Buying Quality

 


Being able to repair clothing starts with buying quality clothing. If you buy rubbish clothing, then it is likely that any repairs you make may only mean that the clothing lasts a short time before it has to be disposed. It is better to buy quality rather than cheap clothing. If you have tried upcycling, you will know that it is much better if the clothing you are upcycling is made from quality material.

But, buying quality clothing typically costs more. It is estimated that Australian “households are spending about the same amount of money on average that we spent 20, 30 or 40 years ago, but we’re buying four times as much clothing for that money … consumers have been trained to expect clothes to be extremely cheap” (ABC News, 12 February 2023), and to be thrown away.

There are many parallels between buying ethical and quality food, home and beauty products, and buying quality clothes which are sourced from sustainably-produced natural fibres and animal products. There are many of these available now, thanks to technology, including hemp, silk, fine wool, leather, cotton, bamboo and soy.

Buying quality is not only about choosing natural fibres as much as possible, but also being conscious of the chemicals, pesticides, and resources, including water, which are used in growing crops; chemicals in the form of softening agents and dyes; and without doubt, the exploited labour in developing countries used to produce the clothing.

If you have decided to buy a new garment, it is a good idea to investigate where it was made, from what, by whom and its impact on the environment. Fashion designers and manufacturers are becoming increasingly mindful of “sustainable style and creating designs that are lighter on the planet” (G Magazine, March/April 2007). But how do you avoid ‘green washing’?

A good place to start is to look at the manufacturer’s website and see what claims they make about the environmental impact of their clothing and their ethical considerations. There are also many websites that rate the credentials of a number of clothing manufacturers. When you find a fashion line which has good environmental credentials, try to stay with that brand, and spread the word.

But researching clothing can be confusing, with conflicting claims made by the manufacturers and those who rate them. If you don’t find the information you want about the environmental impact of clothing you are looking to buy, then email the manufacturer. This helps make manufacturers more aware that people do care about the environmental and ethical impact of clothing we are looking to buy.

Additional reading

An ethical shopper’s guide: https://www.ethical.org.au/

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