Recap of 2023 10 Garment Challenge
Now that 2023 has come to a close I am reflecting back on my learnings from my 10 Garment Challenge. I finished the year off with 12 garment purchases, 10 new, 2 used.
12 items ended up adding up quickly, and it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be to keep my shopping to this minimum. However, I do think it is necessary for us all to work of reducing our new clothing consumption.
There were a few learnings that I took away from this challenge. First, I found that I thrifted less than I usually would, because there were specific items that were on my wish list, and I knew unexpected thrift finds would push me over for the challenge. However, I did find 2 pieces second hand, one of which was a many year wish list item that I was very pleased to find.
I don’t believe that buying second hand is adding any negative impacts environmentally, so maybe for a future challenge I would stick to limiting the number of new items I purchase, and not impose a limit on thrifting.
Another negative I experienced from the challenge was waiting too long to make purchases. I do not often impulse buy, but due to not wanting to go over for the challenge, there are items that I decided I didn’t need right away, and would buy next year, that are now sold out.
I had had my eye on this blazer from Sezane all year and am sad to see it is no longer available in the houndstooth. This is an item that has been on my wish list, however, I didn’t need it right away. I checked with them am unfortunately they are not brining back this style. If anyone knows of a sustainably brand making plaid blazers please let me know!
While there were some items that I probably would have purchased that I held off buying, such as this beautiful set from Devon’s Drawer, it doesn’t feel like a need and therefore I have taken them off my wish list for now.
No matter how much we reduce our purchasing, we will always have a need to replace worn out items. I busted through the thighs of two of my favourite pairs of jeans toward the end of the year, but since I had already hit my 10 items, I didn’t replace them. Maybe I should have taken advantage of black friday deals to purchase replacements, but I decided to see how long I could make it with my remaining two pairs of jeans in my wardrobe, one if which is also getting a little thread bare. I have not had any luck finding second hand jeans in the past, but I will continue the hunt in the meantime. Got to love a jeans hunt when you have a large hip to waist ratio.
One major positive was with limiting the number of items I was buying, it freed up my budget to purchase from sustainable brands that are more expensive. By reducing the number of items we buy, the more purchasing power we have to buy sustainably and ethically. This also allows us to buy better made items that last much longer, and so in the future we don’t need to buy as many replacement items, further reducing our need for more clothing. I also ended up selling and donating a lot of items, and ended up with a net smaller wardrobe at the end of the year.
Overall, it was harder than I thought to keep new clothing purchases to 10 items. Especially as items needed to be replaced, and navigating fluctuations in weight. I am also starting to go back to the office more and more, and needing more business clothes. I do, however, think that being more conscious and intentional about how many items we are purchasing and where we are buying them from is a very important part of reducing our environmental and social impact.
Here is a roundup of all the items I purchased last year, in chronological order. These prices all include taxes and shipping costs, and are in CAD $.
#1 Fijallraven corduroy button up - $86
I purchased this shirt in January last year at the Fijallraven end of year sale, before I had even come up with the 10 garment challenge. Fijallraven is one of my favourite outdoor apparel stores. Their tag line is “clothing and gear that lasts for generations”. I have a few pieces from them, and I can attest to how well made their products are.
#2 Vintage jacket - $49
100% wool, made in Italy, for an amazing price, it was a no brainer. I found this one at the Barefoot Contessa on Main St in Vancouver.
#3 Cotopaxi longe sleeve top - $63
One of my favourite sustainable outdoor apparel brands, and Bcorp certified, I had to check our their store when I went to Portland last February. This shirt was well used for backpacking trips over the summer.
#4 Madewell overalls - $186
Another Portland February purchase. I had heard good things about this brand, but after I had purchased these overalls I looked into the company a bit more I realized they weren’t really very sustainable, so I probably won’t be shopping there again. However, my wardrobe is not perfect and neither am I. I am still pleased with this purchase as I had been trying to find a pair of overalls for over 5 years. The thing that worked well for me with these overalls was that they have adjustable straps, which is key for me since I have a very short torso so most overalls are way too long in the waist.
#5 Shelter linen top - $150
I picked this 100% linen top up on sale from a small local BC brand from Courtenay, Sheek Shelter. I took a bit of a risk with this one since it was final sale, but it fit perfectly and is my favourite purchase from the year. I have lost count of how many times I have worn it and it still looks and feels brand new. The beauty of linen.
#6 REI white hiking shirt - $60
I needed an SPF shirt for backpacking that would protect me from the sun and was able to pick this one up from REI in Washington on a day trip. It is made out of REI’s bluesign®-approved materials, which promise to conserve resources and protect the health of the environment, workers and wearer.
#7 Everlane linen top - $108
I have wanted a white linen pijama set for a while now. Ever since I switched all my bedding to linen I new I wants pijamas in linen too. However, I couldn’t find a set that I wanted so I ended up buying a top on bottoms seperately. This technically isn’t a pijama top so I did wear it as a regular shirt in the summer time. I ordered this when it went on sale in May.
#8 Peplumco linen shorts - $115
This is a local brand based out of Kelowna BC. Everything is made locally, and 25% of each sale goes toward 92hands, an organization that that equips women with income-generating skills under the US4WOMEN Project in Uganda. They were able to custom make these short for my sizing. They are also 100% linen and therefore will last forever.
#9 Son de Flor linen skirt - $195
In June Son de Flor had a 20% sale and I scooped this skirt. I am so happy with this one, as I am with my linen dress from Son de For that I bought 3 years ago. And it has pockets!!!! This was definitely more of an investment piece but they are so well made by a sustainable company, I know it will last me a lifetime. I continued my linen addiction with this one as well.
#10 Free Label black long sleeve top - $110
I had previously tried on this top the year before and loved it but I had held off buying it at the time, and shortly after they sold out. Luckily they brought it back and after a year I was still thinking about it. This one retails for $88 but as a small local business they do not have a store front, so with tax and shipping it came out to $110. This felt like a lot to spend on a bamboo top but I have worn it weekly since purchasing it and it is one of the most comfortable tops I have ever owned, and still looks new. Free Label is a local Vancouver company as well.
#11 Oaxaca cotton jumpsuit - $50
I have no idea what the name of the shop was where I bought this cotton jumpsuit in Oaxaca, and it has no label. It was a small little shop that we stumbled upon when walking by. I had spotted the jumpsuit in the store from the street and had to go try it on. It fit perfectly as was locally made, 100% cotton. This one pushed me over my 10 garments, but I knew it wasn’t something I could buy later, so I went for it.
#12 Vintage Pendleton jacket - $147
I had a whole list of vintage stores I wanted to go to in Mexico City, but we only visited one before I ended up being sick with food poisoning for the rest of the week. Luckily, I hit the jackpot at the first one. Tucked away on the third floor of this shop, I found my dream wool jacket that I had been hunting for for years. I have been looking for a cropped, fitted jacket that I could wear with skirts and dresses. This one was vintage Pendleton, 100% wool and made in the US.
In total I ended up spending $1319 on all 12 purchases last year, averaging $110 per month, which was actually under my $150 per month clothing budget. The average Canadian household spends $3430 per year on clothing, or $114/month/person. So I am right on at the average. It just goes to show that there is a way to purchase sustainable, ethical, well-made items that will last for years, without breaking the bank.
Items that are still on my wish list from last year:
White cotton oxford button up
White cotton long sleeve
Black dress pants
Black blazer
Plaid blazer
Walking boots to replace my 6 year old blundstones (I am still wearing by bluntstones much to my chiropractor’s discontent)
White cotton tee replacement
Items that I have added to my wish list:
Demin button up
Classic brown tartan skirt from Son de Flor
White butterfly sleeve dress for engagement photos also from Son de Flor
Ophelia wrap dress from Peplumco
Cardigan no 19 is oak from Babaa
Cardigan no 14 in red also from Babaa (hoping they have this back in stock in the spring)
A pair of black loafers to replace my old loafers and my black flats that met their end last year
New pair of office appropriate jeans
A wedding dress and shoes!
Items I have removed from my wish list:
Black cotton long sleeve - I am removing this from the list due to the Free Label black long sleeve I bought last year
Denim overalls - I finally found a pair last year after YEARs of searching!
Black A-line skirt - I purchase a navy a-line skirt from Son de Flor last year which checks this box
Linen pyjama set - checked off the list with my top from Everlane and shorts from Peplumco
Black cropped wool jacket - found second hand!