2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

QueenJess

Did anyone see this article in The Guardian that is trying to get people to change their day to day habits for the environment by making a simple list of things to do? (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/07/six-key-lifestyle-changes-can-help-avert-the-climate-crisis-study-finds?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other)

It included: buying no more than three new pieces of clothing a year.

I wondered what people thought about that? Now I think some of the statements are bit vague (like keep your car for longer, but I keep mine until it ends up as scrap..). Do you think they count 1 pair of socks as 1 new item as well as a dress? It might be a bit tough to only buy 3 a year even if you only bought underwear and socks new.

I wonder what would happen to the cost of second hand clothes if everyone switched?!

Laura_Elsewhere

@QueenJess, yes I saw that too - I think it means garments. I know when I read something else recently about only wearing 10 items of clothing for a week of outfits it didn't count undies, etc...

CapricornLass

Interesting question.  I think (having read about it on several sites) its just three outer pieces of clothing.  Three pieces total is a bit harsh!

Actually, socks are more environmentally friendly, thinking about it.  Zt least, mine generally last a lot longer than a year.  Whereas I could ruin a pair of tights on the first wearing.  I gave up wearing those about fifteen years ago.  I think also we would all have to be far more Classic dressers, and ignore fashion completely.

Though as I have just received my figures for gas and electric bills from April, I think buying even 3 pieces of clothing will be a challenge.  Would you believe it - £4 grand for the year???  I'm still in a state of shock. 

QueenJess

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@QueenJess, yes I saw that too - I think it means garments. I know when I read something else recently about only wearing 10 items of clothing for a week of outfits it didn't count undies, etc...

Well that would make more sense. I think they’ve tried to boil it down too much as I have many questions on their 6 points!

3 should be pretty easy as an adult (might be less easy as a growing child - or for that matter now I think about it, if you lose/gain weight, become pregnant or generally change your body shape in any way!) and although I’m a big environmental advocate, isn’t small changes usually best (although accepting we are probably past that point to make a difference now). I mean, if everyone did this, there would be closures and bankruptcy of clothing stores all over the place (which obviously leads to redundancies and other problems).

PipneyJane

QueenJess said:

Did anyone see this article in The Guardian that is trying to get people to change their day to day habits for the environment by making a simple list of things to do? (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/07/six-key-lifestyle-changes-can-help-avert-the-climate-crisis-study-finds?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other)

It included: buying no more than three new pieces of clothing a year.

I wondered what people thought about that? Now I think some of the statements are bit vague (like keep your car for longer, but I keep mine until it ends up as scrap..). Do you think they count 1 pair of socks as 1 new item as well as a dress? It might be a bit tough to only buy 3 a year even if you only bought underwear and socks new.

I wonder what would happen to the cost of second hand clothes if everyone switched?!

Good question @QueenJess.  My guess is that they didn't consider socks and underwear, although some people do go through them like they're a disposable product.  The real point is to get away from Fast Fashion and over consumption.  Why buy a new dress when you have 10 in the wardrobe?  Wear what you have until it's totally worn out.

Also, thanks for the link.  I had seen the article referenced somewhere but hadn't got around to reading it.  Interesting stuff.  Some things I do automatically, already (keep electrical products until they die, ditto cars).  Even eating a diet that is largely plant based, although that's more to do with a childhood dislike of meat-and-three-veg and a love of pasta and curries, which I pad out with vegetables in order to get my 5-a-day.  (I liked the meat, just not the veg.)

- Pip

PollyWollyDoodle

Thanks for the link, I hadn’t seen that. I already do most of those; I don’t buy new electrical items unless the old one is worn out/broken. Unfortunately I don’t think many things have a life of seven years, these days!  

Remember it’s three NEW items of clothing; so you can buy second hand. The dress I bought this week is probably only the third brand-new item I’ve bought in the last 18 months. Everything else (knickers excepted) has come from charity shops or second-hand sites. 

PipneyJane

@QueenJess said:

@Laura_Elsewhere said:

@QueenJess, yes I saw that too - I think it means garments. I know when I read something else recently about only wearing 10 items of clothing for a week of outfits it didn't count undies, etc...

Well that would make more sense. I think they’ve tried to boil it down too much as I have many questions on their 6 points!

3 should be pretty easy as an adult (might be less easy as a growing child - or for that matter now I think about it, if you lose/gain weight, become pregnant or generally change your body shape in any way!) and although I’m a big environmental advocate, isn’t small changes usually best (although accepting we are probably past that point to make a difference now). I mean, if everyone did this, there would be closures and bankruptcy of clothing stores all over the place (which obviously leads to redundancies and other problems).

My thoughts exactly.

Humans can, collectively, make small changes which would add up to a big difference.  We've already made a big mind-set change by becoming Fashion-on-the-Rationers.  Ditto because we're active on MSE, we tend to have a different mindset to most of the population.  If we have a collective motto it's "Don't Waste".  

Fixing food waste and eliminating short car journeys are  small changes an individual could make which would make a huge difference.   According to WRAP, 20% of all UK food is wasted, which is the equivalent of 5% of UK territorial carbon emissions .  Whereas, according to the Office of National Statistics, 40% of all car journeys are for distances of less than 2 miles, which could easily be walked or bicycled.  Back when I lived in inner Melbourne, I used to have a mantra:  if it took less than half an hour, walk it.  More than that, cycle.  If it took more than half an hour to cycle, then either use public transport or drive if there was no direct public transport route.  

(Yes, a 2 mile walk today would probably take me about half an hour, e.g. the walk into our nearest market town  While technically quicker if I took a bus, I'd probably spend all the travel time "saved" waiting for the damn bus to show up.) 

- Pip

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, very interesting discussion. I can't remember the last time I bought any new outer clothes. I did get a new t shirt when I exchanged a gift and I have had new slippers so I will try to keep track for the 3 items a year. I do walk to local shops and I have plans to sell my car and buy a bike but there are still some things I need my car for so I need to sort them out. My main problem is the really badly integrated public transport services if I need to go to certain places. For example a trip to the dentist will take me 20mins in the car but over 2 hours by public transport. When I was working it would take me about 30 mins in rush hour by car but when I had to make the journey by public transport when the car was in the garage I had to leave the house about an hour and a half earlier. Adding 3 hours to the working day was an absolute killer, plus the cost was huge even with weekly tickets etc. These things all need to be sorted out if the powers that be really want the public to buy into using cars less, and personally I would like to see far less lorries on the road and more freight back on rails with lorries just being used for trips from rail stops to local places. I doubt this will happen because there just isn't the political will to make it happen. 
I have had some good news today, OHs niece is pregnant , so the question of suitable yarn for a baby has raised its head again here. Can I ask if anyone has found anything suitable yet? If anyone has any ideas I would be greatful.
Take care everyone

weenancyinAmerica

Public transportation here is so bad (if you are not in a hotel going to Disneyland), that I can walk to places, if less than two miles, faster than using a bus even at my age. I'm in my seventies - with two knee replacements. It does get that mileage in if walking for exercise. I have a nice metal shopping cart that I use that holds a lot of shopping and doesn't require that I lean over to use it. And it does help keep me from falling when I walk too far. Been using carts since 1974, when I had to go a mile uphill to do my laundry when I lived in Salt Lake City.  Worn out several carts already.

florianatwobob

I don’t drive which can be a challenge especially when going cross county. It’s actually nearly impossible to go from the east to the west of my county without going into London. Mr Beeching has a lot to answer for. 

On the plus side our county council has made a pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030 after declaring its own climate emergency in 2019 and is looking at lots of ways to improve public transportation to support that aim. 

No spends or mends to declare. I am keeping my eye out for a smart winter coat however for those times I need to ‘look like I belong to someone’.