7 Ways to Extend the Life of Clothing

Each of us, at least once in our lives, has thought about ways to prolong the life of our clothes. Finally, I’ve come to your rescue and compiled a checklist with seven ways to do it! So let’s get started!

1. Organize your Space

The first and easiest way is to organize your closet. Your maximum task is to understand what item and in what condition is stored on your shelves and hangers.

Due to the irrational organization, it is easy to forget about the existence of some items. So first, try to arrange the clothes in your closet in such a way to keep them all in sight and easy to reach. Do not hang too many things on one hanger or make a mountain out of them – there is a high chance that you will not feel like reaching the bottom of the closet, so that you will wear only those on top. Moreover, constant wearing and washing makes clothes wear out and lose its initial look much faster.

According to space organizer Catherine Hassan, clothes should be stored vertically. That way, you are more conscious about shopping because you know exactly what you have and where it is stored. Besides, to prolong the lifespan of your clothes, it is worth paying attention to how it is packaged and what it is hanging on. Thus, do not ignore the clothing bags and shoe boxes – they can protect things from dirt, dust, and moths. Better replace plastic hangers with soft ones, or in some cases, abandon them altogether. For example, knitwear should be carefully folded on the shelf to protect it from stretching and deformation.

Another important thing related to the organization – try not to throw things randomly in your apartment. Perhaps after a hard day, the last thing you want to do is to put things in the closet. However, throwing them on the floor or hanging them on the chair back is not the best solution. First of all, you will have to put them away someday. And secondly, you can quickly spoil your clothes.

2. Avoid Impulse Purchases and Single-Use Items

You can easily buy things you don’t really need in a rush. So try to make a list of clothes you need before you visit the mall: that way, you’ll save yourself from unnecessary expenses and your closet from becoming cluttered.

Furthermore, consider the need to buy things for “one-time-use.” For instance, clothes for an important event that you will hardly wear more than once or twice. And it’s not even about the functionality. Think how you feel about your favorite jeans or dresses you’ve been looking for so hard for several months. When you cherish things, you treat them more carefully, and therefore they serve you longer. Additionally, a conscious approach to clothing selection is better for the environment and your wallet since you wear your clothes longer and don’t support overconsumption.

3. Pay Attention to the Fabric Quality

When buying clothes, pay extra attention to its components. High-quality clothing is more likely to pass the test of time and retain its original appearance for an extended period. But, of course, if you take care of it properly.

According to Fashion Revolution creative director Orsola de Castro, the first thing you need to do when choosing clothes is to turn them inside out and pull every single thread you find. If the garment is poorly

sewn, the seams will be decrepit, and pulling them will unravel the garment. Orsola also suggests making sure that the allowances on pants or skirts are enough to let them out, and the hem length can be lengthened if necessary.

4. Don’t Ignore Labels

Perhaps one of the most popular mistakes that shorten a garment’s life is improper care. So, the first thing you should do after buying your clothes is to examine the label: it will tell you how to wash, dry, and iron the garment and whether it can be bleached or dry-cleaned. The meaning of all the unknown symbols can easily be found on the Internet.

5. Mending

Clothing has an unpleasant characteristic – it spoils, tears, and is generally not eternal. However, it would be best if you did not throw things away at the slightest defect. In fact, most likely, it can be mended.

Clothing mending is a widespread practice. If you have some free time, you can watch the tutorial videos and try to stitch a hole, fix a zipper or make a patch. However, if you don’t have the time or desire to do so, visit an atelier or a bootmaker.

In addition to the obvious environmental benefits, repairing clothes has a “poetic” side. According to Orsola de Castro, taking the time to mend your clothes makes you fall in love with it again. The relentless speed at which we consume clothes has devalued the concept of making things by human hands. Through repair, we can recover the importance of this culture, learning more about how to care for and store items.

6. Upcycling

If a piece of clothing cannot be saved from damage in any way, you can try not to prolong it but give it a new life. Many brands have used this eco-friendly way of designing clothes for a long time. For example, the Japanese brand Makki Remake produces unusually re-stitched jeans and denim jackets.

The nice thing about upcycling is the freedom for experimentation. You can try to create something new and unique out of useless things randomly or methodically develop a design, gathering every detail like a construction set. If you don’t know where to start, try watching tutorial videos on YouTube – they will quickly help you understand the intricacies of upcycled techniques.

7. Sale, Exchange, and Charity

If, after reorganizing your closet, you have a stack of unnecessary clothes in a satisfactory condition, you can think about how to extend its life.

There are three options:

• Sell.
• Exchange items with your friends, supporting the cycle of clothing.
• Donate to charity foundations and give joy to children and people with limited income by doing good deeds.