The capital has some of the smallest homes in Europe, and a new study commissioned by Attic Self Storage, London’s premium self-storage company, has revealed that 67% of Londoners are regularly throwing away clothing and household items simply because they don’t have enough space to store them.
With the fashion industry accounting for 10% of global carbon emissions and 20% of wastewater, there are unsurprisingly many conversations taking place around the industry’s role in tackling climate change. With British fashionista’s buying more clothes than any other country in Europe (spending nearly £2000 annually) it’s apparent that the nation could be taking more steps to combat the fast fashion waste.
As Brits dig out their Winter favourites this month, Attic has teamed up with Celebrity Stylist Karen Williams to provide some top tips for the seasonal wardrobe swap with the aim to not only extend the life of your wardrobe but also give you more space at home.
1. Declutter, declutter, declutter!
When seasons come to an end it’s a good time to start thinking about swapping out the pieces that you know you’re not going to wear for a good few months. I start by separating my items into sections of what I will actually use in Spring\Summer and Autumn\Winter as a guide. When your clothes are organised, you can clearly see what you have, this will help you get the most wear and longevity out of it – the first step to thinking in a sustainable way! Use this opportunity to streamline and discard any items that haven’t been worn in the past year, as it’s likely they will never be worn by you again. However, somebody else may fall in love with your pre-worn garments, so be sure to donate to your local charity shop.
2. Don’t be afraid to repurpose your old clothes
If you really don’t want to part with some of your clothes, why not think about upcycling or repurposing them? There are lots of ways to repurpose clothes and breathe new life into them, and this is a great way to get the most out of your wardrobe, all while being less wasteful! You could perhaps give a long Summer dress an Autumn/Winter update by layering with a long-sleeved turtleneck top or bodysuit, some thick tights and boots of your choice. This season’s over the elbow glove trend is a great way to add fun and warmth to bare arms whilst repurposing all those sleeveless tops you wouldn’t usually wear during winter. You could even knit or make your own pair out of some old tights!
3. Put your seasonal clothes in storage
Stuck for space? Why not enquire at London self-storage brand Attic Self Storage, who offer a variety of safe and trustworthy storage solutions at their facilities in Harrow, Bow, Marylebone and Kings Cross, which you can access 24/7. They have competitive prices depending on how little or large a space you need. Putting items that you don’t use into storage is an instant way to create more space at home, and also saves you from throwing any items away just because you have no room to store them!
4. Before anything, make sure you clean your items
There is nothing that moths and bacteria enjoy more than the smell of sweet perfume or the residue of food. So make sure you wash and dry any clothing that’s ready to be stored away, including clothing that you may not regularly wash. This helps get rid of dirt and insects will be less likely to take up residence in your jumpers. Don’t forget that stains can set and show up even if you can’t see them right now. So thoroughly clean your clothes and make sure they are completely dry before you pack them away to prevent any build up of mould.
5. Don’t just chuck everything into a bin liner
Packing to perfection is absolutely key here. When I’m packing away last season’s wardrobe, I like everything to be in order and in the correct categories – don’t be shy of some labelling, you won’t regret it. Shoes in one bag, holiday outfits in another – you get the drift. Make sure these are folded super neatly and packed in either cardboard or plastic boxes or zipped bags for extra care!
