You might have a closet and dresser packed full of clothing, but that doesn’t mean you wear every single item you’ve ever purchased. Some experts believe, the average person only wears 20% – 30%
of their wardrobe on a regular basis, with the rest of the items worn only occasionally, and the remainder left to sit in the closet unworn.
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When you realise that many of the garments you’ve purchased over the years are rarely worn or still have their tags, you might think buying them was a waste of money. So here’s some of the more common mistakes we often make when shopping for new clothing, and some ideas on how to help remedy this.
Prioritising Price
The sale rack is hard to ignore, and there’s no denying that you can pick up many affordable garments for a mere fraction of the standard retail price. However, a low price can often reflect quality, which means you might not get as much wear out of your bargain purchase as you would something that costs a little more to own.
Cost per wear can be worth considering in this regard. Cost per wear refers to the value of something you’ve purchased compared to how much you wear or use it. While something might seem more expensive when you buy it, its quality and versatility might mean you’re able to wear it more often.
Working out the cost per wear for a garment is straightforward. Simply divide the item’s price by how often you think you’ll wear it.
While there’s nothing wrong with bargain hunting, next time you’re wanting to purchase a sale item, ask yourself how it fits into your existing wardrobe. What garments you already own that you can pair it with, and is it made of a quality fabric. If you don’t like the answers to your questions, it’s worth keeping in mind that spending more can sometimes mean you get to enjoy your favourite garments for much longer.
Not Considering Comfort and Health
Many people have sensitive skin, and it’s easy to buy clothing without even thinking about the materials that irritate your skin more than others. Unfortunately, human-made fabrics can be more likely to cause irritation and discomfort than natural ones like merino wool.
According to studies, synthetic fabrics like polyester, rayon, acrylic, and nylon are treated with thousands of harmful toxic chemicals during manufacturing. When researchers chose four substances based on their health risks and their ability to penetrate the skin, the highest concentrations of two of them were found in polyester.
Synthetic fabrics also don’t breathe and trap odors, providing the perfect environment for smelly bacteria. In contrast, natural materials like merino fibres are soft and gentle against skin, breathable, and allergy-friendly. Merino garments also offer exceptional insulation and anti-static properties while also being odour-resistant and lightweight for comfort.
Not Thinking About Versatility
Versatility is not something many people consider when purchasing new clothing. But before you add a new sweater, jacket, or cardigan to your shopping cart, consider the environments you’ll be able to use them in.
Not all garments are suitable for all conditions and situations, making it challenging to see them as cost-effective additions to your wardrobe. Merino garments are versatile in this respect. Whether you’re working in an office, running errands, climbing mountains, or wrangling sheep on the farm, you’ll find several garments to suit your needs.
Not Thinking About the Environmental Impact
Fast fashion is responsible for almost 10% of global carbon emissions, and out of 100 billion garments produced annually, 92 million of them end up in landfills. Knowing that clothing is going to waste is sad enough, but you might also fear for the planet when you learn that many synthetic garments don’t break down in the environment. Some synthetic materials like polyester and acrylic also release harmful microfibres.
When you purchase natural garments, you get to enjoy comfortable, long-lasting clothing with a nod to Mother Earth. Wool is 100% biodegradable and has its own life cycle. Sheep eat pasture, sheep’s wool is converted to clothing, garments can be recycled and reused, and recycled products can be composted and returned to the soil, only to contribute to pasture regeneration for future sheep generations to enjoy – and so the cycle continues.
You might also be pleased to learn that at the end of a natural garment’s life, the wool can break down in the earth in as little as three to four months, releasing essential elements like nitrogen, magnesium, and sulphur into the soil for growing plants to use.
Shop with Newfound Confidence at Ecowool
Sometimes, the key to avoiding the most common shopping mistakes is simply doing your research. Now that you know how beneficial it can be to choose natural garments over synthetic ones, why not explore your options?
We’re proud to stock a wide range of eco-friendly merino and possum merino garments and accessories designed to be long-lasting, comfortable, ideal for sensitive skin, and suitable to wear in various situations and climates.
FAQs
What is the cost per wear, and why is it important to consider when shopping for new clothing?
The cost per wear is the value of something you’ve purchased compared to how much you wear or use it, and it’s essential to consider when shopping for new clothes because it helps determine the long-term value of the item.
What are some health benefits of wearing natural materials like merino wool, especially for sensitive skin?
Natural materials like merino wool are beneficial for sensitive skin because they are gentle and soft against the skin, breathable, allergy-friendly, and odour-resistant. They also offer exceptional insulation and anti-static properties while being lightweight and comfortable.