Style With Substance – Episode Six Loved Clothes Last
All Images: Clothes Doctor
In Episode Six of Style With Substance we learn why caring for your clothes is the best way to be sustainable. Our host Lucy spoke to Clothes Doctor Founder Lucinda O’Connor about why Loved Clothes last.
Episode 6 – Show Notes
In episode 6 of Style With Substance we investigate why our clothes so often end up in landfill. According to Fashion Revolution Founder Orsola de Castro, the most sustainable clothes are the ones already in your wardrobe. It turns out that caring for your clothes is an important aspect of extending the life of your garments. We chatted to Lucinda O’Connor, Founder of clothing repair brand Clothes Doctor to find out why mending matters and what you can do to love your clothes for longer.
Why Don’t We repair Our Clothes?
Many of us are guilty of discarding things once a button has fallen off, or a zip has become stuck. The fast fashion we buy isn’t meant to last, and so once it breaks, which it inevitably will… we chuck it in the bin. The solution to the problem seems simple. Buy Less, Choose Well, Make It Last. Dame Vivienne has a knack for making it all sound simple. But hands up if you invested in something, then left it languishing in the back of your wardrobe because it had a stain on it, or the fit wasn’t quite right? In her book, ‘How to Break Up With Fast Fashion,’ Lauren Bravo bemoans an era in which none of us know how to sew or wash our clothes! And she’s right. A lot of us wouldn’t know where to begin when it comes to mending or alterations. It’s no longer taught in schools or passed down through family and why would you need to learn anyway? You can just go out and buy something else because it’s so cheap – who cares? Luckily mending is becoming cool again thanks to craftivists like Bryony from Tickover, Katerina Rodabaugh and the lovely Molly Martin.
Trusted Clothing Care
For those of us who don’t know our thimbles from our thread, there are some incredible companies out there who have made it their business to care for our clothes. So you can wear them and love them for longer. Whether there is a scratch on your favorite leather handbag, or a pesky moth hole in your cashmere knit, they have you covered. In this episode we are speaking to Lulu O’Connor, Founder of Clothes Doctor. They know that the major hurdle standing in the way of you and the longlife wear of your clothes is being able to fix and clean them. So Lulu created a company that would collect your items for repair or alternation and send them off to the experts to sort for you. Clothes Doctor found that the most common issue when throwing out clothes was usually a broken zip. However dropped hems, missing buttons and moth holes were also high on the list. Not only do they have the expert hand to mend your garment, they will work hard to source the correct replacement zips, buttons and threads.
How Important Is It To Clean Your Clothes Properly
As we have learnt from fashion icons like Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham, you don’t have to wash your clothes all the time to keep them in good shape. Good storage, spot cleaning and a little attention are all they need to really shine. Washing, especially at high temperatures and when followed by tumble drying, degrades fibres over time. Not to mention the effect of micro plastics washed out of your synthetic clothes having a detrimental effect on the environment. Clothes Doctor offer eco friendly cleaning solutions too, as well as helpful tips on how to care for your clothes. It really is worth taking the time to care for your wardrobe properly, prevention is definitely better than cure. Not only will they last longer, helping to prevent unnecessary waste, but the practice of caring for your clothes builds a deeper, more conscious relationship with the things we own.
With thanks to our wonderful guest Lucinda O’Connor, Founder of Clothes Doctor
Mentioned Within The Podcast –
- EAC (Environmental Auditing Committee) Fixing Fashion: Clothing Consumption & Sustainability
- Sashiko Repair
- Clothes Doctor Clothing Care
- Clothes Doctor Tips For Washing Clothing
- WRAP
- How to break up with fast fashion by Lauren Bravo
Credits
Host Lucy Kebbell
Theme created by Joe Murgatroyd
Disclaimer: The people and models in the images featured are not associated with The Vendeur and do not endorse it or the products shown. This post may contain affiliate links. Prices correct at time of publishing.
