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This article first appeared in our ‘Love is all we need’ issue of My Green Pod Magazine, published on 14 February 2022. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
Many of us LOVE fashion – flaws and all.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we wanted to tell you how, by ‘choosing love’, we can all care for our clothes and make sure they stand the test of time.
While the fashion climate crisis may seem daunting and unrelenting, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Over recent years we have grown accustomed to the disposability of our garments. We toss them aside when they’re no longer in trend or don’t do the things they used to; in some cases we only ever wanted them for a one-night stand.
Our unhealthy relationship with clothes is underscored by research conducted by Drapers as part of a consumer study; it found that an item is considered ‘old’ if it has been worn more than twice or has been posted to social media.
Yet among the toxicity a growing audience is falling back in love with fashion – quirks and all.
We’ve written previously about the secondhand market, taking care of your clothes and passing on the love after you’ve finished with a garment, so now we’re going to take it to the next level and show you some of the things we love about sustainable fashion.
We couldn’t not mention the famous book by Orsola de Castro, co-founder of Fashion Revolution. Loved Clothes Last reveals that wherever you got your clothes, they deserve to be repaired and nurtured.
We should value all clothes – irrespective of composition or price point. We can make better choices in future, but it’s important to look after what we already have – we can get through this!
Remember the iconic ‘Choose Life’ slogan T-shirt from Katharine Hamnett, made famous in the ‘80s by the likes of George Michael? Well, now ‘The Love Area’ on the designer’s website contains slogan T-shirts that are helping to deliver the message that everyone is capable and worthy of love, to fight the proliferation of toxicity in the way we treat each other and the planet.
New technology is giving the repairs market a much-needed reboot, making this an option for anyone who didn’t get their nan to teach them how to sew (we’re both still trying on this).
SoJo – described as the Deliveroo for clothing alterations and repairs – is a beautiful app that connects people to local tailors and seamsters, and even delivers mended fashion pieces by bike.
Communication is the key to a healthy relationship, and this is no different with clothes. Care labels will tell you how to make your clothes last longer.
Most of the energy your washing machine uses is spent on just warming the water up! Washing at high temperatures is a thing of the past; switching to warm water can cut your energy use in half.
Reducing wash temperatures and following the instructions will help clothes retain their size, shape and colour, so you’ll be less likely to want to throw them away!
Eco detergents like Bio-D clean clothes at lower temperatures and provide more care for your clothes and the planet than regular options.
While many of us might think clothes can fill the void of a romantic relationship, they will only bring us short-term enjoyment unless we care for and look after them properly.
Buying hundreds of garments won’t bring you love. Brett might argue his secondhand Gucci flares do, but that’s on him.
Model twins Brett and Scott Staniland explain why fast fashion must change if we want to reach net zero.
Model twins Brett and Scott Staniland talk organic cotton, and why it might not be the answer for ethical fashion.
Model twins Brett and Scott Staniland reveal their top picks for vintage and pre-loved fashion, and explain why renting your wardrobe could be the future.
Twins Brett and Scott Staniland reveal which sustainable fashion brands to support this Earth Day.
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