Over a quarter of a million tonnes of textile waste is generated every year in Ireland and unbelievably only a small fraction of textiles are recycled with the majority ending up in landfill sites where they don’t biodegrade for decades.
The key to preventing textile waste is to try and make the clothes we purchase last longer; this can be done by taking good care of them, by carrying out minor repairs and by giving clothes and accessories a new lease of life by customising them.
Here are some simple tips to get you started:
- Only wash your clothes when necessary, washing damages the fibres and fades your clothes so if possible reduce the number of washes, wash at a low temperature (30° or lower and line dry) – this also helps you reduce your household energy consumption.
- Get yourself a button jar & put all spare buttons that come with clothing in it – then if you lose a button you will have a replacement. This is also a handy place to store a needle and thread.
- Reinforce hems on trousers & skirts by adding a stitch at the edge or use “wundaweb” for iron on hemming.
- Repair ripped seams by hand sewing them along the seam line.
- Get creative – if you get a hole in jeans or trousers change the look of the trousers (and also repair them) by adding a funky patch.
- Sick of tee shirts, shirts or bags why not give them a new lease of life by customising them with buttons, beads, feathers or other craft products that can be sourced cheaply from craft & hobby shops – check out You Tube for some fantastic ideas.
- Remember – if you are totally finished with your clothes why not start a “swap circle” with friends or donate them to charity shops.