Time to give your wardrobe an ethical detox? Here’s how...
WORDS: HOLLY TREACYCLEAR OUT YOUR CLOTHES
SUSTAINABLY
And, that’s exactly what I did,
initially, this month. Until, after
passing those garment-filled bin
bags awaiting my local charity shop,
I wondered if donating my unwanted
ensembles was in fact the most
environmentally-friendly course of
action? Fashion Revolution’s Tamsin
Blanchard (fashionrevolution.org)
doesn’t believe charity donations are
necessarily the answer: “The first
way to tackle your own clothing
excess is to think of it not in termsof charity, but as a cash cow (£140m
worth of clothes goes to landfill each
year). By all means, if you’re feeling
charitable, sell your clothes and
send the proceeds to your favourite
cause. But once you start valuing
your clothes you will start to look
after them better. You will sew on
that button, mend that rip and wash
with care. To make the most of your
clothes, learn to look after them.
Check out traid.org.uk for regular
and free repair workshops.”I
t’s March, and that can only
mean one thing: the great
British spring clean is on the
agenda. With the turn of the
season, we’re itching to throw open
the windows, dust away the cobwebs
and bag up every item from our
wardrobes that no longer ‘sparks
joy’ (thanks Marie Kondo)!