Granny Trude buys sustainable fashion from fair trade sources. Less is more here. And she has some additional tips for protecting the environment and giving your clothes a new lease of life.
My dears,After a month’s break over the summer, which I spent with my family at a lake in Bavaria’s Alpine foothills with a tent and a caravan, I can report that I feel well rested on my return. And I’ve already got a theme for you that’s been concerning me for a while – and it certainly won’t seem unfamiliar to you …
Wardrobe full to bursting
I’m sure that just like me you’ve got lots of clothes in your wardrobes that you don’t wear anymore. They’re too small, too big, you never really liked them, they’re no longer all the rage – or you simply can’t stand the sight of them now. I know how you feel. People have ten or twenty favourite items of clothing, you don’t need more.But somehow new ones keep being added to the ten most frequently worn garments. Our consumption of clothes has reached a concerning level in Germany – well I think so anyway. We must be on a par with the USA and Switzerland with the highest clothing consumption rates, at 40 to 70 garments per person per year.
Too much is too much
However the stockrooms are full, bargain hunters are always ready for battle, the “sales” are a constant temptation, especially in online shops. But the sheer volume isn’t the only problem. It starts right back with the cotton in the field, which needs a huge amount of water. Do you remember the article I wrote in July? The jeans with a water footprint of 11 000 litres? Fertilisers and pesticides on the cotton fields, which have a serious impact on the environment, and in particular on the health of the people who work there, are a huge problem. And the fact that in low-income countries not only is the pay poor, but there are also atrocious working conditions everywhere, a fact that has unfortunately been covered often enough in the media – and by the way the expensive brands are no exception.Showing responsibility
I came across a Californian outdoor clothing company that donates one per cent of their total turnover or ten per cent of their profit to environmental organisations. They’ve also provided the opportunity for worn-out clothing of that brand to be repaired, sold on or recycled. I’m quite flabbergasted to learn of all the things you can get now and what I manage to pick up, despite being in such a remote location in my little community of Hollenbach – thanks to the internet. But what can we do as private individuals?Turn old into new
Clothes have probably just become too cheap, hardly anyone still repairs them like they used to – we don’t have the time or we simply can’t do it. But luckily upcycling’s the in thing, especially amongst young people. It’s not just cleaning cloths or insulation material, even fashionwear made from fabric scraps is on sale now – and it looks rather snazzy! It’s easy to find on the internet. Another option is flashy embroidery to darn a hole beautifully – google the search term “visible mending” and you’ll be amazed! I think it looks very pretty, anyway.Clothes swap meets
As well as the traditional fleamarkets, the clothing cycle can operate differently and keep consumption of new products to a minimum. Let’s take for instance clothes swap meets between friends. My granddaughter Laura, who lives in Berlin, shopped like that almost all the time while she was studying. I think it’s a great idea – at least for young people, who can quickly slip from one outfit into the next.Green fashion
The older generations like my friend Inge and me, we like to stick to “green fashion”, to just a few select garments made from sustainable natural fibres and from fair trade. There are so many suppliers in this market now, the selection is huge and absolutely gorgeous! Just look out for a combination of credible social and ecological seals. There are plenty of recommendations on the topics of “clean clothes” and “green fashion” on the internet using those exact search criteria – it’s really easy to find them.Keep the cycle going
Incidentally, I do realise that you need to be able to afford it and that in many households, cheap clothes are bought for financial reasons. But luckily sales and swap marts are widespread on the internet now. At these, not only can you get rid of the clothes you cleared out, you can also easily fill your wardrobe back up again – or your children’s wardrobe as they grow constantly. Some people find it a bit of a hassle to package things up and take them to the post office. That’s why local fleamarket groups are a good idea. They come together through chat groups in rural areas and towns. Selling, buying, exchanging or giving away is becoming easier for us all the time.The future is now
My granddaughter Laura told me about a “department store of the future” that started up recently in her adopted home city of Berlin – just for six months. On one floor of a normal department store they made space to sell second-hand goods in a “re-use store”. Incredible, I’m impressed! Lots of things don’t need to be thrown away anymore! Experts from the recycling sector, people who operate successful upcycling shops or know their way around material cycles became involved in this project. And the Deutsche Kleiderstiftung, which has been campaigning for sustainability as well as collecting clothes for clothing banks and social projects nationally and internationally for more than 60 years, supports all this.By the way, you can send parcels of clothing, shoes and household linen in good condition postage paid for a charitable cause. As you can see, there really is plenty we can do.
Maybe I’ve even saved you from that next treat or consolation purchase, and done your wallet some good at the same time.
Sending you warmest wishes!
Yours, Trude
September 2020