I say this a lot, but it really is true - loved clothes last. 25% of the carbon footprint of clothing comes from the way we care for it.

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No matter how well made our clothes are, if we don't treat them right, our relationships with them will be brief.

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Washing puts a lot of strain on our clothes, stretching fibres and fading colours.

To keep them looking as fresh as possible for longer, I recommend washing less. I know this is a hard concept to grasp at first, since it may seem unhygienic. But spot-cleaning, regularly hanging to air and steaming are perfectly effective ways of freshening up garments. You’ll also save on energy and water consumption.

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When you do need to wash, try washing at a lower temperature and spin speed to be as gentle as possible. Or alternatively, gently hand-wash in luke-warm water.

 

Use a mild detergent if you can, free of heavy perfumes and nasty chemicals. Anything plant-based if usually a safe bet!

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Try to avoid using a tumble-drier whenever possible, as this increases the chance of shrinkage, pilling and permanent wrinkles.

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Instead, hang or lay garments flat out of direct sunlight to drip-dry.

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When hand-washing, be careful not to wring garments. Instead, squeeze out as much water as possible, before rolling in a towel to remove any excess moisture.

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Steam instead of directly pressing on the garment, if you can. It also helps to press items whilst they’re still slightly damp, and is often more effective.

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And try to embrace more wrinkles! Crumples are extra character and add to the story of a garment.