Fashion

Creative ways to make clothes last longer

Fashion images that saturate our news feeds help the industry bring in a whopping £26 billion to our economy. On average we each spend £640 on clothes per year and collectively throw out almost 300,000 tonnes of clothing. One third of this has barely been worn! This is men and women alike with men only wearing 13% of the clothing in their wardrobes.

Maintaining your style without throwing away your old things is easier than you think, and can save you money. Take a look at the events, blogs and top tips to give you a few threads of thought.

3 things you can do today

Beat fast fashion. Be aware of impluse buys and think about whether you really want or need something. This will help you buy less, but better.
Love seconds. Find some gems in second hand clothes shops or swap clothes and accessories you no longer want with your friends and family. You could even revamp something old with a few embellishments. Get some tips in our Make, do and mend handbook.
Care for your clothes. Simple actions like washing clothes at 30ºC, only ironing when necessary and reducing tumble drying can make your clothes last much longer - read more about 'Clever Care'.

Go a bit further - run your own campaign.

How to be a fashion revolutionary

Fashion Revolution Week, 23rd - 29th April, is a movement that started in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster, rallying people to change the course of the fashion industry.

Led by Fashion Revolution, their message is clear. It’s time for fast fashion to make a U-turn, for brands to become more transparent and to start becoming a force for good.

We're often told as consumers that we hold the power to shape the fashion industry but facing a sprawling, globalised giant the challenge can seem overwhelming. Fashion Revolution Week is your opportunity to be loud, to challenge the brands you love and be a disrupter in an industry that desperately needs shaking up.

This week be a fashion revolutionary, it isn't as hard as you might think…

Be curious

Take a peek at your label. Find out where your clothes were made and think about how they were put together. Jump onto Instagram and ask brands #whomademyclothes to find out more about the people behind your favourite togs. The deeper we delve into the journey of our clothes the more they matter.

Find out

Do some digging online before you buy something; download apps like ethical barcode for when you go shopping. It pays to be clued up about where you’re putting your money and figure out what you expect from brands as a consumer.

Do something - five ways to get started

This is the fun part. Being a fashion revolutionary doesn't mean you have to stop buying and wearing the things you love. It’s about being bold, creative and thoughtful with the way you buy, wear and dispose of clothes. Here are five ways to get started:

1) Buy better

Invest a little bit more in something that you think you’ll wear for a long time and will become a wardrobe favourite. Follow in the footsteps of Livia Firth and Emma Watson and join the #30wears challenge. Don’t buy something just because it’s cheap, buy it because you love it!

2) Go charity and vintage shopping

Charity and vintage shops are the Aladdin’s cave of sustainable shopping. Hidden gems are abound and you’ll be getting better quality pieces for you’re money. Second hand shopping gives you the opportunity to give new life to a look and stop beautiful clothes from going to landfill. If you need a little inspiration check out this guide to the hidden second hand shops of London!

3) Swap!

Dive into your wardrobe and dredge out the dresses you’ve never worn and jeans that don’t fit, it’s time to give them to someone who will love them like they deserve to be loved. Go to a big swishing event or swap with friends.

4) Mend and customise

The internet is jam packed full of tutorials on ways to mend, upcycle and customise clothes you've fallen out of love with. Let your creativity roam free, it’s cheap and easy to tailor clothes, dye them or fix up rips and tears. If this is up your street then have a go at making your own clothes, they’ll fit you perfectly and you’ll be completely in control of the style and process.

5) Donate Responsibly

Think about the afterlife of your clothes. While donating is a good way to get rid of old clothes, unwanted second hand clothing being sent to predominantly African countries is causing big problems by disrupting their local textile economy. Have a look at the organisations you want to give to and find out where your clothes might be going before you donate them.

This is just the tip of the revolutionary iceberg, take a look at more ways to get involved on Fashion Revolution’s website and download their guide on ‘How to be a Fashion Revolutionary’.

Watch

This week on our blog channel Sarah explores how we can all be a Fashion Revolutionary. Have a look and don't forget to subscribe.

Comments (0)

Comment (maximum 3500 characters) *

Add a picture

Add a video

Notify me when someone makes a comment

First name *

Last name *

Email *

Which country do you live in?

Please enter your postcode*

Address line 1

Address line 2

Town or city

Keeping in touch

In addition to contacting you with administration information, such as if you comment on a blog, we'd love to keep you posted with our news, activities and campaigns you can get involved in. We'll never sell or pass on your details with anybody else. For full details see our Privacy Policy. You are free to change your mind at anytime.

Via email

Via telephone

Via SMS

Via post

Which country do you live in?

Please enter your postcode*

Address line 1

Address line 2

Town or city

Your privacy

We will always store your personal details securely. We’ll use them to provide the service that you have requested, and communicate with you in the ways that you have agreed to. Your data may also be used for analysis purposes, to help us provide the best service possible. For full details see our Privacy Policy.

By submitting this form you are agreeing to our terms and conditions

Latest

Be a winner - host the ultimate litter-free picnic

Picnics are a brilliant way to spend time with friends, family and enjoy the outdoors. Here are some top tips for hosting the ultimate packaging and litter-free picnic. Share a photo of yours and you could win a £50 voucher.
Love Where You Live

In one year the UK spend £57 million clearing up after fly-tipping. One community in Oldham has transformed its derelict alleyway into a beautiful space. Will yours be next? Find out how to transform your alleyway with #LoveWhereYouLive.
Join #LoveWhereYouLive Oldham

In 2016/17 it cost the UK a whopping £57 million to clear up fly-tipping. Find out what Oldham residents are doing about it.
Can community action cut fly-tipping?

For the past year Hubbub has partnered with Oldham Council exploring whether community action can cut fly-tipping. We worked in five streets to gain a greater understanding of the causes of fly-tipping and to explore solutions. Results have been mixed.

Can community action cut fly-tipping?

For the past year Hubbub has partnered with Oldham Council exploring whether community action can cut fly-tipping. We worked in five streets to gain a greater understanding of the causes of fly-tipping and to explore solutions. Results have been mixed.
Hubbub launches #WhatsInMyWash campaign

There 's growing concern about plastics ending up in rivers and oceans. Straws, coffee cups, cosmetics, wet wipes and even tea bags are being viewed in a new light. But what about our clothes? #WhatsInMyWash?
Can the fashion industry become sustainable?

Our fashion hub has been they hardest challenge and difficult to make a difference at scale. Awareness that change is needed has increased but major break throughs seem a way off. Here are five things we have learned.
What can the war on plastic learn from disposable coffee cups?

Since Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall’s TV announcement that less than 1% of cups were recycled a considerable amount has changed. There is much that can be learned from this as the government embarks on its war on plastic.
Hubbub statement on Waste less, Save more
Hubbub launches new food waste partnership

To celebrate Stop Food Waste Day, Hubbub is delighted to announce a new partnership with Compass Group UK & Ireland and Winnow, exploring ways to reduce ’plate waste’, the food customers throw in the bin, from corporate and university restaurants.
Why has Hubbub bought a horsebox?

Last year we trialled the 'Trashconverter' van to tackle litter in the Forest of Dean. From this pilot, we learnt that using a van had its drawbacks, so this year the Trashconverter is back, as a horsebox.
7 sustainable superheroes for green living inspiration

To celebrate the people who inspire us to make greener choices we’ve put together an ultimate list of sustainable superheroes. A go-to list of bloggers and movie makers who offer advice on sustainable fashion, eating and living, all nominated by you!
The story of a start-up charity: why there are five B’s in Hubbub

We started Hubbub four years ago, aiming to take a fresh approach to environmental campaigning by engaging a mainstream audience. We started with £25,000 and a set of clear principles, but gradually a growing number of companies expressed a desire to collaborate and together we have created a portfolio of activities which we couldn’t have dreamt of at the early outset.
How to have a greener Easter

In the UK we buy more than 80 million boxed chocolate eggs each year at Easter, generating 4,370 tonnes of card waste and costing around £299 million. If you want to save money or produce less waste this year, here are top tips for a greener Easter.

Gift A Bundle of outgrown baby clothing this Mother's Day

183 million items of outgrown baby clothing are tucked away in UK homes! In the lead up to Mother’s Day, pass them on to support families via 42 mothercare stores.
Be a part of the Community Fridge Network

Community Fridges are communal places where surplus food is shared. Find your local Community Fridge and see how you can save food and money.
How to recycle clothes too worn to wear

1/3 of clothes across the UK end up in the bin, despite the fact that stained, damaged and holey clothing can be recycled into new items, such as padding for chairs and car seats, cleaning cloths and industrial blankets - find out how.
What we do and why we do it

We're a social enterprise that works very like a creative agency for environmental issues. The best bit - all our profit goes back into our mission, because we're a charity too.
Set up a Community Fridge

The Community Fridge is a simple way of enabling communities to share good food that would otherwise go to waste, and we're looking for people set up Community Fridge's in their communities - find out what support is available to you.
Meet the team

We're a small team with huge ambitions - come and meet us.
Recycle your coffee cup with the #SquareMileChallenge

Coffee. It's the fuel of the nation. We throw away 7 million coffee cups a day and less than 1% get recycled. Take part in the #SquareMileChallenge to recycle 1/2 million cups this month.
Neat Streets

Creative ways to tackle litter using the latest thinking and designs from around the world.
We're recruiting

Are you passionate about the environment and making it relevant to the mainstream? Keep an eye out here for job vacancies.
Make, do and mend events

10 fashion event ideas. From film screenings to fashion swaps, this free e-guide has events of all shapes and sizes for you and your friends to re-vamp your wardrobes, make your clothes last longer and save money.