by For decades, the consumption of fashion has accelerated together with a rapid decline in the quality of clothing. Australians are the largest consumers of fast fashion in the world, and we dispose of our clothes with an intensity that reflects this.
The simplest antidote against the effects of fashion is to wear longer clothing. A study from 2017 showed that the lifespan of a garment could reduce its carbon, waste and water by up to 20%for only nine months. In this sense, you will find eight ways to recognize durable clothing that you can keep, repair and wear for a long time.
1: Materials
The most important determinant for the durability of a garment is what it is made from. First rub the fabric between your fingers to get a feeling of your hand – “how something feels when you touch it,” says Gareth Kershaw, lecturer in Fashion Technology from RMIT University. Take things like softness, smoothness, fluff, elasticity, strength, drape and density into account.
Next, you should check the label after the sustainable design consultant Kristen Nuttall to see the fabric composition. “Is that a wool cashmere or a viscose mix that feels like cashmere?” she says.
Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, wool, cashmere and silk are generally more durable if they are not mixed with synthetics such as elastan, polyester or nylon. A treacherous sign of high -quality cotton and wool is a smooth finish, as this shows longer, finer basic fibers. The density of a knitting or tissue is another sign of quality, since generally more fibers (which is more expensive) and reflects that advanced technology has been used in production.
2: construction
The next step is to assess how a garment was built, which means to take a look inside.
In a well -made piece of clothing, openly open openings and closures that are reinforced at more than one point (such as a button that lights up on the pants in the lapel or on the top of the fly) are reinforced. And they will move with you. If you try on a jacket or shirt, there should be no tension if you lift your arms. Similarly, pants should not pull or go if they sit down.
In the context of the construction, elastane is a red flag. It has a four-way route that is necessary for bathing clothes and underwear, but in other items of clothing it is a lot of heavy lifting to make poorly constructed clothing fit. In addition, it loses elasticity through repeated stretching and washing over time, causing the material to sag.
3: seams
Something else that you have to pay attention to is how properly the seams are.
French seams – folded and sewn over both edges – and these are bound so that the edges are covered are much stronger and more durable. This, says Kershaw: “Give them more stability in the garment itself” than the widespread overcrowded or lock stitch seams with a series of stitches that run along a raw edge. Double seams also have larger stitches, which indicates that a piece of clothing was quickly roped through the machine. This can lead to errors such as puckering in the fabric.
4: lining
Since it gives warmth, prevents the appearance of a piece of clothing from becoming dirty and it makes it more pleasant to put on, the feed is another indicator of quality. However, it is important to be aware of what it exists, since cheap polyester, nylon or acetate disturb all thermore -regulating properties in the outer layer, since they do not breathe and make clothes feel sticky and sweating. Look for food from Cupro, silk, cotton, modal or lyocell.
5: bags
Well -placed, deep pockets made of a thin but strong material are another indicator that a piece of clothing was designed and manufactured by someone who is qualified and expert.
“The bags can wear out quickly so that the quality of the fabric is important, as is the placement,” says Kershaw. Look for bags that have been reinforced or built into the seams and sit appropriately on the body. If you put something in you, it does not fall out or disturbs the line of the garment.
6: Effective hardware
The weight and material of zippers, keys, pressing and hooks and eye are also typical. “Opening and closing the zippers or snap switches or whatever is the attachment,” says Nuttall. “If it is difficult and you don’t work well, it is a sign of a piece of clothing that was not considered well.”
7: versatility and repairability
“If something is well done when you grow or shrink and change or change your style, you should be able to adjust it,” says Nuttall.
Find clothes in which additional fabric is stored in the seams so that you can be left out or absorbed when your body changes. Or design functions such as ties or fortifications that mean that they can be worn in different ways.
8: Emotional durability
The selection of styles that you want and want to continue to wear may be the most difficult to get right. It requires the development of a strong feeling of your personal style – a good starting point is the analysis of what you already have and like to wear. It can help to consider every new purchase as an investment, which can mean researching and saving so that you can find and afford the dress, pants or the coat with the best embedded value.
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