According to a German think tank, you really shouldn't buy more than five new pieces of clothing a year if you don't want to overburden the planet. The reality is different: research by the Hogeschool van Amsterdam shows that the average Dutch person buys around 46 per year. How about you? A fun (and useful) end-of-year action: count your purchases of the past year - new, second-hand, received or borrowed - and learn from them!
Your clothing number!
Maybe you think you bought quite little last year. But once you really put everything together, it often turns out to be more than you thought. Not surprisingly, because you buy clothes spread out over the year: a shirt on sale here, a dress for a party there. And second-hand finds, got clothes or a pair of socks we often don't count. Until now, that is. Because it's time to discover your clothing number.
Check everything:
- your wardrobe
- the laundry basket
- the clean laundry
- the coat rack full of coats
- sportswear, socks, underwear and shoes
- bags, suitcases or boxes of forgotten clothes
And then? Make piles, for example:
- bought new
- second-hand purchase
- got second-hand (free)
- received new (free)
- exchanged
- borrowed
That total is your clothing number of the year. And that number says a lot. Do you actually wear most things often? Or is there a lot that stays in the closet? Do you often buy the same kind of clothes - even though you already have more than enough of them? And: was everything you bought new worth buying new? Or could it have been bought second-hand, or not at all?
ALSO INTERESTING: start tracking your Cost Per Wear.
With a clothing challenge into the new year
Not only is it fun to know your clothing number, it's also a great opportunity to start the new year with fresh eyes. Maybe it will inspire you to make a good resolution, like a no-buy challenge (not buying anything for a month or more) or even a buy nothing new challenge (a year of no new buy clothes). It may sound strict, but it's mostly a fun challenge to get creative with your clothes - and you'll save a lot of money and resources. You can also use this moment immediately to clean out your closet. What do you no longer wear? What can go? Clothes that are still in good condition can be sold via those handy apps (tips for selling smoothly on Vinted can be found here), Donate old clothes to charity with this handy list or put it in a bag from The Clothing Loop. And do you really want to get started? Then schedule a wardrobe clean-up session right away. Tips to tidy up your wardrobe can be found here!
More good intentions you might like to check out
- Also see: do you already know the happiness pot?
- Also see: list of greener resolutions.
- Also see: Get inspiration from the predicted trends for this year.
Sources: Hot or Cool Institute report, Measuring the Dutch Clothing Mountain report. Photo credits: Angela de Vlaming.
