Sustainable Notes

Take Good Care of your Clothes so they will Last Longer

First, learn the symbols that comes in the care label of your clothes.

Washing

It is a good idea to always wash in cold water, you will preserve the fabric fibers for a longer time, the colors won’t fade, you won’t risk shrinking your pieces or melting any plastic detail like a button.

Another good advice is to use those mesh laundry bags to protect the most delicate pieces, like silk and wool. Yes you can wash them at home, instead of sending to the dry cleaner, but it has to be in the gentle cycle of the machine, using gentle detergent and preferably in this mesh bags.

Always do separate batches, one for colored clothes and another for whites. Whites to get that extra white shine need a longer cycle, just to soak longer, no need to use harsh chemicals.

Drying

Needless to say that delicate pieces must be hanged to dry, never put them into the dryer. Specially silk and wool never ever put them into a dryer machine, those foldable clothes drying rack are a good option to have around.

When I put clothes in the dryer, I use the medium or low temperature, and I also use ethical wool balls, so it takes less time to dry and they also act as a natural fabric softener.

Check the products suggestions here.

Up-cycle, Transform, Repair

There are so many ways we can transform and up-cycle a piece of garment, we just have to start having this new habit. It is a great way to extend the lifetime of a piece and renew its appearance.

Change that long skirt into a short version of it, make a hand painted detail on your jacket, dye in a fun new color, change buttons, make adjustments, add a fabric patch, add a pleat, take out a pleat, …

If you have access to a sewing machine many things are easy enough to do yourself, but if you are not into it, try your local dry cleaner, they usually have good and creative seamstresses on site.

Other Options

An option to consider is to sell your pieces at second hand stores, mostly not because how much you will get paid for it, but because you know someone else will wear and love it, extending the lifetime of this garment piece.

I like to suggest the online platform Thread Up, it is easy and reliable.

Another idea, is to invite your friends, ask them to bring whatever clothes they don’t want anymore and exchange, play, gift, sell, have fun!

And finally, the option to donate, find a local charity that you know will take good care of it, some of the big names out there end up throwing away clothes in landfills, check before you choose yours.

Never ever through away any piece of textile in the garbage bin, we know better than that.

Together we can make a difference!