Disposable fashion

[DonkeyHohtay]

Just saw a piece on the BBC news about the amount of clothing ending up in landfill. Apparently we're all buying 4 times as much clothing as we did 20 years ago, wearing it just a couple of times, and binning it.

AIBU to think this is a bit of an environmental disaster? And what can we do about it??

(Disclaimer - i'm in my mid 40s and don't really follow fashion. I have a skirt in my wardrobe which I bought in 1997. I wear things until they fall to bits, and get a lot of high-quality second hand. I just don't "get" the wear it once and bin it mentality).

There are many aspects to it. You can buy an item which could last ages. However, its "socially unacceptable" to wear the same garment for too long, especially if you're female. If you don't work in uniform/workwear, you are required to follow fashion to a certain extent.
Mending/retailoring clothes -- time and skill factor. How many of us have so much spare time that we could dedicate? Some people do it as a hobby, even a small business. But it's not absolutely possible to just everyone.

I suppose I see what your saying Fish but
not confirming to peer pressure and marketing is something to aspire to. And there's got to be a middle ground between wearing the same 3 tops for 15 years and buying something new every other week.

*conforming

its "socially unacceptable" to wear the same garment for too long, especially if you're female.

Really? I have quite a small wardrobe so I wear the same clothes, in varying combinations, all the time. I have not yet been driven out of society by my peers wielding flaming pitchforks.

I usually think a lot of these "How to dress like a Frenchwoman" books are a but daft but one I read said that they have more of a culture of "Oh Devil, you're wearing your lovely red dress, it suits you so well, I always like you in that"
I like that idea, rather than 'having' to get a new thing for every occasion or event.

not confirming to peer pressure and marketing is something to aspire to
Peer pressure is something when you're a child. When you're an adult, you might just have a job which requires that you look presentable. That means outdated, patched, hand-made or charity bought outfits are a not permitted.

Peer pressure is something when you're a child. When you're an adult, you might just have a job which requires that you look presentable. That means outdated, patched, hand-made or charity bought outfits are a not permitted.

What nonsense. I have friends who make their clothes and they look much better than most of the polyester horrors in the shops.

its "socially unacceptable" to wear the same garment for too long, especially if you're female

Utter rot.

I buy the same in twos if I like it. When one wears out I have a greasy new one. A few white shirts, two of the same cashmere cardigans.

Saves me time and money. Who’s to tell me I can’t wear it? What part of society?

Why is it more acceptable to waste money and resources on new clothes?

I try to buy a lot less now but get sucked In sometimes. When I do buy, I try to use more ethical companies like people tree, thought, Lucy & yak, some scandi brands I’ve got. Then I sell stuff I no longer love on a fb group so i know it will get more wear.

Saying that it would be better if I just stopped buying!

It's really easy to get sucked in. I'm 45 and I feel my consumerist impulses crackling when I wind up in Sloane Sq or similar, I can only imagine it's much more tempting for youngsters.

It's best avoided. They're really good at luring you in.

Pretty sure I look perfectly presentable in my charity shop clothes, in job interviews, at conferences and in a professional role.

A fresh new one, not a greasy one. Honestly, I’m not keen on greasy clothes.

Of course it’s easy to get sucked in, that’s why I’m saving money by not going to the shops so I won’t get tempted.

Yep, removing temptation is a big help. Over the last few I'vee stopped buying magazines, unsubscribed from mailing lists, changed the sort of things I follow on Instagram. It all helps. I still enjoy clothes and some elements of fashion, just a bit more on my own terms. Less of the frantic 'need' for the new thing.

I was reading an article on disposable fashion a few days back, and was shocked to learn that the textile industry creates more CO2 in a year than the aviation and shipping industries put together.

What happens to clothing items I no longer wear is definitely something I consider much more now. I sell some items, and often buy, on eBay. Other things go into those clothes and shoe banks you see at recycling points and I cut some stuff up to use as cleaning rags.

This problem is something that we can all help with and I think we should all take action.

charity bought outfits are a not permitted.

I think you have a very poor opinion of second hand! Lots of the stuff in charity shops is brand new, or barely worn. People aren't going to know that you got your Karen Millen suit or Jaegar jacket from a charity shop unless you tell them.

I want to recycle my clothes and have put them in recycling bins (though there aren't so many of those around). Unfortunately this clothing has had an adverse effect on clothing manufacturers in Africa as they undercut local clothing manufacturers. I'm in Romania at the moment and many towns have at least 1 'second hand shop' selling clothing from the same route. You see people queuing to go in. Again , this must not be good for clothing manufacturers .
Like many other posters, I think the answer is to buy fewer clothes, but clothing quality is terrible compared to a decade ago.
Making your own clothes isn't the answer either, as yarn and fabric are so expensive