Clothes are expensive, and the environmental impact is not good. This is how you can deal with both.
If you are looking to update your wardrobe or fill it, if it is looking like the moth to clothing ratio has shifted, look no further. The first thing you need to do is to step away from the idea of buying the clothes new. We produce too much clothing and most of it ends up in landfills.
Look at your life today. Where do you live? What kind of seasons and conditions are you dealing with over the course of a year?
Does it spark joy?
Take a note from Konmari and gather all of your clothes and shoes and put them in front of you. Whether you actually need more clothes or not will quickly become apparent to you. Divide them into seasons and then into types of garments. Look and touch each one. Try them on, if you’d like. If it sparks joy, still has use in it and works for you, keep it. If not, thank it for its service and fold it in a pile.
List the garments you had, the garments you decided to let go of, and figure out what garments and/or shoes you still need. Not want. Need.
Turn to your community
It is time to start reaching out to other people and see if you have any local swap meets coming up. If not, rally your mates and arrange one amongst yourselves. I’m sure they too have garments they’d like to part with.
Whether you arranged it yourself, or you’re attending someone else’s swap meet, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Keys to a successful swap meet
Wash everything and make sure you avoid using any type of fabric softener or product with perfume.
Check to make sure there are no stains or holes. If there are very small holes, or ones that are easy to fix, mend them.
Fold everything nicely and pack them up.
When you get to the swap-meet, you may be asked to state what you’re bringing. Some give you a charm or ticket for each garment you leave, and you can trade those in for garments that other people brought. If not, just hang them up or place them in the already present folded piles on the tables.
Bring out your list, and remind yourself of what you are looking for. Look over what’s available and cross off as many items as possible on that list.
Be kind, respectful, tidy up after yourself and remember to have fun!
Make your own patterns
After evaluating your wardrobe, consider whether there is something that you need that you already have a version of. Let’s assume you have a pair of trousers you love, and you need a pair of jeans. Then you could turn your trousers into a pattern and with denim you can acquire for free, you can use the pattern to sew a pair of jeans out of the denim. If you have scraps, you can sew them together first, like patchwork.
The same applies to garments like t-shirts, tank-tops and underwear.
The best thing about this method is that if your current garments have some aspects that you wish were different, you can make sure your homemade garments do not have those.
Get free materials
You can place ads or notes on social media or on a blog if you have one. But first I’d suggest asking friends and family if they are about to clear any garments from their wardrobes. There will always be someone who says yes, and you can then either use whatever you receive as a source of material. Get as much fabric as possible out of the donated garments and use it to make your own garments.
Turn what you have into what you need
Choose a garment. It doesn’t matter if you already own it or if someone hears about what you’re doing and decides to give it to you. Lay it out flat and try it on. Evaluate it.
This is what you have. What can you do to turn it into what you need? Make a list and then do it.
Altering the fit, adding decorative seams, crochet, merging them with other garments you already own, adding fabric scraps, or gathering the material to make something new. Whichever path you decide to take, you can create something truly unique without spending money to do so.
Crochet or knit
Get yarn for free, or make your own. And then you can either knit or crochet whatever it is you are looking to add to your wardrobe.
Social media
Look for people who are donating clothes and shoes online. There are plenty of ads, apps and posts about this on social media. It isn’t even difficult to find free clothes, shoes and materials this way anymore. Truth be told, you can get most physical possessions this way.
Get vintage clothing and restore it
Ask family members, relatives, friends of the family – whoever you feel comfortable asking, and see if they have something older they feel comfortable donating to you. Restore them, alter the size if needed, and make them your own.
If you have any more suggestions, do share them in the comment section.
Good luck!
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