Fashion Revolution Week, which takes place every year during the last week of April, is a global initiative that campaigns for a clean, safe, fair, transparent and accountable fashion industry. As the world faces the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization’s ongoing #LovedClothesLast movement is especially prescient. It encourages us to use our increased days indoors to care for our clothes better, mending and making clothing, and adopting a mindset of longevity when it comes to our wardrobes—opting to invest in better-quality garments instead of fast fashion. That means mending and removing stains from your clothes, shaving your sweaters, and polishing your shoes. Here are some ideas for increasing the longevity of your clothing and accessories, with some recommended local resources.
Image via Science & Kindness
1. Get your stuff repaired. Well-made clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry and other accessories are often worth the cost to repair them. That’s one reason I often turn to vintage and secondhand designer goods.
Learn how to do a couple simple stitches via an online tutorial. Visible mending has become a trend lately, so you don’t have to worry about something showing its wear. Shaving sweaters using a sweater shaver is a great way to make them look good as new, and some shoe polish is also a great way to touch up leather bags and shoes.
Repair Lair specializes in fixing outdoor clothing and camping equipment via mail. Learn more at repairlair.com
Science & Kindness, which specializes in visible denim repairs, is taking mail orders. Learn more at https://www.instagram.com/scienceandkindness/?hl=en on Instagram.
Jewelry designer Stephanie Lake Design is offering new services including jewelry repair and customization for customer-owned jewelry. Inquire via DM or www.stephanielakedesign.com.
Greenwich Vintage Co. is now offering local pickup and delivery in the Twin Cities for classic repair, recrafting and resoling of men’s and women’s footwear. Prices for shines start at $20. Call 612-310-0373, visit their website at https://greenwichvintage.us/ or connect with the brand on social media.
2. Get your stuff cleaned—the right way.
Hand wash and line dry as much as possible. It’s gentler on your clothing, and makes it last longer. (Heat can really do a number on natural fibers.) I swear by Oxy Clean powder to get whites bright again. (Just be careful using it on anything that could color-bleed.) Spraying musty-smelling clothing (like vintage) with a spray bottle filled with vodka and using Dawn dish soap for stains are some other good tricks.
Mona Williams owner Patric Richardson, aka The Laundry Evangelist, is an incredible local resource for laundry and stain removal. He even has a new book coming out later this year! For now, you can order his laundry supplies at monawilliams.com and follow their Facebook page for upcoming virtual Laundry Camps.
New tailoring and sewing lounge RETHINK Tailoring and Sewing Lounge is accepting dropoff repairs. They also specialize in upcycling and reusing discarded garments, and they also offers basic sewing tutorials. Check them out at rethinktailoring.com and @rethinktailoring on Instagram.
3. Upcycle your old clothes by altering, dyeing or customizing them.
As many are in quarantine, it's no surprise that DIY tie-dye is making a splash right now. Since we can't go out and shop for something new, it's inspiring many to try to simple yet multi-step technique to bring a pop of color and pattern to your look.
Now’s also a good time to learn to mend and alter your own clothing. A Google search will give you some leads on virtual sewing workshops.
Add some flair to an old denim jacket by getting some customized embroidery from local makers like Dinosaur Hampton, Stephanie Vos and Sarah Sequoia.
4. If you’re going to buy new, try to buy sustainably and ethically from small brands, makers and retailers. It may not be possible to only shop sustainably, but whatever you do, be mindful about what you buy. Now’s a good time to think about your wardrobe holistically, and find well-made pieces that will last, and items that you will want to wear next year (and the year after)—so they’re less likely to end up in a landfill.
Threaded is a great resource for learning about sustainable, ethical makers and brands in Minnesota and the Midwest. (They also hosted an official Fashion Revolution Week virtual event over the weekend, Shaping Fashion.) Check them out at @wearethreaded on Instagram and wearethreaded.org.
Some of my favorite local, sustainable fashion brands include Yessenya, Hackwith Design House, Winsome Goods, SCARFSHOP, nine56 Studio, Dallas Daws Designs, Paradox Coalition, Sun50, Wild Isles Swim and Akinda Suits, plus local shops Hazel & Rose, Spoils of Wear and NICHE.
5. Get unused clothing back into the clothing ecosystem by donating or reselling it. With many of us spending more time at home, now is the perfect time to go through your closet and edit, edit, edit. Pull out a piece and ask it the question posed by Marie Kondo—does this bring me joy? If not, pull it out—and make space for something new. But it’s important to part with unwanted items ethically.
Save a pile of items to sell at a garage sale and a pile of better-quality pieces to consign at a local store or put on Depop, eBay or Poshmark. I like the idea of reselling items directly because it ensures those items are going straight into someone else’s closet and will (hopefully) be well-loved and well-worn.
Donating can be a great way to give back. However, not all donations end up going onto the sales floor. The U.S. alone sends about 21 billion pounds of textile waste to landfills every year. And sadly, only 10-15% of donated clothing actually ends up in the secondhand market. National charities like Goodwill and the Salvation Army get more donations than they can handle, so much of it is packed up and re-sold overseas or sent to landfills.
One way to avoid that is to donate items to a specific organization that will carefully select items they want, like Harriet’s Closet from Tubman, which offers outfit styling and clothing at no cost for in-need clients, and locally-based thrift stores.
Have you done some spring cleaning and looking to donate your goods? Here is an updated listing of places where you can currently donate used goods:
The new Sidewalk Swap project was set up by a South Minneapolis resident to help keep clothes moving through the fashion ecosystem. The concept is simple: Bring a piece to swap in for every piece you take. Want to swap by can’t because of health or accessibility? They’ll pick some items out for you, drop them off at your door, and take any clothing donations you want to make, contact-free. Shoot them a DM or follow @sidewalkswap on Instagram for updates. Usually open daily, weather permitting.
While Arc’s Value Village is still closed for in-person shopping until further notice, they’re taking donations via contact-free drive-through open daily 10am–6pm at all of their locations. You can also set up a virtual styling appointment or window shop via their Instagram, @arcsvaluevillage. Visit arcsvaluevillage.org for donation guidelines and locations.
Bridging in Bloomington and Roseville provide furniture and household goods to families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. You can drop off without an appointment daily, and also offer home driveway/garage pickup for a $75 fee. Visit their website at bridging.org to learn more about what they do and don’t accept.
The Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota accepts select home goods, clothing, tools, and more. Its drop boxes are currently closed, but you can schedule a pickup to donate. Learn more about what donations are accepted and to schedule a pickup at epilepsyfoundationmn.org.
Sharing and Caring Hands, which provides food, clothing, shelter, transportation assistance and medical and dental assistance, is accepting food, clothing, household items, car seats, strollers, diapers and wipes, toys, TVs, electronics, personal hygiene and vehicles. Drop off Monday–Thursday from 8am–4pm or Saturday & Saturday from 8am–noon. Learn more at sharingandcaringhands.org.
Hidden Treasures thrift store in St. Anthony is a nonprofit serving those in recovery and reentry by providing work and community. They're currently accepting clothing, housewares, jewelry, holiday decor, sporting goods and tools, Monday–Saturday from 10am–5pm, weather permitting. Check their Facebook page before you head out to make sure they're open for donations at facebook.com/HiddenTreasuresMN.
The Minnesota Tool Library accepts power tools, professional grade equipment and hand tools in good working condition, less than 5 years old. See their wish list here. They are currently doing no-contact donations. To set up a time, connect with the Minneapolis location at 612-440-8665 or the St. Paul location at 651-644-1882.