wash bag before going in the washing machine, this will prevent any damage occurring to them, making them last a lot longer.

3. WASH THEM LESS

We often say to reduce the number of times you wash your jeans but this same rule can apply to all your clothes. If you get a mark on them, try spot cleaning them first and only put them in the washing machine when they need to be washed. Although you can take measures to help protect your clothes when washing them in the washing machine, over time, repeatedly washing clothes will start to deteriorate them. Colours may fade, stitching may come undone, or they may shrink in the dryer.

4. WHEN YOU DO WASH, DO IT RIGHT

When it does come time to wash your clothes, there a few simple tips that you can follow to help make sure the quality of your clothes is preserved. Firstly, use a natural laundry detergent without harsh chemicals that will strip your clothes; turn your clothes inside out to help protect the outer surface of the fabric, use cold water to prevent colour runs and use a low spin setting which is much gentler on your clothes.

5. REPAIR

When your clothes have signs of age from wash and wear, before you put them in the bin, consider whether it’s possible to repair it. If a small hole has appeared in one of your tops, repair it with a needle and thread. If a button has gone missing from a jacket, look to see if a spare was supplied when you purchased it and replace it.

We hope you enjoyed this KEEPER Denim bog post on how to make your clothes last – part 1. Next week we will post part 2 with another 5 top tips, be sure to check it out!