A Shopping Challenge for 2020
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
In April this year Glamour magazine wrote that on average we wear an item of clothing just 14 times in the UK (not that they quoted the source of the findings). In France it's higher at 30 wears.
30 wears is also the number that Livia Firth, Co-founder and Creative Director of Eco-Age, puts on a purchase, saying "The biggest message is every time you buy something, always think, “Will I wear it a minimum of 30 times?”. If the answer is yes, then buy it. But you’d be surprised how many times you say no. That should tell you something about how the current model in fashion is unsustainable - and needs urgent change." (source)
I started to keep a record of how many times I wore new and new-to-me items back in October 2017, so I could see the items that were worn 30 times or more, and how long it took me to do so. It'll come as no surprise when I say that I've become fascinated by the amount of times I wear an item of clothing.
As well as keeping a tally of the number of times I wear certain items, I also keep a tally of my spending on clothes, shoes, and accessories in A Buyer's Archive. This has made me aware of how much I buy, and spend, and how much either never gets worn or is worn only a handful of times.
I've been doing this since the beginning of 2016 and as a result I've changed my spending habits. The biggest, if somewhat gradual change, is that I buy fewer new items from the high street, preferring to choose used instead.
Not only that the way I shop has changed too. I'm much more aware of what's in my wardrobe, and what I'm most likely to wear time and time again. Give me a well fitting pair of jeans and I'll wear them until they fall apart. Give me a summer dress that has fussy sleeves, that I can't put a cardy over, and it'll languish in the back of my wardrobe for most of the year.
Before I'd never question how many times I might wear something, or how long I might hang onto it. When I hadn't worn an item for a while I'd donate it to charity or, on rare occasions, sell it on ebay. And there's nothing wrong with that, but I want to reduce my consumption as much as possible.
When I started this blog nine years ago, fashion was very much disposable to me, and it's not something that I questioned. But more recently I began to feel the need to question it, to make changes to limit my contribution to the damage the fashion industry has on the environment.
I'm pleased with how my attitude and spending habits have changed over the years, but there is always room for improvement. I still feel I buy too much, and don't wear what I have nearly enough.
Having completed a Wearing it All wardrobe challenge over the summer, I was made aware of exactly how many clothes I own, carrying on that challenge into Autumn highlights this further.
So, I'm pondering a limit of buying just one item a month for 2020, switching my focus to making the most of what I currently own, and getting more of my wardrobe up to 30 wears and beyond.
You know I like a challenge, and this would be my biggest yet.
10 comments
That's brilliant how blogging has changed your attitude towards fashion, where you shop and how you spend your money. Your challenge sounds doable but if it were me I think I'd miss the thrill of finding a fabulous little something in a charity shop. xxx
ReplyDeleteI think I'll miss the charity shop rummaging, I'll certainly have to do it a lot less, and I'm sure I'll waiver but it's good to have a goal. Ultimately I know that I have more than enough clothes to see me through all seasons, and by trying to wear everything I own it'll help me weed out the pieces that really aren't cutting it.
Deletexx
I think that's a brilliant challenge! Think how much money you'll save too! I think many of us have seen big changes in attitude over the years which is great! I'm pleased to say, I rarely buy any clothes. I don't like shopping (unless it's for books!!) or fashion so generally only buy if I need to! All my clothes fit in one wardrobe and I've had most of the contents for years and years definitely getting way over 30 wears per item (I'm still wearing jeans I've had for 10 and 15 years! I'd love to shop more for second hand clothes. I sometimes do ok on ebay but I never find clothes in charity shops as I'm so tiny and my local charity shops never have more than a couple of items at the XS end of the scale.
ReplyDeleteI hope I'm up to the challenge!
DeleteIn 2012 I spent £1,700 on clothes, which seems mind boggling now. Hardly any of those would've been second hand.
I have jeans of a similar age, with a lot of holes a patching but I'll wear them until they really do fall apart.
I will miss buying clothes, there's no doubt about it, I love clothes, as shallow as that might sound.
It's shame you don't find much in your charity shops. And I totally agree about books, I really must stop buying them, or commit a larger chunk of time to reading!
xx
It's more of a not-shopping challenge! Will you be allowed to buy something additional for any item that reaches the end of it's life?
ReplyDeleteha! I suppose it is.
DeleteIt's loop hole that I might take advantage of, but then I have so many clothes that losing a few wouldn't make much difference. I'm hoping to weed out the items that don;t really work, and don't get worn much as a result. I'm just making it up as I go along really ;)
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It's really admirable that are taking up this challenge, and I'd love hearing how you get on. I don't think I could resist a good rummage, though. I do think that my favourite items of clothing will eventually reach 30 wears, but some might take longer than others. xxx
ReplyDeleteI'll be keeping up with my Buyer's Archive posts next year, even if I do buy more than one thing in a month.
DeleteI guess the key is to stopping rummaging when I've found that one item, but I know it's going to be hard to resist.
Items like jeans always hit 30 wears quickly, it's dresses that take the time for me.
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You are brave! I think I'd struggle with it. It's very good how dedicated you have been and how your habits have changed! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll struggle too, and I might not stick to it every month, but it's worth a shot. An easy challenge isn't much of a challenge is it?
DeleteI do think that I'm more considered about what I buy these days, but doing the Wearing It All challenge over the summer made me realise how many clothes I've got, in 3 months I didn't manage to wear all of my summer clothes, and I wore a different outfit everyday. Maybe next year I can whittle down the overall number of items and come out the other side with something more manageable?
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Thank you for taking the time to comment x