Sustainability and still shopping

SozBbz · 10-02-2020 1:30pm #1

Theres a lot of noise lately about sustainability and I for one would like to be more informed and make better choices.

I'd be interested to hear what others are thinking/doing to make improvements. I'd also like to hear more about what brands are doing, and whats making a genuine impact and whats just "greenwashing"

I'm still a bit of a chronic shopper but I'm trying to do better. My current philosophy is to try to stick to the following.

1. Focus on investment pieces over fast fashion - I've bought some good coats, handbags, boots etc over the past few years and am wearing them for more than one season. This is going well, as I'm defintely buying less (although not spending less). For example, I've pretty much given up on buying highstreet handbags. I allow myself one designer bag per year (confession, sometimes its more than one a year, but heyho) and I still have and love all of them. I used to buy matching clutch bags for weddings and events etc but I don't do that at all anymore. Same with shoes. I now have a few high end pairs that I go to all the time, rather that buying something cheaper but new each time.

2. I try to always read the label before buying. I'm trying to avoid polyester and other synthetic fabrics where possible. My major downfall here is gym gear and wolly jumpers. Gym gear is almost always syntethic for obvious reasons, so I just try to buy good quality stuff like Lululemon. I have a pair from almost 5 years ago that I still wear. I have 4 pairs from them in total and IMO they outlast the likes of Nike, so are worth the extra investment.

3. Banned myself from certain retailers - namely Penneys and Asos. Penneys for obvious reasons - I've never LOVED anything from there and the quality never stands up for obvious reasons. Asos for similar reasons - a lot of their stuff is also cheaply made and often disappoints on arival. Also the environmental impact of sending stuff out in plastic and then returning it can't be good.... and I was finding myself returning a lot, so I've decided that its just not worth it.

4. I take care of my items and donate anything I no longer need or want to charity shops (I've always done this anyway)

Would be really interested to hear if others can recommend changes they've made to improve their fashion habits or brands who are truely operating in a sustainable manner.

meeeeh · 10-02-2020 2:10pm

I didn't change much. I don't buy plastic shoes because my feet tend to swell in them. I always kept my clothes for long time. I tend to check labels for composition and I re-wear my outfits.

I never liked fast fashion and I never buy anything just for one season. I'm not saying all my choices are sensible or particularly eco friendly but one thing I do is put things into shopping basket and forget about them. The amount of times I would come back to them and wonder what the hell was I thinking. As much as possible I try to avoid impulsive purchases. They are costly and they clog up wardrobe space.

baby and crumble · 10-02-2020 3:43pm

What I’m trying to do, and have been for a while now is to just buy as good quality as I can, within my budget, and look after them. It helps that I’m pushing on in age and like the idea of a steady wardrobe for my day to day that I don’t have to think too much about.

One of the biggest things I’m trying to change is buying quality shoes. Penney’s and other high street shoes just fall apart. I can’t afford to buy the highest quality I’d like at retail so I kept my eyes open and managed to get a pair of full leather brogues made in Northampton that can be resoled easily for €53 in TK maxx. Retail they go for nearly €300. So I’m not swearing off shopping just trying to be more mindful. Also learning how to make small adjustments and mends to clothes I already have to updated them has been great.

10-02-2020 3:53pm

SozBbz wrote: »

Theres a lot of noise lately about sustainability and I for one would like to be more informed and make better choices.

I'd be interested to hear what others are thinking/doing to make improvements. I'd also like to hear more about what brands are doing, and whats making a genuine impact and whats just "greenwashing"

I'm still a bit of a chronic shopper but I'm trying to do better. My current philosophy is to try to stick to the following.

1. Focus on investment pieces over fast fashion -...........
........

3. Banned myself from certain retailers - namely Penneys and Asos. ........

4. I take care of my items and donate anything I no longer need or want to charity shops (I've always done this anyway)

.......

I'm a chap in my late 30s so fast fashion not a thing for me.
I generally buy decent quality shoes that I hope to keep for decades. Going to re heeling, resoling, factory rebuild route maybe with some of them.

With clothes I buy decent stuff that lasts, I've cardigans, jackets and shirts that are more then a few years old and I'll have them at least that into the future.

Gym gear is as you say essentially plastic but it lasts for ages.

It's easy to do the investment pieces etc etc when you've a few quid spare but for many folk dropping a few hundred on a pair of shoes isn't an option. In saying that I rarely buy anything full price, the sales, TK Max or outlet centres are my go to for purchases. I've bought all but one pair of my decent shoes online.

I had to buy buy loads in 2019 as I lost 20kg but such is life. The shoe size was unaffected and it was mainly trousers & jeans that were needed. Didn't lose any shoulders thankfully either.

SozBbz · 10-02-2020 4:53pm

Thanks everyone - great to hear of people thinking a bit more, and I see this around me in real life too. (I suppose its hard to know if thats just my mid 30's echo chamber though - are "the kids" still buying loads of Boohoo/PLT et al and binning it after one wear because its already been seen on the gram?)

I've tried to invest in some good pieces of late. If you know what you want, you can do well in the sales. I find TK Max too chaotic personally, but I often leave things in my bag online to see if they'll reduce around sale time. Moved house recently enough and we can now walk to the sea and are generally trying to go more places on foot, so I a microdown jacket from The North Face and a pair of waterproof boots from Sorel (both reduced) - justification is that I should have both for years.

I bought some lovely cotton midi dresses and leather sandals last year that I fully intend on wearing on 2 upcoming holidays. I firmly believe I like them so much because they're cotton and I was so comfortable wearing them that I have positive memories and an now keen to wear them again.

I wash all my clothes on the eco cycle at 20 degrees (30 if actually dirty) and line dry everything rather than touble dry. I think this makes a difference to how they last.

I finally learned my lesson on cheap shoes about 2 years ago and just won't go near them. Having comfortable feet is something worth investing in IMO. My only issue with leather most of the time is the Irish weathers potential to ruin them.

Twee. · 11-02-2020 11:14am

Making similar strides in my own shopping habits. I've always bought good quality coats and shoes, shoes mainly because I have a knee injury and need a bit of sturdiness, and coats, well I never feel dressed without a nice coat, and I never drive so I need to be cosy! I tend to spend a little bit on bags too, but that's only every 2-3 years.

This year I replaced 3 year old day-to-day boots with two pairs bought from Clark's in Kildare Village, both can be resoled if needed.

Making the effort to repair more stuff, I busted a seam (lol) on a pair of Zara leggings but sure it took me 10 mins to repair and even with my terrible sewing you'd never notice.

Any old t-shirts get cut up for cloths/rags to clean with, everything else to charity shop or given to aunties/cousins (great to have a big family of women!)

Started to buy some more clothes from better brands, few dresses and tops from Maje (on sale), the quality is brilliant and I've only bought versatile pieces - dresses that work with heels and flats, tops that are glam on their own, or casual with a denim shirt thrown over.

I do still buy a good bit off Asos, but I return very little, I'm pretty good at gauging my size and knowing what I like, and really try to only buy what I need. I'm really good at thinking in outfits, I'd never buy a top I knew well I didn't have bottoms to match, or vice versa.

Maybe I'm just getting older but I also don't give a **** about re-wearing stuff I love!

SozBbz · 11-02-2020 11:40am

The concept of thinking in outfits is something I need to get better at. I've often bought things because I just loved the item in isolation and then never managed to wear it - its something I'm more aware of now and I'll try not to make that mistake again but unfortunatly thinking in outfits doesnt come naturally to me!

Cheap shoes are an absolute no - the last time I wore plastic shoes was as a bridesmaid when they were chosen for me (strappy sandals from newlook) and they were just so unpleasant to wear. My feet were burning afterwards and I couldnt wait to get away from them. They went into a charity bag shortly afterwards. NewLook is another shop thats on the verbotten list - its just too easy to end up buying tat in there so I just avoid completely.

Maje is a brand I always like but havent been brave enough to actually buy from. Their store in KV hasnt had anything I wanted (granted I've only been twice) so maybe I should keep an eye online for bargains.

One of my favourite items I've gotton on sale was a reformation dress. Its just a midi with a square neck, but I can wear it with heals or trainers and its just beautifully cut and I always feel lovely in it. The investment was definitely worthwhile.

SozBbz · 11-02-2020 11:54am

Another thing I wanted to ask -how do people feel about 2nd hand clothes, swapshops etc? Or even rental places? Any tips of sucesses?

I only did it once myself, bought a ted baker dress from an ad on adverts.ie. A girl had bought it for an awards and stuck it up quickly after (it was still in the shops for €390).

I bought it off her for €90 and paid an extra €20 myself then on drycleaning, wore it to my friends wedding, and sold it on again for €50.

I'm not a huge Ted Baker fan (this dress didnt have a floral print in sight though, it was very lovely) and its great to think it got at least 3 good days out.

I like the idea of being able to do stuff like this especially with formal wear thats never going to be worn much.

I've 3 weddings to go to this year, but one is a destination wedding in South America, one is in Ireland in Summer and the third is in Ireland also but in December so even if I wanted to wear the same outfit to all 3, it doesnt seem practical.

I'd be interested in a good rental service if anyone knows of any? Ideally nice designer stuff and a good aray of sizes.

meeeeh · 11-02-2020 12:05pm

I bought only once in the charity shop. Once I brought dress home I discovered it was all tattered and it went straight to cpothes recycling bank.

I have no issues with second hand but I don't have time or patience to browse. I'm more or less the same size last 25 years so for me the most sustainable thing is just to keep pieces I love and re wear them. I dug up over 20 years old made to measure suit. I dropped the jacket to the same tailor who made it and he just took in shoulders and it's perfect. I wear it styled a bit differently, clinched with the belt in the waist. I also found designer velvet blouse which looks great with jeans or blue PVC trousers.

A lot of this isn't much of a change for me, it's how I always dressed.

baby and crumble · 11-02-2020 12:17pm

I love vintage and charity shopping, you need to be sensible though. Lots of Penney’s stuff for not much less than you’d buy them in store, but I’ve gotten some great vintage stuff. I got an amazing full length 70’s camel hair overcoat for €30 once, it’s legit and is so hard wearing and warm.

SozBbz · 11-02-2020 12:29pm

baby and crumble wrote: »

I love vintage and charity shopping, you need to be sensible though. Lots of Penney’s stuff for not much less than you’d buy them in store, but I’ve gotten some great vintage stuff. I got an amazing full length 70’s camel hair overcoat for €30 once, it’s legit and is so hard wearing and warm.

Yeah I just don't know if I have either the eye or the patience for charity shops, even though I love the idea of it.

I've been in them a lot lately (we moved house, great excuse to do a wardrobe clear out) but more in a donating capacity. I try to have a browse of my way out but I've never spotted anything of note.

I see people online finding great things but maybe you have to be in there all the time waiting for the good stuff to hit the floor. I know I've certainly given away some nice things in the past but as you mention, mostly what I've seen in shops has been lower end stuff that I wouldnt buy new from Penneys, so I'm hardly going to purchase second hand.

baby and crumble · 11-02-2020 2:44pm

The key about charity shops is to shop in the ones in more upscale neighborhoods as horrible as that sounds. Or places with loads of through traffic. The Age Action on Camden St often gets lots of great stuff.

There’s a few places that specialize in vintage gear too, where the owner goes on buying trips etc. places like Betty Bojangles in Dublin. That stuff won’t be cheap but it’ll be good quality. It helps that both my wife and I are super into dressing vintage and we both love nothing more than a good rummage!!

pinkypinky · 12-02-2020 1:50pm

There's some great ideas here but I've one that's really out there.

Don't buy clothes online. I never do and I don't miss it. If you do the shopping in person, you will buy less.

meeeeh · 12-02-2020 2:06pm

pinkypinky wrote: »

There's some great ideas here but I've one that's really out there.

Don't buy clothes online. I never do and I don't miss it. If you do the shopping in person, you will buy less.

That actually doesn't work for me. I impulse buy when in shop while I tend to put stuff into shopping basket online and leave it there for a day or two. 90% of time I won't proceed with the purchase or I might buy one of the items months later and the rest will be dropped.

Sunny Dayz · 13-02-2020 11:42am

Not sure if I'm answering your questions or going off topic.

But I've found that I'm not really bothered trailling through the shops much anymore. I'm either looking for something in particular and can't find it in a bricks and mortar shop. Or I'm wandering about to see if I find anything nice and nothing really catches my eye so I come away feeling annoyed and that I've wasted my time.
But when it comes to online, unless I'm looking for something specific, browsing online is nearly more frustrating - there's just so much stuff online, it's overwhelming!

What I find is reducing the feeling of having to buy new things is actually shopping my own wardrobe. I try to plan my outfits in advance. I'm trying to make myself wear what I have and am getting annoyed with myself having clothes taking up space in my wardrobe that I don't really want to wear, I probably should get rid of them and then why did I spend money on them if I'm not going to wear them!

Sinister Kid · 13-02-2020 12:03pm

Some of the items that I get the most compliments on are charity shop finds!
A couple of years ago I picked up a very classic style black Karen Millen dress for €10, I've worn it to 2 or 3 weddings, styled differently each time. I've a fab full length black Riess wool coat that I picked up for €15 & I've attached a pic of the handbag I nabbed for a tenner just before Christmas!
A good percentage of my work clothes are charity shop jobbos.

Honestly I don't think I'll ever not shop in Pennys but I am very choosey about what I buy. I go for staple items that won't date & are well made... I've found some gems over the years. I've a couple of day time dresses that I wear regularly & are still grand after 3+ years.

A lot of the items in my wardrobe are well over 10 years old & are still going good. Today I'm wearing a black top that I bought when I worked in Dunnes as a teenager over 15 years ago!

13-02-2020 12:21pm

pinkypinky wrote: »

There's some great ideas here but I've one that's really out there.

Don't buy clothes online. I never do and I don't miss it. If you do the shopping in person, you will buy less.

I can't buy anything online except shoes

Buying shirts, jackets, trousers....... they have to be tried on so I'd not chance buying on line....... except gym gear.

SozBbz · 13-02-2020 4:32pm

pinkypinky wrote: »

There's some great ideas here but I've one that's really out there.

Don't buy clothes online. I never do and I don't miss it. If you do the shopping in person, you will buy less.

You know what, I'm starting to come to this conclusion. Thats why I've basically quit ASOS. I just got sick of opening a packet and thinking immeadiately that if I'd seen the item in person, theres no way I would have bought it. This is usually because while if might look good on line, the fabric isnt half as nice in reality. I'm quite tactile with clothing and if I'm browsing in person, even if something catches my eye, the first thing I do is reach out to touch it. If it doesnt feel good, then I'll immediately go off it.

I'm actually sitting here in front of a Zara order that arrived today, 1 jumper, one cardi and 2 cami vest tops. I'll keep the vests because they're just basics and I'm low in that area, but the jumper and cardi are going back. They're not the worst and maybe previously I might have kept them but now I'm going to return them (in person - nor more wasted postage) and give myself a wrap on the knuckles for impulse shopping (I had a weak moment on Sunday)

fits · 13-02-2020 9:58pm

I have a capsule wardrobe. Just a few things that all go together. Mostly navy basics but a couple black too. Bought from brands like sea salt, people tree, toast, omybag. I absolutely hate high street clothing so almost all is bought online.

Airyfairy12 · 13-02-2020 11:03pm

Ive only changed my habits in that I dont buy as much. I would love designer clothes, bags and shoes but I personally cant justify spending a couple of hundred on a handbag. If I was in a better financial situation I might be willing to treat myself and be less likely to spend on highstreet fashion but ive just got other things that need to be paid.
I used to shop in second hand shops quite regularly but in the last couple of years I havnt bought anything second hand. I dont know if this is just me but I find that the standard of second hand shops has gone way down. They were never high standard, which is understandable and acceptable but they would atleast wash the clothes and not sell any old yoke thats dropped in to them.
I have some lovely clothes, bags and jewelry that I bought in second hand shops years ago that I still use but just dont come across anything like that anymore.

As for sustainable brands, theyre so expensive, like theyre charging designer prices, I know youre paying for better quality and theyre not made by cheap labor which is great but as much as id love to be more involved in sustainable fashion, I cant spend 200 on a jumper or a t shirt so I will continue to buy high street fashion until prices of sustainable wear come down.

meeeeh · 14-02-2020 10:12am

I'm not saying this about anyone in this thread but I think there is a bit of snobbery around sustainable fashion. Also switching to more sustainable brands just so you can buy loads isn't achieving anything. It's much better to buy something in Penny's and wear it to death than buy an expensive 'sustainable' item that you wear once and then it lingers at the bottom of the closet.

I have to admit many of sustainable brands don't appeal to me. It's not that they are not nice but an awful lot is not my style. Except Arket which I love but I suspect they are not as sustainable as they claim to be.

SozBbz · 14-02-2020 11:23am

meeeeh wrote: »

I have to admit many of sustainable brands don't appeal to me. It's not that they are not nice but an awful lot is not my style. Except Arket which I love but I suspect they are not as sustainable as they claim to be.

Arket are part of the H&M family I believe.

H&M have definitely been accused of greenwashing over the past few years.

That said, possibly one of my favourite things I bought last year was a flowy white dress with a floral pattern in H&M conscious collection. Its light and comfortable, washes easily, I've worn it in Ireland maybe 10 times (whenever we have a nice day basically) and also abroad on 2 holidays. Going away in a few weeks and it will be coming with. Its something I cannot imagine parting wtih anytime soon.

While the conscious collection may have its flaws, at least I'm wearing it lots and its not wasteful.

Twee. · 14-02-2020 11:40am

Giving to charity shops is all well and good but I read somewhere that the amount of clothes they receive from donations way exceeds demand, so clothes end up still going to waste. I have never been good at charity shop digging but I want to start, see how it goes.

It's also made me more conscious about what I donate, making sure everything is of quality that I would want to buy. If it's not try cut up for cloths or put in a clothes bank.

"Sustainable" brands are absolutely not in reach of every person, some are extremely expensive. We should be consuming less, not looking for ways to consume the same but feel better about it. I liken it to the plastic - paper straws, just ditch using straws altogether!

I'm no shopping angel, but hey, getting there :pac: Fionnuala Moran on Instagram said something recently that stuck with me, REFUSE - Reduce - Reuse - Recycle.

meeeeh · 14-02-2020 12:43pm

There is a problem with charity clothing. Apparently it's pilling up in Africa creating waste and undercutting local enterprise. I agree that ultimate sustainable way is to buy less and wear it a lot.

I'm not going to pretend I'm particularly sustainable in my ways because I'm not but aspects of quick fashion always sat uncomfortably with me. People working in terrible conditions, being paid almost nothing, their environment being destroyed and then rich (in comparison to them) customers buying stuff just because it's cheap and often not even wearing it. While we might think it's something almost worthless a big price is paid in countries where those clothes are made. I think people who make this at least deserve us respecting their work and placing some value to stuff we buy. Even if it costs 3 Euro.

Twee. · 14-02-2020 1:36pm

Steve Coogan's new film Greed is centred around a high-street fashion business mogul. Has the usual Coogan humour but definitely sends a message around the production of cheap clothes and the labour involved.

JustMe,K · 17-02-2020 4:27pm

I have become a lot more conscious of my shopping in the last while and prefer to buy a couple of good pieces rather than loads of rubbish stuff. Everything I pick up now, I ask myself if I think I will still want it in 6 months, and if the answer is no, I put it back, and if I decide later on that I want it I can visit the shop again. More expensive does not necessarily mean better quality either, so I am working hard to get out of that mindset too as I would previously have associated a higher price tag with better quality in not only the end product but in how its produced, which I know not to be true.

I agree with not shopping online as well - sometimes its hard from a time perspective, or because the discounts online are better in some places than in store, but I am trying to avoid it where possible. I have personally noticed in the past that stuff gets delivered, I dont like it for whatever reason, then I dont bother returning it and it sits in a corner til my next clear out, which is far from sustainable as well as being ridiculous financially. I'm also trying to mix up my wardrobe a little, and restyle things, like certain dresses I have are too light for this weather, but with a jumper over them they are grand and look like a skirt and top, and items that I bought for occasion wear that I feel I have worn to too many occasions, I am trying to wear for more casual use. I dont have any particular issue with second hand clothes, but I dont have the time or inclination to browse racks for things that would suit me however would not rule out renting clothes rather than buying them if I needed something specific and did not think I would use it again.

baby and crumble · 17-02-2020 5:21pm

When the argument about sustainability comes up, the way I look at it is that I try and get back how my parents and further back would have treated their clothes. They'd buy the best they could afford, look after it, mend it when needed, then find a way to reuse it when it was no longer suitable.

It's not about spending hundreds on a 'sustainable' t-shirt, but about instead of buying 10 x 2.50 t-shirts from penneys or wherever, I now buy 5 fruit of the loom or similar, for the same amount of money but they'll last 2+ years. When a seam rips I'll repair it and if needed put it in my gym rotation or DIY pile or whatever.

I agree a lot of these sustainable brands are gimmicky, I think, and may not necessarily be as 'sustainable' as they say. And just because a brand doesn't market as 'sustainable' doesn't mean it isn't. A solid aran jumper will last years. I good pair of shows that can be resoled, will do the same.

The one big thing I'd like to address is the whole wedding thing which dictates, apparently, that folks need to buy a new dress for every wedding, because they couldn't be seen in the same dress at 2 different weddings. Like, that blows my mind.

SozBbz · 17-02-2020 5:30pm

JustMe,K wrote: »

I have become a lot more conscious of my shopping in the last while and prefer to buy a couple of good pieces rather than loads of rubbish stuff. Everything I pick up now, I ask myself if I think I will still want it in 6 months, and if the answer is no, I put it back, and if I decide later on that I want it I can visit the shop again. More expensive does not necessarily mean better quality either, so I am working hard to get out of that mindset too as I would previously have associated a higher price tag with better quality in not only the end product but in how its produced, which I know not to be true.

This is very true. One of my big things is to avoid plastic based fabrics where possible. When I began to feel more conscious about this, my first thought was just to ditch the low end retailers (which I've done) and that spending more money would be the fix.

Then I started checking labels everywhere. I found that even at the high end of the high street (Hobbs, LK Bennett, Reiss, Needle&Thread etc) there was still a lot of polyester, polymide, nylon, acrylic etc in the composition of the clothes which was eyeopening and disappointing. I had wrongly assumed that if you were buying an item of clothing for €300-€500 that it would be made of a higher quality of fabric.

The upside is that I must look like such a weirdo in the shops, I literally upskirt every single item of clothing if I'm considering buying it to read the label. I'd really want to LOVE something to consider polyester these days. I'm trying to avoid man made fibers but also handwash or dryclean only items, to make the best choices but to also maximise my chances of getting the wear out of an item.

I do return unwanted items, but I'm conscious of even the impact on posting stuff out. I'm trying to shop in-store where possible.

JustMe,K · 18-02-2020 10:28am

baby and crumble wrote: »

The one big thing I'd like to address is the whole wedding thing which dictates, apparently, that folks need to buy a new dress for every wedding, because they couldn't be seen in the same dress at 2 different weddings. Like, that blows my mind.

The wedding thing I am on the fence about - I was at 4 weddings last year, 2 of them had almost identical guests, so I felt I needed a different dress for each of those, but reused those dresses at the other 2 weddings so didnt feel so bad as previously I would have convinced myself I needed 4 different dresses which is ridiculous!

baby and crumble · 18-02-2020 11:01am

JustMe,K wrote: »

The wedding thing I am on the fence about - I was at 4 weddings last year, 2 of them had almost identical guests, so I felt I needed a different dress for each of those, but reused those dresses at the other 2 weddings so didnt feel so bad as previously I would have convinced myself I needed 4 different dresses which is ridiculous!

The mad thing is that most guys and folks like me who dress masculine (ie not in dresses!) will happily wear the same suit to any number of weddings without issue. Maybe a new tie or pocket square to jazz it up. And nobody says boo to us.

SozBbz · 18-02-2020 11:02am

JustMe,K wrote: »

The wedding thing I am on the fence about - I was at 4 weddings last year, 2 of them had almost identical guests, so I felt I needed a different dress for each of those, but reused those dresses at the other 2 weddings so didnt feel so bad as previously I would have convinced myself I needed 4 different dresses which is ridiculous!

Its a tricky one. Being honest, I've never repeated a wedding outfit. Not to say I havent worn the dresses again (I have in some cases) but not to another wedding.

I only went to one wedding last year and bought a dress in Zara which I then also wore to a christening (different crowd).

This year I've 3 weddings, but they're all so different, I doubt it will change. I've a mix of 1x destination (hot, hot hot!), 1x irish summer and 1x irish winter. The first one is the destination wedding and I've still not got a clue what to wear, so may need something new - trying to be formal and somewhat covered up yet not totally boiling is a bit of a challenge.

Weddings are weird, perhaps its knowing you'll likely be in a lot of photos, but for me its the hardest area to break the "wear it once" habit.

Thankfully, I won't have as many weddings going forward, a few years back they were coming thick and fast but its dwindling now. I'd say 1 or 2 a year going forward. Back when I was going to 6/7 a year, one thing I always did was keep my shoes and accessories quite neutral and therefore repeatable.

I had a pair of pale gold strappy sandals and a pale gold clutch that I must have worn to 90% of weddings I attended around that time. The colour was metallic but not a brash, I felt it was almost a neutral and I got great wear out of that combo, even if the dresses were interchangeable.

Airyfairy12 · 18-02-2020 11:29am

baby and crumble wrote: »

When the argument about sustainability comes up, the way I look at it is that I try and get back how my parents and further back would have treated their clothes. They'd buy the best they could afford, look after it, mend it when needed, then find a way to reuse it when it was no longer suitable.

It's not about spending hundreds on a 'sustainable' t-shirt, but about instead of buying 10 x 2.50 t-shirts from penneys or wherever, I now buy 5 fruit of the loom or similar, for the same amount of money but they'll last 2+ years. When a seam rips I'll repair it and if needed put it in my gym rotation or DIY pile or whatever.

I agree a lot of these sustainable brands are gimmicky, I think, and may not necessarily be as 'sustainable' as they say. And just because a brand doesn't market as 'sustainable' doesn't mean it isn't. A solid aran jumper will last years. I good pair of shows that can be resoled, will do the same.

The one big thing I'd like to address is the whole wedding thing which dictates, apparently, that folks need to buy a new dress for every wedding, because they couldn't be seen in the same dress at 2 different weddings. Like, that blows my mind.

Id be the same, I have a coat that I bought in New look 6 years ago, ive brought it into a local seamstress to have it stitched up quite a few times. I still have jumpers, dresses and t shirts from Pennies and second hand shops that I bought over 10 years ago. Any clothes that do get thrown out go straight to the local charity shops, my town is full of them.

As for buying 5 sustainable t shirts instead of 10 2.50 ones, that only works if youre the type to buy 10 t shirts - I dont know many people that do that. I might buy an extra one if theres different colours but buying 10 t shirts is just wasteful and throwing money away imo, buying 5 t shirts is a bit extreme too.

It brings me back to my point, sustainable fashion - besides second hand shops and fixing old clothes, is not an affordable option for allot of people. If you can afford to go ahead and buy 10 t -shirts just because then you can absolutely afford to buy sustainable brands.

SozBbz · 18-02-2020 11:53am

On the subject of tshirts, I've definitely gotten more discerning there.

When I was in Japan last year (the airline lost our bags and we got them a day later) so we had to go shopping for clothes to see us through the first day. The first familiar shop we came across was H&M and I bought some white cotton t's, thinking they'd be awful but would do the job. They were labeled "Asian fit" so I thought they'd be ill fitting, but turns out they actually super soft, loose fitting and possibly my favorite t's! Just realised how much I'd liked them before leaving the country so I could have picked up a few more (it was 30+ degrees and humid the whole time - nothing felt comfortable!) They're honestly fantastic value and so comfortable. I wear white t's a lot so for me they're a staple and while I couldnt say how many times I've worn them, but they're never hanging in my wardrobe for long.

I'm going to be compairing all future tshirts to the softness of these ones, so hopefully that will stop me buying inferior ones that I won't end up wearing.

Twee. · 18-02-2020 12:29pm

I live in white tees in the summer, so I would be someone who has multiples! They get so dirty and stain easily, gotta wash 'em properly in Vanish to keep them crisp. I'm in Japan this year SozBbz so I'll be looking to try those Asian fit tees, intriguing!

It's a shame there's so little indigenous clothes making in Ireland now. I have dresses that were my mam's that were made in Ireland in 70s/80s that I wear today, perfect condition. Contrast to buying an expensive (but beautiful!) shirt in Topshop recently, lost a button in the first wear.

baby and crumble · 18-02-2020 12:47pm

I wear grey t-shirts under pretty much everything, so having 5 of the same is not wasteful - that'll do me the work week, really. It actually means i get longer between washes of my shirts and knitwear, cutting down on bulky washing and making my more expensive clothes last way longer.

Twee. · 18-02-2020 12:53pm

baby and crumble wrote: »

I wear grey t-shirts under pretty much everything, so having 5 of the same is not wasteful - that'll do me the work week, really. It actually means i get longer between washes of my shirts and knitwear, cutting down on bulky washing and making my more expensive clothes last way longer.

I've taken to wearing little string tops/camisoles under stuff and it really does make tops/knits/shirts last longer between washes! I can get away with hanging stuff up in the bathroom to air rather than washing all the time.

SozBbz · 18-02-2020 2:06pm

Twee. wrote: »

I live in white tees in the summer, so I would be someone who has multiples! They get so dirty and stain easily, gotta wash 'em properly in Vanish to keep them crisp. I'm in Japan this year SozBbz so I'll be looking to try those Asian fit tees, intriguing!

Definitely do! I probably wouldnt have gone near the shops overthere if I hadnt had to for fear of the clothes not fitting/suiting my body type, but actually Asian fit seems to just mean loose and comfortable and theres plenty of choice in the shops. All the major international retailers are there as well as some Japanese (Uniqlo being the obvious example) but all the international ones seem to have tweaked their offering for the Asian market, so you will notice some of the same stock as in stores in Dublin, they'll have both regular and Asian fit versions of many items.

I also wear a lot of tshirts for much the same reasons. In winter, I get longer our of my jumpers and in summer I just live in them on their own. For this reason, natural fibers are a must as sweating in them would just be counter productive.

appledrop · 18-02-2020 2:20pm

The biggest change I've made is with bags + shoes.

I decided about 2 years ago that I was going to stop buying cheap high street bags. They dont smell or feel nice + it's a false economy as they fall apart.

Instead I bought a few designer bags/ got them as present + difference is unreal. Because I have less I actually use them more + enjoy them.

Still have the odd cheap bag for weddings/night out but that ok.

Similarly with shoes/boots I buy quality rather than quantity.

JustMe,K · 18-02-2020 5:20pm

appledrop wrote: »

The biggest change I've made is with bags + shoes.

I decided about 2 years ago that I was going to stop buying cheap high street bags. They dont smell or feel nice + it's a false economy as they fall apart.

Instead I bought a few designer bags/ got them as present + difference is unreal. Because I have less I actually use them more + enjoy them.

Still have the odd cheap bag for weddings/night out but that ok.

Similarly with shoes/boots I buy quality rather than quantity.

I did the same with shoes/boots. Its a little difficult for me to find good quality, hard wearing vegan shoes so I am working my way through my collection of (potentially non vegan) footwear and bags until they need to be replaced and am doing so then. For me personally, reducing the amount of general 'stuff' I have or purchase is key to being able to spend on the more expensive better wearing items. For the first time ever a couple of weeks back I walked into Penneys and walked out with a small bag of essentials rather than a couple of overflowing bags of crap and it felt really good

SozBbz · 18-02-2020 5:36pm

JustMe,K wrote: »

I did the same with shoes/boots. Its a little difficult for me to find good quality, hard wearing vegan shoes so I am working my way through my collection of (potentially non vegan) footwear and bags until they need to be replaced and am doing so then. For me personally, reducing the amount of general 'stuff' I have or purchase is key to being able to spend on the more expensive better wearing items. For the first time ever a couple of weeks back I walked into Penneys and walked out with a small bag of essentials rather than a couple of overflowing bags of crap and it felt really good

I've conflicting feelings on vegan shoes etc....

Like is it not to a degree balancing one moral concern with another - namely plastic versus animal rights?

.

JustMe,K · 18-02-2020 5:49pm

SozBbz wrote: »

I've conflicting feelings on vegan shoes etc....

Like is it not to a degree balancing one moral concern with another - namely plastic versus animal rights?

.

Absolutely, which is a big part in why I chose to wear out what I have rather than simply replacing them. Fairly widely criticised in the vegan community, but I don't think simply throwing out leather boots or handbags to replace them with a plastic version is worthwhile or sustainable. And trust me when I say I already own a LOT of shoes and handbags, so I don't need to replace them anytime soon.

SozBbz · 18-02-2020 5:59pm

JustMe,K wrote: »

Absolutely, which is a big part in why I chose to wear out what I have rather than simply replacing them. Fairly widely criticised in the vegan community, but I don't think simply throwing out leather boots or handbags to replace them with a plastic version is worthwhile or sustainable. And trust me when I say I already own a LOT of shoes and handbags, so I don't need to replace them anytime soon.

Yeah to me that seems like madness. You can't bring the animal back to life by binning leather items, surely the most respectful thing to do it to use it as much as possible? Fair enough if you don't want to support the leather industry in future, I can see that as a rational choice, but I think we have to be pragmatic about things that already exist. I think its notions like this that help give the vegan community a bad name.

I'm probably leaning the oposite way in that I'm buying more leather (but fewer items in total). Its definitely a conflict for me but at the same time I'm just more comfortable knowing that even if my items ultimately end up in landfill at the end of their lifespan, they they will break down in a relatively short period of time.

Also I find leather more comfortable and kinder on my feet in particular. I find plastic shoes especially very sweaty and uncomfortable.

Shoes are a particular area where I find being wary of the high end of the high street very necessary. Take Kurt Gieger for example. You can easily spend €200 on a pair of shoes in there and they're still often plastic.

I've only bought 2 pairs of heals in the past 2 years or so, but designer and leather and they're both versatile (nude sling back courts and black and gold strappy sandals) They're both still fine (I don't wear heals much these days) but I definitely plan to get them repaired when necessary.

JustMe,K · 18-02-2020 6:13pm

SozBbz wrote: »

Yeah to me that seems like madness. You can't bring the animal back to life by binning leather items, surely the most respectful thing to do it to use it as much as possible? Fair enough if you don't want to support the leather industry in future, I can see that as a rational choice, but I think we have to be pragmatic about things that already exist. I think its notions like this that help give the vegan community a bad name.

I'm probably leaning the oposite way in that I'm buying more leather (but fewer items in total). Its definitely a conflict for me but at the same time I'm just more comfortable knowing that even if my items ultimately end up in landfill at the end of their lifespan, they they will break down in a relatively short period of time.

Also I find leather more comfortable and kinder on my feet in particular. I find plastic shoes especially very sweaty and uncomfortable.

Shoes are a particular area where I find being wary of the high end of the high street very necessary. Take Kurt Gieger for example. You can easily spend €200 on a pair of shoes in there and they're still often plastic.

I've only bought 2 pairs of heals in the past 2 years or so, but designer and leather and they're both versatile (nude sling back courts and black and gold strappy sandals) They're both still fine (I don't wear heals much these days) but I definitely plan to get them repaired when necessary.

100% agree on taking a pragmatic approach, and I also live by the ideal that the world doesn't need 100 people being perfect, it needs 100,000 people making better choices where they can.

The high priced shoes are a hard one indeed because you are right, a lot of the time they are not great quality materials and end up being really uncomfortable, and on the other hand you could probably buy the most comfortable pair of shoes from a high street store for a fraction of the price which would serve you better! My mam will only wear Clarks shoes because they are the most comfortable for her and she gets great wear out of them....I think in the last 5 years she has bought about 6 pairs!

appledrop · 18-02-2020 7:22pm

When I say I'm now buying better quality shoes + bags they are all leather.

You just cant beat it for quality. I dont feel guilty because they last for years.

To be honest I run a mile from anything marked vegan as usually horrible plastic pretending to be leather.

JustMe,K · 19-02-2020 9:56am

appledrop wrote: »

When I say I'm now buying better quality shoes + bags they are all leather.

You just cant beat it for quality. I dont feel guilty because they last for years.

To be honest I run a mile from anything marked vegan as usually horrible plastic pretending to be leather.

Some of the vegan 'leather' is getting better but yes....in the most part what I have seen is nasty! Which was a big contributor in my decision to use what I have already, including leather boots, shoes, handbags etc

Airyfairy12 · 19-02-2020 10:21am

I suppose its each to your own. Id wear allot of t shirts under things and to the gym but they'll be worn to death and wont be replaced until its needed. After that they'll be converted to dusters or pajama tops. I also dont buy that many. I bought a few over the Summer from pennys but havent bought a t shirt since, those tops will last me until next June and beyond.
Again each to their own but ive never bought 5 t shirts at once, for me personally, that would be wasteful so spending 50 or 100 euro on t shirts that I only wear under things or to the gym, would be burning money. Id be spending money on sustainable just for the sake of it being sustainable.
I can see how buying pricey sustainable would suit people who spend allot on clothes or buy allot of clothes regularly but for allot of people who dont have 100 or 200 to spend on shoes, its not a good option. One of the reasons why fast fashion is so popular is because its so affordable. I dont think people should be made to feel guilty because they cant afford designer over a pennys bag.

Theres other ways of being sustainable, like not buying in hoards, looking after the clothes you have whether their from pennies or an expensive sustainable brand, give old clothes to charity shops, same goes for old sheets and blankets.
Also, keep in mind that designer doesn't always mean sustainable.

baby and crumble · 19-02-2020 11:51am

I actually saw an article in GQ on this very topic over the weekend, it makes a lot of sense

The Most Sustainable Idea In Fashion Is Personal Style

meeeeh · 19-02-2020 12:15pm

For me me buying sustainable clothes just so you can shop as much as before isn't achieving anything except easing your own conscience.

I don't bulk buy. I think it's better to buy in variety of styles in different shops or seasons so you have variety of items you can combine in different ways. I don't do capsule wardrobe but when you can combine same items into loads of different outfits you will be a lot less bored with what you already have.

miamee · 19-02-2020 12:39pm

I was reading this wondering am I doing this sustainable thing? I try not to fall in with fashion trends too much, if something is very 'now' but I know will be dated in 6 months time, I don't buy it. I try to stick to classic styles that will last and buy quality - I don't do designers, my clothes are all from high street shops but I try to be discerning about the quality. You can find some quality items occasionally in the likes of Penneys and equally can find some over priced bad quality stuff in more expensive shops so it's worth looking at everything, feeling it, stretching it in your hand, thinking about how it will look after you've washed it 5 times.

Also I don't buy unless I try, i.e. I try on everything. I rarely buy online but as mentioned above, when I have in the past they often ended up being something I would not have bought if I'd seen it in the shop or that doesn't fit too well and I have a few never worn items at home that will testify to this so I try to avoid it now.

Basically, I buy classic, good quality items that I can wear for years not weeks. I re-wear clothes all of the time and am happy to do so. The weddings have dried up in the last few years but the last time I had a few on, there were 4 weddings in the space of about a year and I wore the same 2 dresses to 2 weddings each. Love being able to do that.

I honestly don't pay a huge amount of attention to the materials except in coats and jumpers and I try to avoid full-on polyester.

Twee. · 20-02-2020 10:40am

To me, sustainability is indeed more than the brands you buy from and the fabric the items are made from, it's about consuming less and being generally a more considered shopper. Still shop in Penney's/boohoo, if it's a piece you like and will get multiple wears out of. I'd have no clothes if it wasn't for Asos. If you buy an expensive leather handbag designed to last, but don't want to take it out because it's "too good" that's not sustainable, if you buy expensive good quality suede boots but don't wear them because it's always bloody raining, that's not ideal either.

www.instagram.com/fionnualajay/ mentioned today she's going to doing a year without fast fashion, be interesting to watch.

I have a wedding next month that I swore I was not buying a dress for, tried on one I had this week and apparently now I hate it on me :pac: Dug through the archives (ie under bed storage), and now have another dress that I'm going to get the hem taken up on to give it a bit of a different look and I'll wear that instead.

SozBbz · 20-02-2020 10:49am

I'm off on holiday in the next two weeks and normally I'd have been buying bits for it, but this year I don't think I need anything.

I've been trying to be more considered for a while now and it must be working because I still love much of what I've bought summer clothes wise over the past year or two.

I love the trend for midi dresses and have a good number of them, and they're going to be a staple for this trip. I've been really conscious to buy mostly linen and cotton for my summer clothes and everything has washed well and is really comfy. I'll bring a pair of jeans or two and some tshirts and camis and a jumper or two for evening and that should be me sorted! The only new thing I have is a linen dress I bought a few weeks back in Zara, but I bought it because I loved it, not specifically for any holiday. I will wear it in Ireland too. I used to buy lots of cheap tops and shorts on the assumption that they'd get destroyed by suncream, however now thanks to this fashion of long, light dresses, I don't really need much if any suncream because I'm just more covered up!

My days of going into penneys and buying random holiday sh1te are over! This feels like progress. I'm looking in my wardrobe and genuinely happy with my choices for this trip.

Sustainability and still shopping

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