SHOP - MEND - MAKE
My years of working in the fashion industry, as a garment technologist has truly opened my eyes to the ways we shop.
Especially working for an online fashion brand, has made me realize that our ways of shopping need to change in order to prevent clothing from going into landfills. Every year our returns come up higher and this keeps growing the more people shop online.
From my work experience, I created this simple diagram to help you start thinking about the best ways to shop before buying.
With many of us working from home, I choose loungewear as an example of using this simple diagram.
Give it a go and comment below, how it has helped you.
1.Multi wear? Yes, both top and bottoms can be worn separately and on different occasions.
2.Worth repairing? Yes, as Tall products that I like are hard to find.
3.Fabric can be upcycled? Main fabric is 100% Organic Cotton and can be repurposed in a new top/bottoms, or home accessories.
1.Multi wear? Yes, both top and bottoms can be worn separately and on different occasions.
2.Worth repairing? No, the cost in my time repairing might be more than me buying a new item.
3.Fabric can be upcycled? No, fabric is polyester and won’t last after a couple of washes. The surface will cause pilling. These are little knots of threads that looks like balls. Best go for 100% Cotton for longer wear.
1.Multi wear? Yes, both top and bottoms can be worn separately and on different occasions.
2.Worth repairing? Yes, it cost a lot of money at £135. I would expect this to last me several years with no need to repair.
3.Fabric can be upcycled? No, this is Cotton mixed with synthetic fiber Elastane. After a while of wearing it, signs of pilling will show. The surface will no longer be smooth. Due to the price range, I expect better fabric quality, such as 100% Cotton or even better Organic Cotton.
Top tip:
Mixed fibers are weaker and cannot be recycled.
Choose 100% natural, instead of synthetic to be able to upcycle and keep longer care.