I recently read an article about the environmental and economic impact of fast fashion and one number really struck me: In 2018 the average american purchased 68 items of clothing, many of which went unworn. Assuming that isn't counting a package of 6 pairs of socks as 12 items of clothing, that number strikes me as kinda big.
Now a confession: my favorite sweater is over 15 years old. If I didn't have a picture of me wearing it while holding my infant nephew (who is now in high school) I'd probably guess it was half that. It's a nice thick yarn sweater in good shape and I consistently get compliments when I wear it. Why does it still suit me so well? It's my colors. It's a great oatmeal color with a fair isle medalion around the neckline that features some great dark and medium brown accents. I've certainly bought other sweaters in the last decade, but less than a dozen. When your clothes are good quality and colors that make you look and feel great, you wear them over and over again and continue to love them.
If you're wearing good quality clothing you look great in for years, why on earth would you need 68 new garments a year? You wouldn't. If every piece stayed with you for even five years, that would put 340 items in your closet. With 340 items, even if allowing for seasonality and warmth needs, you'd not have to laundry any more often than once every-other-month. But we don't tend to dress like that.... we have our favorites, our go-tos... we do laundry more than once a month to get back to those pieces we love.
Learning your colors is an investment that pays for itself. It helps give you the discipline to recognize that the cute $15 top you see pictured isn't going to be something you love to wear because it's totally the wrong color. You'll also learn that splurging a bit for the sweater that isn't 100% polyester is the better choice because being your colors, you're going to love it and wear it over and over for many years to come.
Fewer impulse or mistake purchases of clothes you'll never want to wear is good for your wallet and good for the environment. Paying for lasting good quality also cuts back on the growth of sweatshop labor that makes cheap fast fashion possible. Shopping with your colors in mind obviously won't solve all of the world's ills, but it certainly seems like a step in the right direction.
Comments