Standing the test of time

by India Gustin

It is no secret that the fashion world is a mass polluter. The stigma surrounding the industry has been made even more relevant recently, with the pandemic having shone a light on just how devastating the consequences can be for the environment. 

The concept behind keeping up with what is trendy at the moment further increases the amount of waste which fashion accounts for. It throws us deeper into the cycle of buying cheap, wearing it for one season, throwing it away and then repeating the process. 

There are certain pieces, however, which were built to stand the test of both time and trend. They have managed to escape from this unsustainable way of treating fashion and are considered valuable, irreplaceable and cherished. 

The idea behind a garment being timeless is that it can be worn and still be considered to be ‘in style’ whatever the fashion season. However, this particular parameter concerning the time frame in which a piece of clothing can be worn, is what makes fashion so unsustainable.

Good quality lasts

“One of my favourite items in my wardrobe is a silk shirt which used to belong to my mother. It is around 30 years old, and still looks nice and flattering,” said creative fashion buyer, Sarah Rehman. “This is a good example of how long good quality can last.”

Fast fashion has undeniably played a huge factor when it comes to the rate at which clothing is being bought and thrown away. No fashion piece, which is part of the realm of fast fashion, can be considered as ‘timeless’, mostly because of its poor quality. This side of the industry is what makes fashion so unsustainable.

“Sustainability does not only mean organic or recycled materials. Investing in items you will wear for many years, is also a way to contribute to sustainable fashion,” said Rehman.

No one says that you need to be studying fashion to appreciate a timeless garment. Asia Pozzoni, 20, is a student at Soas studying International Relations and Chinese. She owns several clothing pieces from both her mother and father. “I feel like nowadays, we just buy things and either they go out of fashion or they just don’t last.

“I mean, I’m wearing my dad’s clothes…he was 30 years old and living in a completely different time. I’m a girl, I’m 20 and yet I’m still wearing that piece of clothing,” Pozzoni explained. 

Designer duds on display

Usually, these fashion pieces are designer, which is why people are so keen on holding on to them for so long. Yet with mass production and trendy styles going hand in hand, people are encouraged to buy into the fast fashion industry.

“I always invest in better materials like silk, wool, and cotton,” said Rehman. “I know that some of these items can be more expensive, but with the right care, you will be able to keep them in your wardrobe for years. 

“After I stopped buying fast fashion and began to invest in timeless quality fashion, I saw that I was actually saving money because I didn’t need to buy that often, even though the items I buy now are often more expensive than before.”

Timeless vs trendy

The great thing about investing in more expensive but better quality garments is the ability to style these pieces with more variety – this is what separates trendy clothing from timeless fashion. 

“All these timeless pieces you can either wear really elegant or really casual,” Pozzoni explained.  “You’re wearing something so nice that whatever you pair it with, it just fits and makes the whole outfit […] I mean, 30 years on and they’re still there doing their job and looking amazing.”

Being able to wear a timeless piece is a perfect way to stand clear of monotony. As Pozzoni put it: “Everyone is wearing the same brands….it’s really nice to be the only one in the street wearing something different.”