
MAKE EVERY THREAD COUNT
Join Oregonians in choosing quality clothes that save money, last longer and reduce waste.
Poorly made clothes wear out quickly, clutter closets and end up in landfills. Well-made
clothes are available for every budget, are built to last, and can be worn often and for
years to come. Quality clothes just make sense.
KNOW THE NUMBERS
- Consumers are buying more clothes and wearing them less. The average consumer now
buys 60 percent more clothing items a year and keeps them for about half as long as
15 years ago.
- Clothing producers are increasing production to meet this demand. Worldwide,
clothing production doubled between 2000 and 2014. By 2014, the number of garments
exceeded 100 billion.
- Many of those garments are low quality, and don't last as long as they used to. In
fact, the life of consumer products, like clothing, shortened by 50 percent from
1992 to 2002.
- This means that many of those items end up in landfills. Americans throw away over
32 billion pounds of textiles a year!
- Making clothing uses resources: It can take 1,500 gallons of water to manufacture
just one T-shirt and pair of jeans. That's how much water you will drink in 13
years.
- Extending clothing life by just three months can reduce carbon, water and waste
footprints by up to 10 percent.
LEARN HOW TO HELP
Quality doesn't have to be code for "expensive". Well-made clothes aren't determined by the
price tag and simple care can make those pieces last, which saves you the hassle and cost of
replacing them. You can extend the life of your clothes and your investment by taking a few
easy steps:
Step 1: Look for signs of quality
- Fabrics: All types of fabrics, whether natural or synthetic, have advantages and
disadvantages. Consider the quality of the fabric itself (thickness, softness,
stretch, etc.) and how suitable the fabric is for that particular item. Will it be
comfortable and durable?
- Good quality thread and strong, even stitches: Give the fabric a gentle pull to see
if the thread breaks or pops. Check for rippled, puckered or twisted hems and seams.
Avoid garments that don't appear to hang smoothly.
- Edges and hems: Cut or "raw" edges and hems can lead to unraveling and loose,
hanging threads. Be careful in choosing garments with these features as they may
require special laundering.
- Matched patterns: If the garment has stripes or plaid, the pattern should match up
at the seams.
- Linings: For suits and other lined garments, check to see if the lining hangs
loosely and doesn't cause any pulling or puckering.
- Quality buttons and buttonholes: Buttonholes should be well stitched with no loose
threads or raw fabric showing. Test the button in the buttonhole to make sure it's
easy to button up the garment.
Step 2: Care for your clothes
- Clean correctly: Follow labels when washing your clothes to keep them looking better
and lasting longer.
- Consider cold water: For most laundry, you can use cold water and less detergent
than directed. This prevents exposure to excess heat or chemicals that contribute to
fading or wearing out.
- Group similar items and turn inside out: When washing, turn jeans and graphic shirts
inside out to prevent fading and wear. Wash similar items together (for example, all
jeans) to prevent harsher fabrics from wearing on softer ones.
- Use the dryer sparingly: High heat fades and shrinks material, and also breaks down
elastic fibers in clothes, causing breakage and stretching. When possible, line or
flat dry your clothes. If you must dry your clothes, use the lowest setting.
- Stain removal: Discover what sort of care is best for the stain. Cold water, hot
water or stain treatment? Some quick online research can save that garment you
love.
- Simple fixes: Learn the simple but satisfying art of re-attaching a button, mending
a tear or applying a patch.
- Call in the experts: Locate a good dry cleaner and tailor that can help keep your
clothes clean and well-fitted.
Step 3: Wear those clothes often and for years to come!
Every item in your closet has a cost-per-wear: the longer you wear that shirt or pair of
jeans, the more you get out of your investment. A closet carefully stocked with several
quality items will outlast a closet packed with poorly made, disposable clothes. So choose
quality - you'll look good, save money and help care for our environment.
Step 4: Donate items you no longer use
When clothing no longer fits, donate them for someone else to enjoy! Find a thrift store
near you to keep your clothes in rotation by donating.
About this campaign
Make Every Thread Count is a public awareness campaign that encourages Oregonians to think
differently before buying clothes, make smarter choices at the register and extend the life
of their clothing. Oregonians are smart, practical consumers, and this campaign shows how
simple steps can greatly reduce the environmental impacts of a material so commonly found in
Oregon's waste stream.
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