16th January 2024
Reusing rather than replacing can also apply to clothes. Some of our favourite pieces of clothing are often items we have had for many years. I have jumpers that go back 40 years and a kilt that is even older (I had it second hand as a child).
Reusing can also including passing on clothes such as from older to younger children, or between generations. I have several items originally worn by my mother. My husband has items that belonged to his father whilst some of his father’s clothes have already been appropriated by our youngest son who loves the 1930s style.
An alternative way of reusing clothes is to repurpose or reshape them. A pair of trousers that becomes ragged at the knees can be repaired or it can be repurposed as a pair of shorts – potentially leaving you some extra material from the bottoms that can be used to patch something else or to make a small bag. A skirt, dress or trousers etc that are too large can be reshaped to fit a smaller figure. Flaired trouser legs can be narrowed. If you don’t have these skills yourself, you might find someone else who has via a repair cafe or a tailor.
Another way of reusing clothes is to buy second hand ones from a vintage of charity shop – and to likewise pass on items you no longer wear.
Greenpeace reports “Partly because of all this plastic use, and the energy needed to process it, the fashion industry produces 8-10% of global CO2 emissions (4-5 billion tonnes annually).”
Further reading – https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/fast-fashion-climate-change-pollution-violence/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60382624
The Green Tau 