BY Mariella O’CURNEEN. EEB4. S6ENB
What do you think is more important: A) more clothes of lesser quality OR B) fewer clothes of higher quality?
RESULTS [April 2020]: This month the 13stars Instagram account asked its followers the following question: What do you think is more important: A) more clothes of a lesser quality OR B) fewer clothes of a higher quality? The results of the survey were overwhelmingly in favor of B), with 82% saying that this was more important.
So, why should you invest in higher quality clothes?
1. They last longer
Although the clothes you buy will be more expensive, they will last much longer than cheap clothes. This is because the fabric that is used will be of a much higher quality than the thin fabrics used for cheap clothing. They will also be sewn with much more care and with higher quality thread, which will prevent holes, loose threads and stitches being unravelled. On top of which, this means that your clothes are not going to stretch, look worn out or be broken within weeks of you buying them.
2. You’ll actually be saving more money
If in the moment you had two pieces of clothing and one was much more expensive than the other, you’d probably be more inclined to go for the piece of clothing that was cheaper but if you do the maths, you’ll actually see that you’ll be saving more money if you buy the piece of clothing that is more expensive but of higher quality because it will last you much longer which means that you won’t have to buy another for a while and in the end you will have spent less.
3. It’s better for the environment
The fashion industry is responsible for over 10% of global carbon emissions, which means it plays a big role in global warming. One of the reasons for this is because a lot of the fabrics that are used to make our clothes are petroleum-based and are made from fossil fuels. Examples are polyester, acrylic and nylon. These fabrics need more a lot more energy to be made than natural or recycled materials. On top of which, around 85% of clothes that are thrown away end up in landfills or being incinerated because they don’t decompose.
4. Brands that produce higher quality clothes usually support better and fairer working conditions for their workers. E.g. Levi’s, Polo Ralph Lauren
As a lot of you probably already know, the people who make clothes work under horrendous working conditions, where things are unhygienic and unsafe, they work much longer hours than they should, and they are paid practically nothing. Sustainable brands usually want to make sure that the people working for them are being treated right, are working in safe and hygienic places and that they are not exploited. These brands care about their workers and the planet.
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