Clothing is something that you should be able to buy once and has lasted for years, even decades. Unfortunately, some items tend to deteriorate faster than others, like socks, shoes, and even some accessories. Since today’s clothes are far more expensive than ever, it’s important to find items that are long-lasting, comfortable, and fashionable. The problem is, it’s hard to find clothes that meet all three criteria.
If you’ve been looking for clothes that will last for years, here are some ideas to consider.
Choose Full-Grain Leather Items
Leather has a reputation for being a strong, durable, long-lasting material, but that’s only part of the story. There are many types of leather, but only one type lives up to this reputation: full grain.
Full-grain leather is the strongest there is, and clothing items made from full-grain leather, like the women’s leather shoes made by Portland Leather, will last a long time.
The difference between full-grain leather and other types is the state of the original grain. When the grain remains intact, in its original state, it’s considered full grain. Any alteration to the leather’s grain would classify it as corrected grain.
Hemp Clothing
You’ve probably noticed that hemp is always being discussed in the media somewhere, and that’s usually because of discussions involving the legalization of cannabis. However, hemp isn’t just for consumption – it’s been a strong, industrial fiber used to make clothing for centuries. In fact, in the 1700s,U.S. farmers were required to grow hemp.
Hemp is an amazing resource for clothing because it’s incredibly strong and durable, and clothing made from hemp is virtually indestructible (from normal use). For example, if you buy cheap socks at a department store, you might notice holes forming after wearing them for a couple of months. If you wear hemp socks, you probably won’t ever see holes forming unless you’re doing some serious work where your socks are constantly rubbing on rough surfaces.
You can find all kinds of clothing items made from hemp, including:
· T-shirts
· Pants
· Underwear
· Socks
· Shoes
· Hats
· Gloves
· And more
As a bonus, hemp clothing is sustainable. If you care about the environment and want to know that your money is supporting sustainability, hemp clothing is your best buy. Hemp requires far less water to grow, it’s naturally pest-resistant and grows back much faster than other crops. Compared to cotton, which takes an enormous amount of water to grow, this is a huge bonus.
Certain Name Brands
Sometimes finding long-lasting clothes isn’t just about the material but how the items are manufactured. Clothes made with durable fibers will still fall apart if they’re not properly sewn together.
Here are some examples of well-known brands that make long-lasting clothes:
· Steven Alan
· Spanx
· Patagonia
· American Apparel
· Converse
· JNCO
· Birkenstock
· Pendleton
· L.L. Bean
There were many brands that became popular in the 1990s that were known for producing high-quality, long-lasting clothing. Some of those brands are still around today, but you can always hit up some thrift stores to find the vintage items. They might be 20 years old, but the quality is so good they’ll still have plenty of life left in them.
Selvedge Denim
Denim clothing has been around for decades, but selvage denim is something not many people realize is the “holy grail” of all denim. Selvage denim is simply denim that hasn’t been altered – not even washed. It’s raw denim that hasn’t even been exposed to water, which is why it shrinks when washed. You can spot selvage denim sometimes because it’s always a dark color.
If you want high-quality denim jeans, jackets, skirts, or overalls, you need items made with selvage denim. Because it’s untreated, it’s stronger, and jeans made with this denim can last for 50 years or more. The only problem is that this denim hasn’t been popular for a while, so it can be hard to find. Also, American-made selvedge denim is no longer an option, but brands are finding other resources.
If you can’t find brands that sell current styles using this denim, you can always find selvage denim at thrift stores.
Buy Quality Clothing from the Start
It’s disappointing when clothes fall apart, rip easily, get holes, or the seams start to unravel. To avoid this problem, buy quality clothing from the start. You’ll pay a little more upfront, but they won’t fall apart so soon, and you won’t have to replace them as often.
