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People who haven't bought clothes for a decade

146 points by koevet 7y ago

flurdy 7y ago
I thought this might be about people that mostly only use clothes they got as swag. Like me. I am a walking billboard for companies of which only a few I know what they do.
- shrikrishna 7y ago
  I don't know why you were downvoted. I'm the same; I still wear the clothes I got as swags when I was in college a decade ago. I've maybe bought a pair jeans since then, when my older ones didn't fit anymore.
- protomyth 7y ago
  During my early government grant years, I did not buy new t-shirts nor jackets. It's almost a requirement for every conference or new grant program to order shirts. I even got one heck of a winter jacket because someone in DC decided we needed winter jackets. I guess it all constituted acceptable publicity.
  - blaser-waffle 7y ago
    Same. I was able to snag at least 1-2 work shirts or other swag from vendors, conferences, etc. Puppet (the server software) seemed to go hard on this and I think I ended up with 5-6 shirts even through we never rolled it out into production. I mostly wear em to the gym or use em for sleeping.
- Marsymars 7y ago
  There's a clothes donation bin by my office where I immediately toss any swag I get. I try very hard to to wear any clothes with logos. For some technical clothes it can't really be avoided, so much of my winter/snowboarding/climbing/other sporting gear has logos, sadly.
sjf 7y ago
I don't want to buy new clothes either. Where can I find clothes that will last 10 years. The article didn't help with any specifics.
- jim-jim-jim 7y ago
  I go to thrift stores and look at the "made in" labels. Anything from the US, Europe, or Japan tends to be a safe bet.
- mikekchar 7y ago
  Quite a lot of things will last a decade. Probably half of my wardrobe is at least that old and I don't spend a lot of time searching out the best stuff. However, you've got to be realistic about it. T-shirts will stretch all out of shape and the collar will fray, because they are essentially disposable clothes. I go through trousers fairly quickly (like I need to buy a pair every 3-4 years), but until recently I only had 2 pairs of trousers. I'm up to 5 now because I found these amazing winter trousers at Uniqlo that are ridiculously well made and also very warm (they are 3 layers). Although I say I only had 2 pairs of trousers, I actually have a wardrobe for winter, summer, and spring/fall. In the summer, I often wear a jinbei which are... kind of like pajamas. But they are loose and cool and don't really wear out. In the winter it is trousers and shirts, but with a high quality undershirt. Generally I go for "outdoors" wear because it is usually of much better quality and also performs dramatically better (warmer, breathable, lighter). I wear exactly 1 fleece jacket (although I keep getting more as gifts... not sure what to do with them) and I don't dare to even imagine when I first got it -- probably over 20 years ago.
- enaaem 7y ago
  If you live in Europe, here are some brands: French basic T-shirts: https://www.maisoncornichon.com/product-page/coton https://www.maisoncornichon.com/product-page/coton German made basics https://merzbschwanen.com https://merzbschwanen.com French made: https://debonnefacture.fr https://debonnefacture.fr
- keiferski 7y ago
  Leather and denim are probably your best bet. Higher quality leather jackets can last for 10-20 years if you take care of them. Personally I recommend Schott in NYC. A bit pricey but my jacket still looks great 5 years later. I imagine it will be wearable for at least another decade. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schott_NYC https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schott_NYC
JeanMarcS 7y ago
Apart for the kids, who need clothes regularly as they grow, I agree there is no use in buying clothes every year too.
- HenryBemis 7y ago
  Depending your bf/gf, spouse, social/peer pressure and giving into them. I have broken up with a girlfriend because her hobby was shopping and mine was running. She couldn't understand what I needed ONE GOOD pair of running shoes, and the shoes didn't have to match the colour of my running shorts. I hope she is happy with someone else, but as far away from me as possible. Some other people would accept some "character adaptation" to be with a bf/gf and I wish them all the best!
  - leetcrew 7y ago
    was this a dealbreaker for her or for you? for me, I generally don't care how the other person spends their money as long as they can pay their share of fixed costs we have agreed on. this might be in part because I don't want to invite questions about my computer budget ;)
    - frosted-flakes 7y ago
      If you're married to someone, you still separate your finances? That boggles my mind.
      - Marsymars 7y ago
        My parents have been happily married for over three decades with separate finances.
      - JeanMarcS 7y ago
        Can’t speak for others, but in France, you are partially responsible of the loss of your company (for example). My wife and I are married with a full separation of goods and possessions contract. Not because we don’t want to make financial choices together, but more to protect her for the possibility of me being ruined if my company fells. When she was working, we agreed on the money we each put in the family budget for groceries, kids stuff, etc... Never been a problem.
igetspam 7y ago
This feels like 'light news day" item. I have w number of things that are 10+ years old. I buy new pants when they too worn out to leave the house. I buy shirts when I don't have enough industry handouts without holes. I can't imagine ever needing another jacket because I have plenty. I buy lots of things but clothes seem like a necessity and I get new ones only when I need to.
rapnie 7y ago
Something that is consistently reducing the lifetime of my t-shirts is that they tend to get small holes on the front side at the height of my trouser belt. I can't figure out what is causing this, as the both the belt as well as the trouser buttons do not have sharp edges.
- SirHound 7y ago
  Dude I get this exact same thing. Do you wear zipped hoodies? My theory is they’re getting nicked by the zip of that or jeans.
  - rapnie 7y ago
    Nope, no hoodies. Not sure if zippers involved. Also t-shirts worn over the jeans will get holes.
    - vborovikov 7y ago
      I suspect these holes appear during washing in the washing machine. Also it depends on fabric if they appear at all.
- chrisseaton 7y ago
  Yes this little hole is very common. I'm sure it's the pin of the belt.
  - rapnie 7y ago
    Different opinions on what is causing it. Who is first in filing a patent describing how to get rid of this nuisance, save people's money plus the environment, and becomes a multi-millionaire themselves :)
    - HenryBemis 7y ago
      Isolate the problem, find the solution, run to Shark Tank/Dragon's Den! I have found that my shirts were getting holes in the armpits area, and I discovered that the drying rack is causing this. Since then I use 2-3 racks/'lanes' per item, so the weight of a wet garment is spread out and also helps the garment dry faster since air can circulate. I also make sure the armpit regions of the t-shirts aren't right on the wire but a bit lower.
kasey_junk 7y ago
The biggest changes to my wardrobe and what require me to buy things most often are external factors. For instance I went from a business casual office environment to working form home, I lost a lot of weight, I took up a new sport, I have a new injury requiring different sorts of footwear. I’m not sure how to work around some of these issues without buying more clothes. My main rule is that if I buy a piece another piece has to get donated. This keeps the size of the collection in check but wouldn’t put a brake on new purchases in and of itself.
- londons_explore 7y ago
  The real solution is to buy 2nd hand clothes. Most people hate the idea of wearing someone else's clothes... Having visited a small town in south western Ukraine, no shops even sell new clothes - everywhere is selling 2nd hand clothes, and they sell it by weight. Underwear is one price per kilo, and everything else is a higher price per kilo. Even then, a kilo (2 lbs) of clothes (maybe 3 items) cost around $1.50, which was pretty expensive compared to other prices.
  - kasey_junk 7y ago
    For me I have no problem wearing used clothes and grew up effectively always shopping second hand. My issue is _time_. I hate shopping for clothes. Finding something that fits, is in good condition and meets my needs involves searching for hours at second hand shops.
    - HenryBemis 7y ago
      (Not promoting/affiliated to eBay) When I made the decision to buy second hand clothes, I only though of eBay (have been buying stuff since 2001(?). I always seem to find a nice sweater etc, I don't mind if the size is a bit off, I can always resell. I would love it if anyone can suggest any other online stores that sell 2nd hand clothes at the volume/options that eBay (it's sellers) can provide.
      - 7y ago
Mirioron 7y ago
Most of my clothes are that old, especially clothes I wear at home. Why would I buy new ones for that? The only reason is if the old ones are too broken/worn.
devmunchies 7y ago
> 51% of Brits are opting to purchase expensive but longer-lasting clothes Careful there. Lasting long doesn’t always mean it’s higher quality. Plastic clothes will last a long time... in the landfill. I haven’t bought clothes with plastic in them for 3 years now. No polyester, no spandex, no nylon.
- londons_explore 7y ago
  25 years ago I put a cotton cloth in my compost heap thinking "it'll break down". Every 5 years or so, I discover it at the bottom of the heap and chuck it back in again hoping that next time it will for sure break down... It hasn't yet.
amelius 7y ago
I stopped buying clothes because my size is never available. I guess I am physically more than a sigma away from the norm, and it sucks.
- amelius 7y ago
  By the way, there are shops specialized in "extreme" sizes but their offerings are limited and frankly quite boring. Hurray for the free market ...
spodek 7y ago
A guest on my podcast -- Lorna Davis, the key leader behind the largest B Corp to date, Danone USA, and a c-suite executive from Danone and other multinationals -- committed not to buy clothes for a year. Within a few weeks she started getting rid of clothes she didn't wear and even relationships that were distracting her from more meaningful ones. Within months she was sending me contacts of other high-powered executives from big corporations who were following her lead. She sent me pictures of clothing she repaired that she would have thrown out before. When she was invited to give a TED talk that year, she told me she felt liberated from wondering what to buy to wear, instead getting to feel like herself and focusing on her message. Hear for yourself. Our conversations, before and after: https://joshuaspodek.com/guests/lorna-davis https://joshuaspodek.com/guests/lorna-davis (also a great primer on B corps, given her significant role) Her TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/lorna_davis_a_guide_to_collaborative_leadership https://www.ted.com/talks/lorna_davis_a_guide_to_collaborati...
- HenryBemis 7y ago
  For women: it may be worth your while checking out Project333. I have searched for a respective project for men, but haven't found something similar/worthy. When I finished listening to the Minimalists podcast (first 120 episodes) for the second time I was already immersed in minimalism. I donated 90% of my clothes, I now have 5 t-shirts, 4 sweaters, 2 jeans, 10 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of shoes, and some snow/skiing related accessories (hoods, etc.) I also have "office clothes" which I don't count as clothes, I treat them as a uniform, when not in the office, they don't exist for me (and Coronavirus-->remote working was a great 'gift' for me on this area)(I hope the deaths stop and we continue the WFH). I see fashion as a "subscription" scheme. You spend £€¥$, you get clothes and after X seasons you need to spend another load of £€¥$ to renew your "trendy-ness". I can never forget that in the term "fashion VICTIM" the word that sticks with YOU is the word "victim".
  - dominotw 7y ago
    > I now have 5 t-shirts, 4 sweaters, 2 jeans, 10 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of shoes I take it you don't live in place with cold winters?
austincheney 7y ago
My underwear was a decade old. It was in shambles. The wife finally convinced me to buy new underwear recently. This is boxer briefs and undershirts. I prefer heavier undershirts, kind of like t-shirts. My everyday shoes are suede military boots. I don’t think they last a decade but they last a long time and can take quite a beating. They are certainly worth the expensive retail price though I typically get mine for free. I will ultimately end up replacing the laces 2 to 3 times before replacing the boots. Many of my shirts last well over a decade. I prefer business casual long sleeve button up shirts. They wear less quickly because I only wear them over undershirts. I have one shirt I still wear that was from my first year in college more than 20 years ago. The thing that kills my shirts are stains. Stripes and plaids show less stains than flat colors and thus last much longer. What doesn’t last: running shoes, jeans, and watches. The battery on my Timex watch is only good for 3 to 5 years and that is about how long I hold onto my running shoes. My jeans are good for about 4 years and then they see to completely fall apart. I don’t even care if they get minor stains.
- pletsch 7y ago
  It's actually incredibly easy to replace a watch battery on most watches (certainly Timex), you just need a tool to pull the back off ($10ish on Amazon right now) and a battery that fits, which you can pick up at any Wal-Mart for $4-$5.
  - ghaff 7y ago
    By the time I need to replace a battery on my $30 Timex, the band is usually going and the watch face is all scratched up.
    - LeifCarrotson 7y ago
      I wore Timex Ironman watches for about 10 years and had the same problems. I discovered that (1) the bands are easily replaced, and a band that isn't deteriorating makes the watch much more comfortable, and (2) all but the absolute deepest scratches in the acrylic watch face are easy to buff out to a like-new shine with a cotton buffing wheel on a Dremel and some graduated polishing media. This would have been more valuable to know when I was a high schooler being rather rough on my gear and going through a watch every year or two, but I figure it's worth sharing. This was valuable to learn because I since replaced the Timex with a Garmin Forerunner 220 (now 5 years old) that's much more expensive. The rechargeable battery now only lasts for about 2 hours of GPS activity or 5 days of non-GPS use, about half what it did when I bought it originally, so I'm considering an upgrade again.
faster 7y ago
I had some Levi's 501s that I got at a farm supply store for $12 when I was in college (early 80s). I wore them regularly for about 15 years then occasionally until a few years ago. They had no holes when I donated them. Newer 501s don't last anywhere near that long. Carhartts are more functional for me now, but they wear out after 5-8 years depending on the style (model?). I haven't noticed any change in durability since I started wearing them 18 years ago. I have several pairs of Injinji socks that are close to 10 years old, and still in great shape. I have also worn out two pairs of those socks after about 5 years, and the newer ones are softer so I suspect they'll be less durable.
- porlex 7y ago
  Darn Tough socks are good, too.
- e12e 7y ago
  Carhartts, Blåkläder - probably other brands that still actually sell work clothes - tend to have separate "fashion" models that sell through typical fashion stores. They're generally higher price and less durable in my experience. In the US it's not hard to find regular carhartts work wear - in Norway I've only seen the fashion stuff. On the other hand, Blåkläder operate a few outlets that are aimed at the business market - and there it's possible to buy their "actual" work clothes. Ed: in addition to such work wear, military surplus & second hand is also a good bet.
  - twothamendment 7y ago
    I've found my 5.11 pants to last a lot longer than Carhart did. I was really disappointed in the later. Another brand that suppressed me was undrarmor. I avoided them because they were expensive and popular. Then I got a deal on a hoodie and it outlasted many other goodies. Since then I've picked up a few more on eBay and have been just as happy. I want quality that will last for a decade (or more).
zxcvbn4038 7y ago
I hate shopping for clothes. Hate it. When I was growing up my parents made sure that buying clothes was as painful as possible and I never got over it. I still year the same members only jacket my father bought in the 80s and gave to me in the 90s - the lining could use some work but otherwise completely functional. I’ve had the same umbrella for almost twenty years - was a niche brand that built heavy duty frames and it’s taken punishment that would have broken a lesser umbrella dozens of times over - but aside from some thin spots in the canopy it’s perfectly fine. I wrote the company that made it but only got a form letter in response so guess they weren’t impressed with my long lived umbrella that’s been to every continent except Antarctica. I do have to say that buying clothes from amazon is a pleasure. They remember your orders forever so if I’m not sure of size or brand I can always look at order history. If the style or color I want is no longer available the purchase recommendations are good at finding me something similar. Best of all I don’t have to buy what’s available and get it tailored, I can buy clothes made for my exact size. I used to spend as much getting pants legs shortened as I did on the pants because I have an odd size that the stores don’t carry and can’t get for weeks. I still have to typically buy shoes two sizes larger to accommodate the width of my feet - Allen Edmonds is about the only places that makes affordable shoes in my exact size, but those soft leather soles get torn up quickly by NYC streets. I’m sure that in another ten years I’ll just give Amazon my measurements and tailored clothing will magically appear whenever I order it.
- mikeappell 7y ago
  I know AE offers different types of soles, including some very weather resistant ones. You probably know this, but just in case; and you might have more options for different soles if you buy online. That said, I've heard their QA and service have gone downhill dramatically over the past year or two since their aquisition.
- gshdg 7y ago
  Bring your shoes to a local shoe repair shop. They'll put a tougher sole over the existing one for $20 or so. They can also replace worn soles.
- Marsymars 7y ago
gramakri 7y ago
Surprised there is no mention of Goodwill. It's fairly good for donating clothes as well as getting used clothes. Some of the shops are very un-orderly so be sure to checkout atleast 2-3 stores before making a judgement.
chewz 7y ago
It's me. More then ten years ago my fiance have converted three bedrooms into additional wardrobes (or more like storage rooms). All expensive designer stuff that she has been rarely using (if at all) just purchasing and storing for later. Since then I wear mostly Uniqlo, $1 t-shirts from a heap or almost new re-sold stuff. Clothes and especially cotton are killing the planet. > About 5 % of household expenditure in the EU is spent on clothing and footwear, of which about 80 % is spent on clothes and 20 % on footwear. It has been estimated that in 2015 EU citizens bought 6.4 million tonnes of new clothing (12.66 kg per person). According to European Environment Agency (EEA) estimates, between 1996 and 2012, the amount of clothes bought per person in the EU increased by 40 %. At the same time, more than 30 % of clothes in Europeans' wardrobes have not been used for at least a year. Once discarded, over half the garments are not recycled, but end up in mixed household waste and are subsequently sent to incinerators or landfill. > the global textiles and clothing industry was responsible for the consumption of 79 billion cubic metres of water, 1 715 million tons of CO2 emissions and 92 million tons of waste. It also estimated that by 2030, under a business-as-usual scenario, these numbers would increase by at least 50 %. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2019/633143/EPRS_BRI(2019)633143_EN.pdf https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2019/6331...
overcast 7y ago
So most men then? Black tshirts from Marshalls, dark levi jeans, darn tough wool socks, smartwool underwear have served me well in 99% of situations for a decade without much replacement.
- InitialLastName 7y ago
  Interesting how even in an anti-consumerist comment like yours, every item mentioned comes with a brand.
  - overcast 7y ago
    That was intentional, because they last ten years.
pascalxus 7y ago
I rarely if ever buy new clothes (maybe a few times per decade). And, even on those rare occassions when I do, for jeans, its usually a used clothing store for less than 10$. As for t-shirts, I think I have a lifetime supply already (20 or so), so I won't need to buy those for a while. Those t-shirts last a long long time. I still have some cheap ones from 20 years that are still going strong.
devenson 7y ago
I buy all my tshirts from https://jiffyshirts.com https://jiffyshirts.com They supply folks who print on the shirts.
fma 7y ago
I graduated 12 years ago and I still have clothes from college that I wear. The only new clothes I purchased after college was a few more dress shirt and pants for work, heavier jackets when I moved further north...I don't understand people who purchase clothes for the 'new season' every year.
irrational 7y ago
I didn't know that the normal way I live my life is anything worth commenting on. I still wear clothes from when I was in college 25 years ago. But this is more from laziness and a generally dislike of shopping, combined with zero fashion sense, than from any altruistic values.
- HenryBemis 7y ago
  If the clothes work for you, then there is your answer. No need to change something that is not broken (for you). I kept the following quote from the article: "but it is only you who inherently cares what you look like" And I remembered the phrase: those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter.
- gowld 7y ago
  When the rich people act like us proles, it's news and we give them adulation.
- KozmoNau7 7y ago
  I try to only buy good quality clothes that are made to last, then I wear them until they develop holes. I repair them and wear them again until they don't really look presentable anymore. At that point they become home/work/workout/concert clothes. When they can no longer be repaired, they become cleaning rags. I did not know that this was something to be applauded for.
  - amirbehzad 7y ago
    How do you know if those clothes are of good quality? What are some of the brands the produce long-lasting clothes?
- kovac 7y ago
  Did you know your lifestyle is now known as "Greta effect" :p
softwaredoug 7y ago
I'm 39 and still to this day the primary way I get clothes is at Christmas time from my mom or wife. Or random conference t-shirts :) I have rarely bought clothes for myself.
- DailyHN 7y ago
  Second that. It feels like my version of the black turtleneck and jeans. And free shirts are for wearing to bed.
joostdecock 7y ago
I make my own clothes. Have been for a bit more than 8 years. It's a nice hobby to have. I also started https://freesewing.org/ https://freesewing.org/ which is the most geeky way to get into sewing :)
- HenryBemis 7y ago
  Shameless plug, but thank you, this looks cool! If your logo wasn't a "scary skull" I would be showing this to my kid in our "where clothes come from" lesson (we do everything ranging from pottery to NASA space missions)(buy scary skulls are a no-no)(let them figure it out when they discover my Iron Maiden albums - many years from now!)
  - garrettgrimsley 7y ago
    If you use an ad-blocker you could add their logos to the blocking lists and then take the site for a test run before showing the kids.
  - bfuller 7y ago
    What are you going to do when its time to teach your kid an "anatomy" lesson?
gentleman11 7y ago
I buy pants from Costco but they always wear out after 2 years with big holes in the seat. Where do you even buy something that lasts 10 years?
- HenryBemis 7y ago
  I had a pair of Levi's jeans, my weight is pretty stable, so they were good on me for a decade. Someone else above also mentioned having Levi's for a decade. Treat them well and they tend to last a long time.
  - gentleman11 7y ago
    When you say treat them well, does that mean air drying?
- KozmoNau7 7y ago
  If you're like me, it's probably because your thighs rub together when you walk. Tight-fitting pants will wear out quickly from this. Wearing longer boxer shorts can lessen it, but the best thing is to find pants with a roomier fits, ie. old-fashioned straigh-legged jeans or chinos with pleats, that sort of thing. The looser fit lets the fabric move around, instead of rubbing in the same places all the time. I've been very happy with reproduction Bundeswehr "moleskin" pants in black, they're like the dressy version of cargo pants, made from thick cotton fabric. You can take out the threads that hold the cargo pockets on, and then you have a comfortable and durable set of pants that don't look like you're some kind of security guard. I don't know if you can get them in the states, they're widely available in Europe. Otherwise look for slightly-old-fashioned menswear in thick cotton or wool fabrics. Good Tweed lasts for decades, if you don't mind the style. Don't go to big box stores, look for the dedicated niche menswear stores.
teekert 7y ago
Obligatory listening gals and guys: https://open.spotify.com/track/1CmUZGtH29Kx36C1Hleqlz?si=Jbm54o4cQ-6HQ9uEsDJ1Tg https://open.spotify.com/track/1CmUZGtH29Kx36C1Hleqlz?si=Jbm...
phaus 7y ago
From my experience all of the clothes I buy, whether they were expensive clothes from a place with a stellar reputation for longevity, or cheap clothes from Walmart, nothing lasts more than a few years. I buy a $20-40 dress shirt. After about 2 years the cuff splits or an elbow spontaneously explodes. I could patch it, but the surrounding fabric is still threadbare and it will just rip again. I buy a $100+ dress shirt, it wears out just as fast, it just looks nicer until it does. I bought some $450 Allen Edmonds shoes based on numerous people talking about how they had a pair for decades and it looked brand new. I got them for far less than that, but the quality wasn't even close to worth it. The first time a single drop of water gets on the leather for longer than 2 seconds, that part of the surface is permanently damaged and puffs up, ruining your ability to even shine them again properly. After about 6 months of only wearing them to walk from a parking lot to my office job and then back into my house when I got home, the heels started falling off of the shoe. I thought surely something must be wrong and I contacted Allen Edmonds. They wanted me to send my shoes back for an extensive investigation before giving me a refund or a new pair. So much for their reputation for amazing quality and customer service. They also recommend I wear them only once or twice a week instead of 4-5 days. So presumably I'm supposed to have $1300 of shoes on rotation even though I'm not even putting a mile on them a day. Probably the only thing I have had last longer than a couple years would be some cheap underwear that lasted probably 7 or 8, and some cheap T-shirts most likely from walmart or kmart. Anyone got a source for high quality clothes that actually last?
- nradov 7y ago
  You really shouldn't wear the same pair of leather shoes two days in a row. Keep several pairs in rotation and let each dry out properly. They'll last much longer, whether they're Allen Edmonds or any other brand. This is one reason why minimalism taken to extremes is counterproductive.
  - phaus 7y ago
    That's probably good advice, but I've had many pairs of leather shoes that didn't simply fall apart after 6 months.
kovac 7y ago
Researchers find that there are people who have not bought any clothes in a decade. Then attribute it to "Greta effect" which is, what less than a year old? We would have been so lost without Greta.
inertiatic 7y ago
There is a healthy balance here that seems lost on a lot of people here. There's not a binary distinction between fashion victim and enlightened minimalist. Yes, reduce your purchases. Yes, prefer high quality products. Yes, reuse your clothes instead of throwing it away. No, don't spent your life constantly worrying about what you need to repair before it falls apart. No, don't put people through enduring the summer smell of your only t-shirt. No, don't look awful because appearance matters on a basic level. Above all, don't virtue signal so hard because it makes you look ignorant to people with more complicated lives.
- bradezone 7y ago
  AMEN
bradezone 7y ago
Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Life is short enough, I might as well refresh the wardrobe every now and then. Plus I'm helping the economy! A winning strategy all around.

146 points by koevet 7y ago

I thought this might be about people that mostly only use clothes they got as swag. Like me. I am a walking billboard for companies of which only a few I know what they do.

shrikrishna 7y ago
I don't know why you were downvoted. I'm the same; I still wear the clothes I got as swags when I was in college a decade ago. I've maybe bought a pair jeans since then, when my older ones didn't fit anymore.
protomyth 7y ago
During my early government grant years, I did not buy new t-shirts nor jackets. It's almost a requirement for every conference or new grant program to order shirts. I even got one heck of a winter jacket because someone in DC decided we needed winter jackets. I guess it all constituted acceptable publicity.
- blaser-waffle 7y ago
  Same. I was able to snag at least 1-2 work shirts or other swag from vendors, conferences, etc. Puppet (the server software) seemed to go hard on this and I think I ended up with 5-6 shirts even through we never rolled it out into production. I mostly wear em to the gym or use em for sleeping.
Marsymars 7y ago
There's a clothes donation bin by my office where I immediately toss any swag I get. I try very hard to to wear any clothes with logos. For some technical clothes it can't really be avoided, so much of my winter/snowboarding/climbing/other sporting gear has logos, sadly.

sjf 7y ago

I don't want to buy new clothes either. Where can I find clothes that will last 10 years. The article didn't help with any specifics.

jim-jim-jim 7y ago
I go to thrift stores and look at the "made in" labels. Anything from the US, Europe, or Japan tends to be a safe bet.
mikekchar 7y ago
Quite a lot of things will last a decade. Probably half of my wardrobe is at least that old and I don't spend a lot of time searching out the best stuff. However, you've got to be realistic about it. T-shirts will stretch all out of shape and the collar will fray, because they are essentially disposable clothes. I go through trousers fairly quickly (like I need to buy a pair every 3-4 years), but until recently I only had 2 pairs of trousers. I'm up to 5 now because I found these amazing winter trousers at Uniqlo that are ridiculously well made and also very warm (they are 3 layers). Although I say I only had 2 pairs of trousers, I actually have a wardrobe for winter, summer, and spring/fall. In the summer, I often wear a jinbei which are... kind of like pajamas. But they are loose and cool and don't really wear out. In the winter it is trousers and shirts, but with a high quality undershirt. Generally I go for "outdoors" wear because it is usually of much better quality and also performs dramatically better (warmer, breathable, lighter). I wear exactly 1 fleece jacket (although I keep getting more as gifts... not sure what to do with them) and I don't dare to even imagine when I first got it -- probably over 20 years ago.
enaaem 7y ago
If you live in Europe, here are some brands: French basic T-shirts: https://www.maisoncornichon.com/product-page/coton https://www.maisoncornichon.com/product-page/coton German made basics https://merzbschwanen.com https://merzbschwanen.com French made: https://debonnefacture.fr https://debonnefacture.fr
keiferski 7y ago
Leather and denim are probably your best bet. Higher quality leather jackets can last for 10-20 years if you take care of them. Personally I recommend Schott in NYC. A bit pricey but my jacket still looks great 5 years later. I imagine it will be wearable for at least another decade. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schott_NYC https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schott_NYC

JeanMarcS 7y ago

Apart for the kids, who need clothes regularly as they grow, I agree there is no use in buying clothes every year too.

HenryBemis 7y ago
Depending your bf/gf, spouse, social/peer pressure and giving into them. I have broken up with a girlfriend because her hobby was shopping and mine was running. She couldn't understand what I needed ONE GOOD pair of running shoes, and the shoes didn't have to match the colour of my running shorts. I hope she is happy with someone else, but as far away from me as possible. Some other people would accept some "character adaptation" to be with a bf/gf and I wish them all the best!
- leetcrew 7y ago
  was this a dealbreaker for her or for you? for me, I generally don't care how the other person spends their money as long as they can pay their share of fixed costs we have agreed on. this might be in part because I don't want to invite questions about my computer budget ;)
  - frosted-flakes 7y ago
    If you're married to someone, you still separate your finances? That boggles my mind.
    - Marsymars 7y ago
      My parents have been happily married for over three decades with separate finances.
    - JeanMarcS 7y ago
      Can’t speak for others, but in France, you are partially responsible of the loss of your company (for example). My wife and I are married with a full separation of goods and possessions contract. Not because we don’t want to make financial choices together, but more to protect her for the possibility of me being ruined if my company fells. When she was working, we agreed on the money we each put in the family budget for groceries, kids stuff, etc... Never been a problem.

igetspam 7y ago

This feels like 'light news day" item. I have w number of things that are 10+ years old. I buy new pants when they too worn out to leave the house. I buy shirts when I don't have enough industry handouts without holes. I can't imagine ever needing another jacket because I have plenty. I buy lots of things but clothes seem like a necessity and I get new ones only when I need to.

rapnie 7y ago

Something that is consistently reducing the lifetime of my t-shirts is that they tend to get small holes on the front side at the height of my trouser belt. I can't figure out what is causing this, as the both the belt as well as the trouser buttons do not have sharp edges.

SirHound 7y ago
Dude I get this exact same thing. Do you wear zipped hoodies? My theory is they’re getting nicked by the zip of that or jeans.
- rapnie 7y ago
  Nope, no hoodies. Not sure if zippers involved. Also t-shirts worn over the jeans will get holes.
  - vborovikov 7y ago
    I suspect these holes appear during washing in the washing machine. Also it depends on fabric if they appear at all.
chrisseaton 7y ago
Yes this little hole is very common. I'm sure it's the pin of the belt.
- rapnie 7y ago
  Different opinions on what is causing it. Who is first in filing a patent describing how to get rid of this nuisance, save people's money plus the environment, and becomes a multi-millionaire themselves :)
  - HenryBemis 7y ago
    Isolate the problem, find the solution, run to Shark Tank/Dragon's Den! I have found that my shirts were getting holes in the armpits area, and I discovered that the drying rack is causing this. Since then I use 2-3 racks/'lanes' per item, so the weight of a wet garment is spread out and also helps the garment dry faster since air can circulate. I also make sure the armpit regions of the t-shirts aren't right on the wire but a bit lower.

kasey_junk 7y ago

The biggest changes to my wardrobe and what require me to buy things most often are external factors. For instance I went from a business casual office environment to working form home, I lost a lot of weight, I took up a new sport, I have a new injury requiring different sorts of footwear. I’m not sure how to work around some of these issues without buying more clothes. My main rule is that if I buy a piece another piece has to get donated. This keeps the size of the collection in check but wouldn’t put a brake on new purchases in and of itself.

londons_explore 7y ago
The real solution is to buy 2nd hand clothes. Most people hate the idea of wearing someone else's clothes... Having visited a small town in south western Ukraine, no shops even sell new clothes - everywhere is selling 2nd hand clothes, and they sell it by weight. Underwear is one price per kilo, and everything else is a higher price per kilo. Even then, a kilo (2 lbs) of clothes (maybe 3 items) cost around $1.50, which was pretty expensive compared to other prices.
- kasey_junk 7y ago
  For me I have no problem wearing used clothes and grew up effectively always shopping second hand. My issue is _time_. I hate shopping for clothes. Finding something that fits, is in good condition and meets my needs involves searching for hours at second hand shops.
  - HenryBemis 7y ago
    (Not promoting/affiliated to eBay) When I made the decision to buy second hand clothes, I only though of eBay (have been buying stuff since 2001(?). I always seem to find a nice sweater etc, I don't mind if the size is a bit off, I can always resell. I would love it if anyone can suggest any other online stores that sell 2nd hand clothes at the volume/options that eBay (it's sellers) can provide.
    - 7y ago

Mirioron 7y ago

Most of my clothes are that old, especially clothes I wear at home. Why would I buy new ones for that? The only reason is if the old ones are too broken/worn.

devmunchies 7y ago

> 51% of Brits are opting to purchase expensive but longer-lasting clothes Careful there. Lasting long doesn’t always mean it’s higher quality. Plastic clothes will last a long time... in the landfill. I haven’t bought clothes with plastic in them for 3 years now. No polyester, no spandex, no nylon.

londons_explore 7y ago
25 years ago I put a cotton cloth in my compost heap thinking "it'll break down". Every 5 years or so, I discover it at the bottom of the heap and chuck it back in again hoping that next time it will for sure break down... It hasn't yet.

amelius 7y ago

I stopped buying clothes because my size is never available. I guess I am physically more than a sigma away from the norm, and it sucks.

amelius 7y ago
By the way, there are shops specialized in "extreme" sizes but their offerings are limited and frankly quite boring. Hurray for the free market ...

spodek 7y ago

A guest on my podcast -- Lorna Davis, the key leader behind the largest B Corp to date, Danone USA, and a c-suite executive from Danone and other multinationals -- committed not to buy clothes for a year. Within a few weeks she started getting rid of clothes she didn't wear and even relationships that were distracting her from more meaningful ones. Within months she was sending me contacts of other high-powered executives from big corporations who were following her lead. She sent me pictures of clothing she repaired that she would have thrown out before. When she was invited to give a TED talk that year, she told me she felt liberated from wondering what to buy to wear, instead getting to feel like herself and focusing on her message. Hear for yourself. Our conversations, before and after: https://joshuaspodek.com/guests/lorna-davis https://joshuaspodek.com/guests/lorna-davis (also a great primer on B corps, given her significant role) Her TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/lorna_davis_a_guide_to_collaborative_leadership https://www.ted.com/talks/lorna_davis_a_guide_to_collaborati...

HenryBemis 7y ago
For women: it may be worth your while checking out Project333. I have searched for a respective project for men, but haven't found something similar/worthy. When I finished listening to the Minimalists podcast (first 120 episodes) for the second time I was already immersed in minimalism. I donated 90% of my clothes, I now have 5 t-shirts, 4 sweaters, 2 jeans, 10 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of shoes, and some snow/skiing related accessories (hoods, etc.) I also have "office clothes" which I don't count as clothes, I treat them as a uniform, when not in the office, they don't exist for me (and Coronavirus-->remote working was a great 'gift' for me on this area)(I hope the deaths stop and we continue the WFH). I see fashion as a "subscription" scheme. You spend £€¥$, you get clothes and after X seasons you need to spend another load of £€¥$ to renew your "trendy-ness". I can never forget that in the term "fashion VICTIM" the word that sticks with YOU is the word "victim".
- dominotw 7y ago
  > I now have 5 t-shirts, 4 sweaters, 2 jeans, 10 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of shoes I take it you don't live in place with cold winters?

austincheney 7y ago

My underwear was a decade old. It was in shambles. The wife finally convinced me to buy new underwear recently. This is boxer briefs and undershirts. I prefer heavier undershirts, kind of like t-shirts. My everyday shoes are suede military boots. I don’t think they last a decade but they last a long time and can take quite a beating. They are certainly worth the expensive retail price though I typically get mine for free. I will ultimately end up replacing the laces 2 to 3 times before replacing the boots. Many of my shirts last well over a decade. I prefer business casual long sleeve button up shirts. They wear less quickly because I only wear them over undershirts. I have one shirt I still wear that was from my first year in college more than 20 years ago. The thing that kills my shirts are stains. Stripes and plaids show less stains than flat colors and thus last much longer. What doesn’t last: running shoes, jeans, and watches. The battery on my Timex watch is only good for 3 to 5 years and that is about how long I hold onto my running shoes. My jeans are good for about 4 years and then they see to completely fall apart. I don’t even care if they get minor stains.

pletsch 7y ago
It's actually incredibly easy to replace a watch battery on most watches (certainly Timex), you just need a tool to pull the back off ($10ish on Amazon right now) and a battery that fits, which you can pick up at any Wal-Mart for $4-$5.
- ghaff 7y ago
  By the time I need to replace a battery on my $30 Timex, the band is usually going and the watch face is all scratched up.
  - LeifCarrotson 7y ago
    I wore Timex Ironman watches for about 10 years and had the same problems. I discovered that (1) the bands are easily replaced, and a band that isn't deteriorating makes the watch much more comfortable, and (2) all but the absolute deepest scratches in the acrylic watch face are easy to buff out to a like-new shine with a cotton buffing wheel on a Dremel and some graduated polishing media. This would have been more valuable to know when I was a high schooler being rather rough on my gear and going through a watch every year or two, but I figure it's worth sharing. This was valuable to learn because I since replaced the Timex with a Garmin Forerunner 220 (now 5 years old) that's much more expensive. The rechargeable battery now only lasts for about 2 hours of GPS activity or 5 days of non-GPS use, about half what it did when I bought it originally, so I'm considering an upgrade again.

faster 7y ago

I had some Levi's 501s that I got at a farm supply store for $12 when I was in college (early 80s). I wore them regularly for about 15 years then occasionally until a few years ago. They had no holes when I donated them. Newer 501s don't last anywhere near that long. Carhartts are more functional for me now, but they wear out after 5-8 years depending on the style (model?). I haven't noticed any change in durability since I started wearing them 18 years ago. I have several pairs of Injinji socks that are close to 10 years old, and still in great shape. I have also worn out two pairs of those socks after about 5 years, and the newer ones are softer so I suspect they'll be less durable.

porlex 7y ago
Darn Tough socks are good, too.
e12e 7y ago
Carhartts, Blåkläder - probably other brands that still actually sell work clothes - tend to have separate "fashion" models that sell through typical fashion stores. They're generally higher price and less durable in my experience. In the US it's not hard to find regular carhartts work wear - in Norway I've only seen the fashion stuff. On the other hand, Blåkläder operate a few outlets that are aimed at the business market - and there it's possible to buy their "actual" work clothes. Ed: in addition to such work wear, military surplus & second hand is also a good bet.
- twothamendment 7y ago
  I've found my 5.11 pants to last a lot longer than Carhart did. I was really disappointed in the later. Another brand that suppressed me was undrarmor. I avoided them because they were expensive and popular. Then I got a deal on a hoodie and it outlasted many other goodies. Since then I've picked up a few more on eBay and have been just as happy. I want quality that will last for a decade (or more).

zxcvbn4038 7y ago

I hate shopping for clothes. Hate it. When I was growing up my parents made sure that buying clothes was as painful as possible and I never got over it. I still year the same members only jacket my father bought in the 80s and gave to me in the 90s - the lining could use some work but otherwise completely functional. I’ve had the same umbrella for almost twenty years - was a niche brand that built heavy duty frames and it’s taken punishment that would have broken a lesser umbrella dozens of times over - but aside from some thin spots in the canopy it’s perfectly fine. I wrote the company that made it but only got a form letter in response so guess they weren’t impressed with my long lived umbrella that’s been to every continent except Antarctica. I do have to say that buying clothes from amazon is a pleasure. They remember your orders forever so if I’m not sure of size or brand I can always look at order history. If the style or color I want is no longer available the purchase recommendations are good at finding me something similar. Best of all I don’t have to buy what’s available and get it tailored, I can buy clothes made for my exact size. I used to spend as much getting pants legs shortened as I did on the pants because I have an odd size that the stores don’t carry and can’t get for weeks. I still have to typically buy shoes two sizes larger to accommodate the width of my feet - Allen Edmonds is about the only places that makes affordable shoes in my exact size, but those soft leather soles get torn up quickly by NYC streets. I’m sure that in another ten years I’ll just give Amazon my measurements and tailored clothing will magically appear whenever I order it.

mikeappell 7y ago
I know AE offers different types of soles, including some very weather resistant ones. You probably know this, but just in case; and you might have more options for different soles if you buy online. That said, I've heard their QA and service have gone downhill dramatically over the past year or two since their aquisition.
gshdg 7y ago
Bring your shoes to a local shoe repair shop. They'll put a tougher sole over the existing one for $20 or so. They can also replace worn soles.
Marsymars 7y ago

gramakri 7y ago

Surprised there is no mention of Goodwill. It's fairly good for donating clothes as well as getting used clothes. Some of the shops are very un-orderly so be sure to checkout atleast 2-3 stores before making a judgement.

chewz 7y ago

It's me. More then ten years ago my fiance have converted three bedrooms into additional wardrobes (or more like storage rooms). All expensive designer stuff that she has been rarely using (if at all) just purchasing and storing for later. Since then I wear mostly Uniqlo, $1 t-shirts from a heap or almost new re-sold stuff. Clothes and especially cotton are killing the planet. > About 5 % of household expenditure in the EU is spent on clothing and footwear, of which about 80 % is spent on clothes and 20 % on footwear. It has been estimated that in 2015 EU citizens bought 6.4 million tonnes of new clothing (12.66 kg per person). According to European Environment Agency (EEA) estimates, between 1996 and 2012, the amount of clothes bought per person in the EU increased by 40 %. At the same time, more than 30 % of clothes in Europeans' wardrobes have not been used for at least a year. Once discarded, over half the garments are not recycled, but end up in mixed household waste and are subsequently sent to incinerators or landfill. > the global textiles and clothing industry was responsible for the consumption of 79 billion cubic metres of water, 1 715 million tons of CO2 emissions and 92 million tons of waste. It also estimated that by 2030, under a business-as-usual scenario, these numbers would increase by at least 50 %. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2019/633143/EPRS_BRI(2019)633143_EN.pdf https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2019/6331...

overcast 7y ago

So most men then? Black tshirts from Marshalls, dark levi jeans, darn tough wool socks, smartwool underwear have served me well in 99% of situations for a decade without much replacement.

InitialLastName 7y ago
Interesting how even in an anti-consumerist comment like yours, every item mentioned comes with a brand.
- overcast 7y ago
  That was intentional, because they last ten years.

pascalxus 7y ago

I rarely if ever buy new clothes (maybe a few times per decade). And, even on those rare occassions when I do, for jeans, its usually a used clothing store for less than 10$. As for t-shirts, I think I have a lifetime supply already (20 or so), so I won't need to buy those for a while. Those t-shirts last a long long time. I still have some cheap ones from 20 years that are still going strong.

devenson 7y ago

I buy all my tshirts from https://jiffyshirts.com https://jiffyshirts.com They supply folks who print on the shirts.

fma 7y ago

I graduated 12 years ago and I still have clothes from college that I wear. The only new clothes I purchased after college was a few more dress shirt and pants for work, heavier jackets when I moved further north...I don't understand people who purchase clothes for the 'new season' every year.

irrational 7y ago

I didn't know that the normal way I live my life is anything worth commenting on. I still wear clothes from when I was in college 25 years ago. But this is more from laziness and a generally dislike of shopping, combined with zero fashion sense, than from any altruistic values.

HenryBemis 7y ago
If the clothes work for you, then there is your answer. No need to change something that is not broken (for you). I kept the following quote from the article: "but it is only you who inherently cares what you look like" And I remembered the phrase: those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter.
gowld 7y ago
When the rich people act like us proles, it's news and we give them adulation.
KozmoNau7 7y ago
I try to only buy good quality clothes that are made to last, then I wear them until they develop holes. I repair them and wear them again until they don't really look presentable anymore. At that point they become home/work/workout/concert clothes. When they can no longer be repaired, they become cleaning rags. I did not know that this was something to be applauded for.
- amirbehzad 7y ago
  How do you know if those clothes are of good quality? What are some of the brands the produce long-lasting clothes?
kovac 7y ago
Did you know your lifestyle is now known as "Greta effect" :p

softwaredoug 7y ago

I'm 39 and still to this day the primary way I get clothes is at Christmas time from my mom or wife. Or random conference t-shirts :) I have rarely bought clothes for myself.

DailyHN 7y ago
Second that. It feels like my version of the black turtleneck and jeans. And free shirts are for wearing to bed.

joostdecock 7y ago

I make my own clothes. Have been for a bit more than 8 years. It's a nice hobby to have. I also started https://freesewing.org/ https://freesewing.org/ which is the most geeky way to get into sewing :)

HenryBemis 7y ago
Shameless plug, but thank you, this looks cool! If your logo wasn't a "scary skull" I would be showing this to my kid in our "where clothes come from" lesson (we do everything ranging from pottery to NASA space missions)(buy scary skulls are a no-no)(let them figure it out when they discover my Iron Maiden albums - many years from now!)
- garrettgrimsley 7y ago
  If you use an ad-blocker you could add their logos to the blocking lists and then take the site for a test run before showing the kids.
- bfuller 7y ago
  What are you going to do when its time to teach your kid an "anatomy" lesson?

gentleman11 7y ago

I buy pants from Costco but they always wear out after 2 years with big holes in the seat. Where do you even buy something that lasts 10 years?

HenryBemis 7y ago
I had a pair of Levi's jeans, my weight is pretty stable, so they were good on me for a decade. Someone else above also mentioned having Levi's for a decade. Treat them well and they tend to last a long time.
- gentleman11 7y ago
  When you say treat them well, does that mean air drying?
KozmoNau7 7y ago
If you're like me, it's probably because your thighs rub together when you walk. Tight-fitting pants will wear out quickly from this. Wearing longer boxer shorts can lessen it, but the best thing is to find pants with a roomier fits, ie. old-fashioned straigh-legged jeans or chinos with pleats, that sort of thing. The looser fit lets the fabric move around, instead of rubbing in the same places all the time. I've been very happy with reproduction Bundeswehr "moleskin" pants in black, they're like the dressy version of cargo pants, made from thick cotton fabric. You can take out the threads that hold the cargo pockets on, and then you have a comfortable and durable set of pants that don't look like you're some kind of security guard. I don't know if you can get them in the states, they're widely available in Europe. Otherwise look for slightly-old-fashioned menswear in thick cotton or wool fabrics. Good Tweed lasts for decades, if you don't mind the style. Don't go to big box stores, look for the dedicated niche menswear stores.

teekert 7y ago

Obligatory listening gals and guys: https://open.spotify.com/track/1CmUZGtH29Kx36C1Hleqlz?si=Jbm54o4cQ-6HQ9uEsDJ1Tg https://open.spotify.com/track/1CmUZGtH29Kx36C1Hleqlz?si=Jbm...

phaus 7y ago

From my experience all of the clothes I buy, whether they were expensive clothes from a place with a stellar reputation for longevity, or cheap clothes from Walmart, nothing lasts more than a few years. I buy a $20-40 dress shirt. After about 2 years the cuff splits or an elbow spontaneously explodes. I could patch it, but the surrounding fabric is still threadbare and it will just rip again. I buy a $100+ dress shirt, it wears out just as fast, it just looks nicer until it does. I bought some $450 Allen Edmonds shoes based on numerous people talking about how they had a pair for decades and it looked brand new. I got them for far less than that, but the quality wasn't even close to worth it. The first time a single drop of water gets on the leather for longer than 2 seconds, that part of the surface is permanently damaged and puffs up, ruining your ability to even shine them again properly. After about 6 months of only wearing them to walk from a parking lot to my office job and then back into my house when I got home, the heels started falling off of the shoe. I thought surely something must be wrong and I contacted Allen Edmonds. They wanted me to send my shoes back for an extensive investigation before giving me a refund or a new pair. So much for their reputation for amazing quality and customer service. They also recommend I wear them only once or twice a week instead of 4-5 days. So presumably I'm supposed to have $1300 of shoes on rotation even though I'm not even putting a mile on them a day. Probably the only thing I have had last longer than a couple years would be some cheap underwear that lasted probably 7 or 8, and some cheap T-shirts most likely from walmart or kmart. Anyone got a source for high quality clothes that actually last?

nradov 7y ago
You really shouldn't wear the same pair of leather shoes two days in a row. Keep several pairs in rotation and let each dry out properly. They'll last much longer, whether they're Allen Edmonds or any other brand. This is one reason why minimalism taken to extremes is counterproductive.
- phaus 7y ago
  That's probably good advice, but I've had many pairs of leather shoes that didn't simply fall apart after 6 months.

kovac 7y ago

Researchers find that there are people who have not bought any clothes in a decade. Then attribute it to "Greta effect" which is, what less than a year old? We would have been so lost without Greta.

inertiatic 7y ago

There is a healthy balance here that seems lost on a lot of people here. There's not a binary distinction between fashion victim and enlightened minimalist. Yes, reduce your purchases. Yes, prefer high quality products. Yes, reuse your clothes instead of throwing it away. No, don't spent your life constantly worrying about what you need to repair before it falls apart. No, don't put people through enduring the summer smell of your only t-shirt. No, don't look awful because appearance matters on a basic level. Above all, don't virtue signal so hard because it makes you look ignorant to people with more complicated lives.

bradezone 7y ago
AMEN

bradezone 7y ago

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Life is short enough, I might as well refresh the wardrobe every now and then. Plus I'm helping the economy! A winning strategy all around.