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fashion
Love What You Buy And Wear It For Longer. Why It’s Time To Start Treating Clothing As An Investment
09/03/23
Author: Courtney Kruk
DOCUMENTED BY: RIISE
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In her book Sundressed, author and sustainable fashion expert Lucianne Tonti puts forward a case for solving fashion’s climate crisis with beautiful clothes made from natural fibres.
Documented By: RIISE
In her book Sundressed, author and sustainable fashion expert Lucianne Tonti puts forward a case for solving fashion’s climate crisis with beautiful clothes made from natural fibres.
The book asks us to consider each garment we buy, selecting items we really love so we can enjoy wearing them for longer. The goal is not just to fall in love with our clothes but to see them as an investment.
When you invest in something, whether it’s an asset, your health or another person, you’re hoping for some sort of return. You want to know that the time or money you’ve invested in that thing will be worthwhile and add value to your life.
When we invest in an item of clothing, we expect it to be beautiful, well-made from high-quality materials, last for a significant amount of time and hold (if not increase) its value. If a garment ticks all of these boxes and has a higher price tag, it’s also reasonable to expect it to be made in a way that minimises impact on the environment and supports a fair wage for workers.
Guess what – clothing like this absolutely exists. Finding it just starts with a mindset shift and a bit of information. To help you on your way, these are all the reasons why you should treat the clothing you buy as an investment.
Purchases tend to be more focused, thoughtful and practical
Documented By: RIISE
Purchases tend to be more focused, thoughtful and practical
Applying an investment mindset to clothing will make you think more about the purchases you make. Before buying something, you’ll think about where you can wear it, how versatile it is, where it fits with the rest of your wardrobe and how much wear you are going to get out of it.
If you have a positive answer to all of these things, you’ll buy it, wear it often and for many years, take good care of it and see it as money well spent. Because ultimately, you’ve invested in something you really want and need.
Investment pieces are well-made from high-quality materials
There's a different quality to a good investment piece. Brands that are environmentally aligned often use durable, natural materials (like cotton, wool, linen and silk) and employ highly skilled, fairly paid workers. The result is well-made, long-lasting, high-quality clothing. Believe us when we say, you’ll notice the difference straight away.
Lucianne makes an important point about how investment pieces can save you money in the long run: “If buying clothes for a ten year time frame sounds expensive that’s because it is. But it doesn't mean you need to spend more money on clothes; it’s about apportioning the money you already spend differently. Take, for example, a pair of pants: instead of buying four or five pairs of pants a year, you take the total amount you would normally spend on all those pairs and buy one beautiful pair.” And that pair is going to last you for many, many years.
You will take better care of an investment piece and feel more inclined to get it repaired
You will take better care of an investment piece and feel more inclined to get it repaired
That initial investment immediately cultivates a great attitude to the clothes we own. If you’ve spent a few hundred dollars on a pair of trousers you’re expecting to see you through the next decade, you will want to take good care of them. You will cherish them, wash them well, get them tailored if your body changes and repair them when needed.
Buying with an investment mindset fosters a stronger connection with your wardrobe. Spend more, care more and you’ll keep your clothes for a lot longer.
Invest pieces retain their value
Investment pieces will remain valuable for decades to come and if you ever want to part ways, you will be able to resell them and recoup some of your investment. Its why vintage clothing is still so valuable today: it was produced in a pre-fast fashion era from high-quality materials.
Investment pieces are more likely to be cherished, kept for many years and eventually passed down
To see clothing not only last but be passed down through generations is a special thing. If you’ve ever received a garment from a family member or friend, something you know they wore and loved for many years, you know what we’re talking about.
A beautiful silk dress you bought and wore to milestone events and created lifelong memories in, that you’ve cherished for decades, is something you’ll want to pass on to someone you love someday.
When you think about it, clothing can be something you invest in for future generations, for the people who will hopefully wear it after you.
It can help you better understand your style
It can help you better understand your style
An investment mindset is great for personal style. When you’re not trying to emulate someone else or buy into a fleeting fad, you can really think about what you like. What suits your body and makes you feel most yourself. Pieces that you wear over long periods of time start to become a trademark of your personality, making your style feel more individual and recognisable.
If you’re worried that an investment piece might affect your individuality and style or be boring, you really shouldn’t be. Unlike fast fashion brands that duplicate popular designs, the creatives behind investment pieces put a lot of thought into their timelessness. They’re innovating in this space, making garments that are unique, interesting and beautiful.
Shopping with an investment mindset will change your relationship with fashion
In the opening chapters of Sundressed, Lucianne writes: “I’m not interested in clothes I can only wear once. I want clothes to carry me through the seasons of a year, of my life.” Investment pieces do this. They’re garments that you’ve given thought to before buying. They’re designed to be cherished and last a long time. They become more valuable to you over time, not less. They become special – they become loved. And ultimately, loving what you wear is one of the simplest ways to change our relationship with fashion and make it more sustainable.
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