How much of your wardrobe is stuffed with clothes you never wear? amh brings us some shocking statistics about the waste of space in our wardrobes so we have some suggestions on what you can invest in once you clear the clutter!
By Bianca Healey.
Crazy Wardrobe Statistics
According to amh (part of Medibank), Australians have over 100 items in their wardrobes they don’t wear and nearly half have lied about how much they’ve spent on clothing items
New research reveals the average Australian only wears a third (32%) of their clothes and has 104 items in their wardrobe they never wear; yet the majority (87%) still struggle to find something to put on each day.
But don’t feel as though this is a classic case of estrogen-fuelled buyers regret- according to this study, guys are just as bad. Men spend more on new clothes each month and have just as many unworn items in their wardrobe.
These overstuffed, unworn wardrobes could be the reason nearly half (44%) the country have lied about how much they’ve spent on an item of clothing and nearly two thirds (62%) return clothes as they regret buying them once they get home.
How much money have you spent on clothes you don’t wear?
To help Australians be more shopping savvy, amh have launched the ahm Fashion Exchange Events as a way to help people reduce waste while shopping and having fun. The events let shoppers bring up to six pieces of clothing they used to love but now don’t wear. A token will be received for each, and then these tokens are used to ‘shop the swaps.’ Attendees can expect to find everything from designer garments to high street basics.
If you are interested in attending the events;
Attendance at the ahm Fashion Exchange events is free but places are limited;
If you are interested in attending the events, pre-registration and more information is available now at www.ahmfashionexchange.com.au.
And once you’ve cleared the clutter, we’ve got some suggestions on investments that will get worn…
Thomas Hulston Flagship Store Opening
Whitehouse Institute of Design graduate Thomas Hulston has opened the doors to his flagship store at 23 William St, stocked with his debut spring summer 2013/14 collection. The collection, which has been available at two boutiques in France as well as online is now available to purchase at his gorgeous new Paddington pad.
What do we love about Hulston’s designs? To start with, every piece is made in France using the finest European materials including Italian leather and French silk. The 21 piece ready-to-wear collection projects a beautiful palette of soft blue, cream, orange and chocolate, combined with the signature sheer sandstone print feature across the collection.
It is affordable luxury that defines Hulston’s design ethic, with the silk sandstone print scarf $140 to the soft blue shift dress at $370 to an exquisite Italian leather jacket at $890.
Hulston says “2013 has been an incredible year for me. I debuted my first collection for spring summer 2013/14 alongside MBFWA and have now opened my flagship store in Sydney. I’m looking forward to showing my customers beautiful French made womenswear.”
The store will also carry London-based Joanna Cave’s jewellery collection. Recently named as ‘one to watch’ by UK style bible, Sunday Times, Joanna’s ethically-sourced materials and Greek heritage inform her whimsical pieces. Hulston’s store is the first NSW stockist for ‘A Girl Called Yoshimi’, a Japanese flora and fauna inspired collection by the designer.
To find out more about Cave’s designs, visit www.joannacave.com.
The spring summer 2013/14 collection is available at the flagship store at 23 William St, Paddington or online at www.thomashulston.com.
YEVU Ethical Fashion Pop Up
From European classic lines, to West African prints. Next Thursday, ethical fashion label, YEVU will Pop Up on Cleveland Street in Surry Hills, Sydney. The store will run for two weeks, showcasing a collection of vivid designs developed and handmade in Ghana in collaboration with local tailors and seamstresses.
YEVU means “foreigner” in the local Ewe language, and is drawn from the inspiration Anna Robertson found every day working in the lively and chaotic city of Accra in Ghana as a Australian Youth Ambassador for Development.
In a bid to connect the Australian buyer with the marketplace of West Africa, Anna decided to partner with a dedicated team of tailors and seamstresses to design and develop the socially responsible YEVU collection.
All of the YEVU fabrics have been handpicked and sourced directly from the markets of Accra, Kumasi, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire in a unique celebration of the beauty of West African wax print.
Anna explains “Everything about the vivid colour, the ease with which it is worn on the streets, and the understanding these seamstresses had about wearability screamed of our Australian lifestyle. Combining these traditional fabrics with more contemporary designs seemed like the perfect marriage, and a way to revitalise ‘African print’ in a more contemporary Western context. This pop up is a small way I can hold onto the vibrancy of Ghana and also share a little of its magic with the people here in Oz.”
The collection is a print-tastic myriad of traditional prints and Western silhouettes, including 50s inspired Summer dresses, bomber jackets, unisex shorts and backpacks in colours ranging from deep maroon, to wild tropical hues.
WHERE:
302 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills, Sydney 2010
WHEN:
Shop Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 – 7pm.
Opens Thursday October 10 and runs until October 24 or stock sells out. Cash Only.
https://yevuclothing.tumblr.com // @yevuclothing
Country Road Release Summer by Request
The votes are in! Today, Country Road release their Summer By Request capsule online – a collection curated by their Facebook community.
The Summer By Request facebook campaign launched in April, with Country Road posting key heritage pieces online and inviting followers to vote their favourite styles back into the range. Online communities are becoming a vital way for brands to engage with their customers- and this campaign is a fitting example of giving the Country Road woman the chance to have a say about the season’s collection.
Country Road’s Managing Director Sophie Holt says “Summer By Request is the perfect campaign for the brand and a fantastic opportunity to ask our customers exactly what they want; giving them the opportunity to influence the ranges they see in stores.”
Rescu. loves: the bold colours and statement maxi dresses in silk and jersey- our Summer staples!
The capsule will be available exclusively online from today, before launching in store on the 10th of October.
Shop online at countryroad.com.au