Trace the Life of 5 Things in Your Wardrobe and See What They Reveal

Most of us know what we paid for our clothes, but once the tag is off and they enter our wardrobes, we know very little about who made them or how they were made.

We may not know exactly what the fabric is made from, who made it, if it can be repaired, or what will happen to it when we no longer want it.

So, let's do a small wardrobe activity by choosing 5 items you already own and trying to trace their lives.

1. Check what each item is made from

Start with the care label and read the materials. Is it cotton or a blend of several materials?

A single material garment may be easier to recycle, but a complicated blend can be much harder to separate.

2. See whether you can trace the makers

Check the country of manufacture and see if you can find the factory where the item was made? Does the brand name its suppliers and is there any information about the people who made it?

There's a chance that you may find only the words “Made in” followed by a country or you may find nothing at all.

That absence is also information - it shows how little accountability there is in the way many clothes are sold.

3. Estimate how long you will actually use it

Time for some honest revelations!

Is this an item you wear every week, or will you still want it in three years? Try to estimate how many more wears each item has left.

4. What do you think its first afterlife will be

Repair should usually come before replacement. There's upcycling that can do wonders, and your crafty personality can really shine here.

If the item is still in good condition and useful, you can donate it.

5. Decide what happens when repair is no longer possible

If the material quality is poor, or the garment is badly damaged, its unfortunate destination may be landfill.

And that means you need to think about this step before making your next purchase, so you can avoid buying disposable clothes.

This little activity is all about getting to know your clothes and shopping habits a bit better. Now tell us in the comments below, what did your 5 items reveal?