We are buying more clothes than ever, and taking less care of them than ever before.
We can do better.
This year, Australia was revealed to be the biggest fashion consumer across the world, with an average person buying up to 56 garments of new clothes each year.
We're locked in a vicious waste cycle; we buy low quality clothes, we wear through them faster and keep them for a shorter period of time than ever before.
The average Australian is now throwing away 23kg of textile waste each year.
The result of this overconsumption - more than 200,000 tonnes of clothes ending up in landfills every year. The equivalent weight of almost 4 x Sydney Harbour Bridges.
We believe there is a better way.
Buy less clothes that are higher quality, and take better care of them.
According to a recent study by Monash, more than 50% of Australians prefer purchasing clothes that are long lasting, durable and fixable.
One of the barriers to acting on this preference: high quality clothes requires a little more care. Not only do you run the risk of ruining clothes when you wash them, excessive washing wears clothes down extremely quickly.
Empowering our customers with confidence to take care of their clothes properly is one of the most impactful things we can be doing for our planet.
At the beginning of the year we launched Fabric Spray, a product that helps extend the life of your clothes between washes, and with it - one of our most impactful messages to date.
Wash less.
For the sake of your clothes and the planet.
By just doing one less load a week, you could save 4,420L of water per year.
Did you know that up to 80% of a garment's environmental footprint stems from washing and drying? It’s an energy intensive activity that will actually reduce the lifespan of your clothes in the long run.
A polyester garment is said to shed up to 1900 non-biodegradable microfibres when washed, which then enters the wastewater system and ends up in our rivers and oceans.
The No Wash Club, aims to reduce the ecological impact of our laundry routines.
The first rule of the No Wash Club: wear more, wash less.
It's a mantra that might seem counterintuitive at first, particularly from a company that only sells laundry detergent, but it's a small change that yields significant results.
So what is the right amount of washing?
Wear 6 or More Times
Certain clothing items, like jeans, wool jumpers, and jackets, are the champions of longevity. The Official No Wash Club Rules advocate for a minimum of six months before the first wash for jeans.
Wool jumpers can be refreshed with fabric spray for scent and a simple wipe for spills, lasting an entire season. Technical rain-proof jackets require minimal washing, preserving their functionality and form.
Wear 3 - 5 Times
Jumpers and dress pants - being on the more delicate side of things in terms of fabric; infrequent washing is their best friend. Spot tackle stains as they come, spray when things start to get a little too smelly, and try to keep these ones out of the dirty clothes basket for as long as you can.
Pyjamas and bras, due to their low exposure to the outside world, can go a lot longer than you think without going into the machine. In addition to a post-swim rinse, swimwear can be saved from wash cycles and slow down the speed in which they lose their elastic integrity over time.
Wear At Least 2 Times
Shirts, leggings, and dresses fall into this category. With proper care and minimal exposure to sweat or stains, these garments can be comfortably worn multiple times before needing a wash. Delicate fabrics, especially in dresses, thrive when given the chance to breathe and rest between wears.
Always Wash
Certain items, like underwear, activewear, T-shirts, and undershirts, require regular laundering due to bacteria and sweat. While these garments demand frequent cleaning for hygiene purposes, optimising the wear of other clothing like undershirts offsets the overall laundry load.
Wear 6 or More Times
Certain clothing items, like jeans, wool jumpers, and jackets, are the champions of longevity. The Official No Wash Club Rules advocate for a minimum of six months before the first wash for jeans.
Wool jumpers can be refreshed with fabric spray for scent and a simple wipe for spills, lasting an entire season. Technical rain-proof jackets require minimal washing, preserving their functionality and form.
Wear 3 - 5 Times
Jumpers and dress pants - being on the more delicate side of things in terms of fabric; infrequent washing is their best friend. Spot tackle stains as they come, spray when things start to get a little too smelly, and try to keep these ones out of the dirty clothes basket for as long as you can.
Pyjamas and bras, due to their low exposure to the outside world, can go a lot longer than you think without going into the machine. In addition to a post-swim rinse, swimwear can be saved from wash cycles and slow down the speed in which they lose their elastic integrity over time.
Wear At Least 2 Times
Shirts, leggings, and dresses fall into this category. With proper care and minimal exposure to sweat or stains, these garments can be comfortably worn multiple times before needing a wash. Delicate fabrics, especially in dresses, thrive when given the chance to breathe and rest between wears.
Always Wash
Certain items, like underwear, activewear, T-shirts, and undershirts, require regular laundering due to bacteria and sweat. While these garments demand frequent cleaning for hygiene purposes, optimising the wear of other clothing like undershirts offsets the overall laundry load.
By following these guidelines and rethinking our approach to laundry, we not only conserve water, energy, and resources but also extend the lifespan of your clothing with the help of our fabric spray starter pack and stain remover starter packs.
In it’s short 6 month lifespan, to date it is estimated that Fabric Spray has prevented (*1) up to 230,000 loads of washing and 20 million litres of water (*2).
Embracing the No Wash Club philosophy isn't a trend; it's a genuine conscious choice towards a more sustainable wardrobe, a more sustainable laundry, and a more sustainable lifestyle.
So wash less, spray more, and feel a lot better about doing a lot less.
(*1) Based on products sold since launch. Assumes a treatment size of 2.1ml, 20 garments per load of washing and that all treatments have been used instead of washing.
(*2) Assumes 85 litres of water used in a standard load of washing (average of front and top loading water usage).
The other part of taking care of your clothes is knowing what to do when inevitably, things go wrong. Patching, mending and hemming is surprisingly easy. We’ve enlisted the help of our friends at The Social Studio to share with you exactly how you can repair, and continue to wear all your favourite clothes.
It’s a small yet significant act of rebellion against the widespread disposable culture of the fast fashion industry. Now that deserves a high-five!
Patching
You will need a:
- Fabric for patching
- Needle, Thread & Scissors
Stitch: Whip stitch
- Cut fabric big enough to generously cover the hole, place the fabric behind the hole and pin in place.
- Use a running stitch to hold the patch in place, tie off the thread and cut the excess patch fabric.
- Rethread the needle and enter behind the fabric on the edge of the hole and patch.
- Use a whip stitch technique to sew together the self of the garment and the patch. Stitch through the layers and pull through it. Repeat this process, aiming the needle diagonally for the next stitch entering the fabric upwards through the layers.
- Continue until the patch is firmly secured to the edges of the hole
- Cut the thread and for a nice finish, you can press the patch out with an iron.
Removing a Stain
You will need a:
- Stain Remover with a Bleach Base
- Laundry Detergent with an Enzyme Base
- Remove any stain residue
- Spot test fabric with the stain remover in an inconspicuous spot
- Spray the spot stain treater and agitate the fabric where the stain is by rubbing it together
- Wait for 15 minutes, then rinse
- Grab your laundry detergent and pump some directly onto the stain
- Agitate the stain by rubbing the fabric together and wait for 15 minutes
- Wash and dry in the sunlight
Button Repair
You will need a:
- Button, Thread & Pin
- Thread your needle, tie a knot on the end and pull through your needle
- Place the button on the fabric with the flat part against the fabric, and the side with the ridge facing up
- Pull your needle through a buttonhole
- Place a pin between the thread and the button - this acts as a spacer.
- Go through the opposing button hole and pull back through the fabric.
- Continue this process until you’ve reached about 3-4 stitches.
- Come down through either of the adjacent holes, and repeat, forming an ‘X’ pattern.
- After 3-4 stitches, come down through the fabric and tie a knot in the thread
Mending Holes (Heart)
You will need:
- Stencil & Marker
- Needle, Thimble & Thread
Stitch: Rhodes stitch within a heart shape
- Place the stencil over the hole and trace with a fabric marker
- Thread some embroidery thread through a thicker needle
- Enter through the back of the fabric on the outline
- Pull the thread through and re-enter the fabric on the opposing side
- Continue this process until the heart as filled in
- Tie off the thread
- Iron the pattern
Patching
You will need a:
- Fabric for patching
- Needle, Thread & Scissors
Stitch: Whip stitch
- Cut fabric big enough to generously cover the hole, place the fabric behind the hole and pin in place.
- Use a running stitch to hold the patch in place, tie off the thread and cut the excess patch fabric.
- Rethread the needle and enter behind the fabric on the edge of the hole and patch.
- Use a whip stitch technique to sew together the self of the garment and the patch. Stitch through the layers and pull through it. Repeat this process, aiming the needle diagonally for the next stitch entering the fabric upwards through the layers.
- Continue until the patch is firmly secured to the edges of the hole
- Cut the thread and for a nice finish, you can press the patch out with an iron.
Removing a Stain
You will need a:
- Stain Remover with a Bleach Base
- Laundry Detergent with an Enzyme Base
- Remove any stain residue
- Spot test fabric with the stain remover in an inconspicuous spot
- Spray the spot stain treater and agitate the fabric where the stain is by rubbing it together
- Wait for 15 minutes, then rinse
- Grab your laundry detergent and pump some directly onto the stain
- Agitate the stain by rubbing the fabric together and wait for 15 minutes
- Wash and dry in the sunlight
Button Repair
You will need a:
- Button, Thread & Pin
- Thread your needle, tie a knot on the end and pull through your needle
- Place the button on the fabric with the flat part against the fabric, and the side with the ridge facing up
- Pull your needle through a buttonhole
- Place a pin between the thread and the button - this acts as a spacer.
- Go through the opposing button hole and pull back through the fabric.
- Continue this process until you’ve reached about 3-4 stitches.
- Come down through either of the adjacent holes, and repeat, forming an ‘X’ pattern.
- After 3-4 stitches, come down through the fabric and tie a knot in the thread
Mending Holes (Heart)
You will need:
- Stencil & Marker
- Needle, Thimble & Thread
Stitch: Rhodes stitch within a heart shape
- Place the stencil over the hole and trace with a fabric marker
- Thread some embroidery thread through a thicker needle
- Enter through the back of the fabric on the outline
- Pull the thread through and re-enter the fabric on the opposing side
- Continue this process until the heart as filled in
- Tie off the thread
- Iron the pattern
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