Demystifying clothing labels

How many of us have looked into clothing labels but had no clue what they meant? Knowing how to read and paying attention to clothing labels will help preserve garments and make them last longer. So, let’s jump right in!

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Be aware of clothing labels that mention ‘MADE IN (…)’ or that have a special label highlighting this because that may just be referring to the design of the piece itself, not reflecting where it’s made.

It’s also good to question why some garments made from sustainable materials cost such a low amount of money, like an organic cotton t-shirt for 10€. Instead, we must think about what that actually reflects about the brand and its practices.

One of the reasons why sustainable brands tend to have higher prices than what’s considered the average it’s because the product’s price reflects its quality, sustainable and ethical production, and the work done by the people involved in the process.

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Loading a new laundry routine

The way we wash our clothes at home tends to cause changes in fabrics and fibres, reducing their durability. To guarantee that your clothes last for years to come, wait until you have a full load and wash them in cooler temperatures.

For example, washing your clothes at 30ºC is equivalent to 40% of the energy used when washing them at 40ºC (WRAP, 2021). This will prevent them from shrinking and decrease the energy use on water heating.

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The choice of detergent also weighs in on how sustainable our laundry routine is — eco-friendly detergents are plant-based and biodegradable, thus being a good solution for both our skin and the environment. Non-eco-friendly detergents are petrochemical-based, including toxic chemicals that can be harmful to our skin and when in the sewage system can contaminate water ecosystems.

When doing our washing, we also have to be aware of the microfibres released into the sewage system, which cause water and ocean pollution. Microfibres are a type of microplastics, thinner than human hair, that our synthetic clothing releases whenever we do laundry. One of the few alternatives available to fight this menace is to use a wash bag made from microfilter material that captures the fabrics released in this process, keeping everything cleaned. 

Over time, these wash bags won’t only accumulate microfibres, but also hair and pet fur, for example. Thus, that build-up will have to be removed and disposed of in the garbage bin rather than down the sink. Depending on the wash bag you use, check its washing instructions ahead and how many washes it withstands, using only cold water during this process.

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Air dry for the win

The most energy-efficient method to dry our clothes is to air-dry, helping to extend the clothes’ lifecycle and reducing the energy used to generate heat when tumble-drying, for example. A household that runs a dryer on average every 2 days could save approximately half a tonne of CO2 emissions by turning to alternatives such as a washing line or clothes rack (Berners-Lee & Clark, 2010).

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Steaming & ironing

Fabrics can be more or less prone to wrinkles and creasing according to their structure. Most garments don’t require ironing when washed on lower cycles, then smoothly stretched at the end of their washing and hung to dry. 

In terms of steaming vs. ironing, steaming tends to be gentler to the fabric fibers. Nevertheless, if your garments do need ironing, pay attention to their care label to know at what temperature and setting are safe to do it.

Some washing machines also have a ‘reduced wrinkles’ setting that might also prevent creases. Reducing the washing cycle might be another good alternative.

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Storage who?

There’s nothing worse than opening our wardrobe to find our clothes a bit worse off to wear after being stored for too long,  or moth holes and mold from excess dampness.
In these problematic cases, the best to do would be to give your clothing some good aeration and to not fill your closet to the brim, preventing garments from tearing and wearing.

Establishing a capsule wardrobe may also help in your closet’s organizational process. In this way, you can put everything cleaned and well folded into clothing bundles at the end of each season. If the problem has to do with limitations in your storage, a vacuum seal bag can be a good option for space efficiency.

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What about repurposing our clothes?

Fashion has to be more circular, and we believe that’s our responsibility to ensure this in many ways: from the materials we pick to how a product’s used and repurposed. 

There’s a need for us to shift the way we think about clothing — as durable and not as disposable pieces. Hence, here are a few practical ideas to give our clothing pieces a second life and to have a more mindful approach to our everyday possessions:

1 — It can be frustrating to have a clothing piece you love dearly but that needs some repair. If you live around the Lisbon area, we have gathered some info that might be useful for you — stay tuned for the next chapter of this series, where we’ll provide an index of places in Lisbon where you can repair clothing. 

2 — Donate or organize a clothing swap with your friends & family or your local community.

3 — Repurpose your clothes — transform them into things like cleaning towels, or get creative and make a new piece.

4 — Put your creative vein to the test and try to fix your clothes. If you're searching for some good tutorials and more info about ways of reusing your pre-loved pieces, you have to take a look at the Fixing Fashion website.

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