Garment care is about preserving garment quality and owning durable fabrics

The perfect garment care to preserve garment quality


23 MAY ‘22

4 minutes

Words by Sophie Badaoui

The perfect garment care to preserve garment quality


23 MAY ‘22

4 minutes

Words by Sophie Badaoui

The perfect garment care to preserve garment quality


23 MAY ‘22

4 minutes

Words by Sophie Badaoui

Garment care is about preserving garment quality and owning durable fabrics


We all have seen the tremendous damages fast fashion can do when it comes to our clothes. This article suggests a few tips to help you preserve garment quality and make sure you follow the right garment care instructions.


We are used to throwing a garment away as soon as we see a little imperfection. Most of the time, the core issue is in the garment quality, our garment care system and how durable the fabric really is. Aren’t you tired of getting rid of your clothes so fast? Although that is exactly what fast fashion companies want, you might want to take a different road and discover the numerous benefits of a good garment quality. Garment care is fundamental to make your clothes last and preserve their garment quality. Time to reassess the value of your clothes, and treat your fashion pieces like they deserve. 

Picture by Oksana Titova

We all have seen the tremendous damages fast fashion can do when it comes to our clothes. This article suggests a few tips to help you preserve garment quality and make sure you follow the right garment care instructions.

We are used to throwing a garment away as soon as we see a little imperfection. Most of the time, the core issue is in the garment quality, our garment care system and how durable the fabric really is. Aren’t you tired of getting rid of your clothes so fast? Although that is exactly what fast fashion companies want, you might want to take a different road and discover the numerous benefits of a good garment quality. Garment care is fundamental to make your clothes last and preserve their garment quality. Time to reassess the value of your clothes, and treat your fashion pieces like they deserve. 
Garment care is about preserving garment quality and owning durable fabrics



Some tips

Now you might want to do yourself, your clothes and your wallet a favor and read the useful tips that follow for a proper garment care to ensure proper garment quality:

Check the seams

 

1) Check the seams

According to Fashion Revolution co-founder Orsola de Castro, “the first thing to do when you’re looking at a piece of clothing is turn it inside out and pull at every piece of string you find. She explains, “when clothes are cheaply made, the seams are often shabby. If it starts to unravel, don’t buy it.” Indeed, garment care starts before buying the garment. To preserve garment quality, the first decision you have to make is to buy clothes that are high quality, made of durable materials. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should look for the most expensive, luxurious garments because let’s face it, not all luxury items have the garment quality they are pretended to have. For this reason, checking the seams is the fundamental first move to preserve garment quality and follow proper garment care.


 pre-loved, repurpose

Picture by CLOTHESfriends

 pre-loved, repurpose

Picture by CLOTHESfriends



2) Wash less, but better 

 By now, you should know that overwashing can worsen garment quality. Indeed, the more often you wash clothes, the quicker they wear out. Orsola de Castro follows Stella McCartney’s view on the subject, and shares “if something is made from good-quality wool, such as a man’s suit, it’s designed to be brushed clean and not washed”. Moreover, the average washing machine uses 13,500 gallons of water a year, which is as much as one person drinks in their lifetime. You can identify the pieces that don’t need washing from the ones that do. For the ones that do need washing, try to not wash them very frequently. For example, a pair of jeans doesn’t usually need to go to the machine after you wore it for one day, but a shirt most probably does. To wash your clothes more sustainably, use a low heat and put delicate fabrics in a laundry bag to reduce tearing. Moreover, use natural, gentle garment care products such as the Wash Supply set from Wash Supply Co on staiy.com, comprising the all-natural laundry liquid, the Northern Cedar laundry liquid and the Northern Cedar fabric softener. This way, by washing less but in a better and more sustainable way, you can make sure your garment quality will last longer.


3) Opt for durable fabrics

 It comes with no surprise that durable fabrics are the ultimate green flag when it comes to garment quality. Vintage clothing expert Amy Winston-Hart advises to hold garments up to the light: “If you can see light coming through the fabric, it’s going to go quickly”, she explains. For a high garment quality, you should choose durable fabrics such as polyester, merino wool, organic cotton, organic linen, or Tencel.






Garment care is about preserving garment quality and owning durable fabrics


Garment care is about preserving garment quality and owning durable fabrics



Garment care is about preserving garment quality and owning durable fabrics



4)Moth-proof your wardrobe

Clothes moths, scientifically named Tineola bisselliella, are the ultimate enemies of garment quality. In fact, their larvae are considered a pest, as they can literally eat our clothes, particularly wool, but also many other natural fibers. How can we ensure garment care if our garment quality decomposes? Amy Winston-Hart admits, “I think they’re rubbish. Visit your local tree surgeon and ask them for a lump of cedarwood, stick it in your wardrobe, and the moths won’t go near it”. Another advice she gives is lining your drawers with lavender-scented paper, and in case you buy a vintage piece but are concerned that it may have moth larvae in it, she recommends simply putting it in a plastic bag and keeping it in the freezer for several days to kill the moth larvae.




5) Beware of your dryer

Finally, beware of your dryer! It might seem like a timesaver when you want to wear a particular piece that has just been washed, but hanging your clothes and letting them dry naturally is so much better for garment quality. Plus, during sunny days, the sun is your best ally for a natural and efficient dry. Your dryer should not be in your garment care routine, as it consumes a lot of energy and can cause overheating and shrinking. To keep the same garment quality and follow a good garment care system until the end, use a clothesline or drying rack, especially when it comes to undergarments/lingerie and activewear. In this case, the excess heat from your traditional dryer could break down elasticity and cause unwanted stretch to your clothes.


 


These tips are only a few of the many instructions you could follow to create your own garment care system. Do you have additional tips for garment care? Share them with the Staiy community!

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