Written by Charlee Lean
On average, Australians buy 56 new items of clothing a year, the most of any country in the world. And those pieces of clothing usually cost no more than $13 (The Australian Institute). That places us well above America, the UK, and China. We throw away 200,000 tonnes of clothing waste every year, the equivalent of 8 Statues of Liberty.
We’re all a little guilty of it; the new shirts at Kmart look good, and they’re pretty cheap. But they all add up. I’ve done it before too, Instagram showed me a cool shirt for sale at Jay Jays, I went and found it, and it has sat in my cupboard for 3 months without me wearing it once.
Overconsumption has become a huge problem in our generation. It feels hard to stop buying new things, but by using some tips and tricks, it’s easy to beat overconsumption and save some serious cash at the same time.
1. Spend more for better quality!
If you really, really do need to buy something new, spend a little more to get something of better quality. This works well for staple pieces. If you have a pair of sandals that you wear all the time, spend the extra cash to buy a pair that will actually last you in the long run, rather than a cheap pair that will break in a month and get thrown away.
2. Thrift!
We all love the feeling of buying new clothes, so why not avoid adding to fast fashion by buying second-hand clothes? Op-shops, charity shops, markets and garage sales can be gold mines for gorgeous second-hand pieces, and don’t be afraid to re-wear outfits.
3. Do It Yourself (DIY)
As the old saying goes, “Everything old can be made new.” It’s true. If there’s pieces in your wardrobe that aren’t getting enough love, see if you can make them into something new. Social media is full of ideas for how to turn old clothes into amazing, unique pieces. You usually don’t need much more than a pair of scissors and some basic sewing supplies.
Breaking the trend of overconsumption can be hard, but it’s more than worth it in the long run. Good luck!
Charlie blog is a SSAF initiative.
