This Valentine’s Day, we want to show our clothes some love. After all, they’ve been there for us since day one!
At Wild Clouds, our clothes are designed with longevity in mind, but sometimes well-loved garments need a bit of TLC. So, we’ve compiled our tried-and-tested clothing care tips to help you give your wardrobe the Valentine’s treatment.
Buying clothes that work for you
Before we get to your current wardrobe, it’s our purchasing habits that ultimately determine whether we’ll have a lasting love affair or a one-night stand with our clothes. On average, a garment is worn just ten times before being discarded, while most women only rotate 20% of their wardrobe. Buying slowly and intentionally and investing in high-quality, seasonless items is a great way to ensure you’ll get the most out of your wardrobe.
So, when you’re next window shopping or online browsing, pause to consider if the latest ‘it’ bag is a want or a need. This question should immediately be followed up with ‘do I own something similar?’ or ‘can I borrow something like this from a friend?’ Will you be excited to rediscover it the following year? Does it make you feel super confident? Does it fit nicely and, if not, can you be bothered to get it altered? Can it be easily looked after or does it carry a hefty laundering cost? If the answer is no, it’s probably not worth parting with your hard-earned cash.
Why not take the #30WearsChallenge and pledge to wear every new purchase at least 30 times - it’s easier than you think! Sustainable stylist, Roberta Lee reminds her clients of the power of five and discourages buying clothes that cannot be styled with at least five things in your wardrobe. Because loved clothes last and stand the test of time.
Washing your clothes with care
Sure, it’s easy to bundle your dirty laundry into the washing machine and hope for the best, but it’s not the smartest way to preserve the longevity of your clothes. Take the time to sort through the contents of your laundry basket, separating colours to prevent unwanted dye transfer and separating delicates to prevent any unwanted snags.
Now is the time to read the inside tag. You can learn a lot from a clothing label: where a garment was produced, what fibres it's made from and whether it's suitable for washing and ironing. Labels are essentially instruction manuals on how to maintain the quality of your garments. If you’re looking to familiarise yourself with the various care symbols, here is a handy guide to keep for future reference.
We make sure to include a care sheet inside every order to help you look after your clothes. We personally recommend washing your Wild Clouds favourites inside out on a 30c cycle. Once washed, give them a good shake to reduce creases and leave to air dry. Line drying prevents shrinkage and wrinkles and is more planetary friendly, too!
There are other things to consider when washing your clothes, like lowering the temperature, finding the right detergent and spot cleaning instead of opting for a full blown machine wash. We’re all guilty of throwing our clothes into the washing basket after one just wear. Gymwear and underwear aside, most garments can be worn several times before needing a clean. Washing your clothes too often can damage the fibres overtime, ultimately reducing their lifespan.
When tragedy strikes, it’s good to attend to stains immediately by gently blotting - not rubbing - with a damp sponge and treating with stain remover. If the stain looks too tricky to handle, leave it to the experts. Dry Cleaners are well versed in wine spillages and can make your dirty clothes look good as new.
Storing clothes the right way
To hang or to fold, that is the question. The general consensus is that jumpers should be folded, especially ones made from wool and cashmere as these will stretch when hung. In the words of Jane Fonda, “treat your clothes like the good friends they are” and carefully hang them up (ok, we made up the last part) But it’s true! Wooden hangers are best because they offer more support than wire hangers. We recommend padded hangers for more delicate materials, such as silk.
How your clothes are stored will affect how you navigate dressing each morning. Neatly and visibly organising your clothes - and not stuffing them into brimming drawers - makes it easier to throw together an outfit and remember exactly what you own. Plus, keeping your clothing storage well-ventilated is a trusty moth deterrent. If you’re struggling to rotate what you own, why not introduce a divider that separates your wardrobe into ‘have worn’ and ‘to be worn’. You could also separate your winter and summer wardrobe, and store out-of-season clothing in a vacuum sealed bag. You’ll get that new-to-you clothes dopamine hit every time you unpack your in-season wardrobe!
Ultimately, how you store your clothes will alter the likelihood of you rewearing them. At Wild Clouds, we’re proud outfit repeaters. That’s why we design versatile, comfortable loungewear that can be styled in a number of ways for a diverse range of events. Caring for your clothes isn’t just about the way you clean them; it’s also about the number of times you wear them.
Mending clothes in need of some TLC
The most-loved clothes will require your attention every now and then. If you’ve been staring at that mend pile for a while, now’s the time to fetch the thread and needle and get your clothes back into action. Maybe that’s rehemming a loose seam or debobbling your trousers. Visible mending - the act of creating noticeable restorations - celebrates clothing and its evolving life stages. If you’re lacking inspiration, you could try your hand at upcycling and transform the unworn into something wearable by cropping that too-long top or turning that dress into a two-piece. Go wild - the possibilities are endless!
For the trickier repairs or alterations, we recommend befriending your local tailor. We know our customers occasionally require support for their repair needs which is why we developed our Customer Repair Promise. Whether you’re looking to replace lost buttons, are after some extra fabric or need expert advice, we’re always here to help you get the most out of your Wild Clouds clothes - simply get in touch!
Parting ways is such sweet sorrow
We get it. Sometimes, it’s not you, it’s them, the clothes that you’ve outgrown physically and stylistically. We think it’s better to rehome unwanted clothes, rather than leaving them to collect dust or, worse, be chucked into landfill. When it’s time to breakup, there’s a number of responsible options. You could donate unloved clothing to a charity shop, rent or sell it on, swap for something new or use a textile recycling service for unsalvageable garments. Passing on your unworn clothing is the ultimate act of care because you’re giving it a second chance with somebody else. This might sound a bit sentimental but we treat clothes like our friends. Don’t believe us? Check out our love letter to clothes.