Think luxury fashion is out of your reach? Think again! Kat van Duinen explains why paying more for staples pays off in the long run.
1 Do the fashion math
Throwaway fashion may be cheap but it’s extremely costly in the long run. Typically, these pieces only last a few weeks – maybe one season at best. They either date very quickly or the quality is too low to last longer. On the contrary, a well-made, genuine wool coat should last years while a luxury handbag will never go out of style. Divide your spend on an investment item like this over the number of years it will last you – you’ll find it’s often more economical than constantly buying and replacing more “affordable” pieces.
2 Be kind to our environment
Fast fashion can be incredibly costly on the environment. Cheap plastics pour chemicals into our soil and water systems, and can’t biodegrade. Genuine leather and natural fibre items, on the other hand, are much more gentle on our earth during production, last longer and are biodegradable.
3 Consider the human cost
One of the reasons local fashion can be more expensive is because many local designers have actively chosen to support South Africa’s fashion industry, which raises their costs. We have fair minimum wages, better working conditions and lots of talented but unemployed craftsmen in South Africa – we should be employing these people instead of paying to run a sweatshop overseas. My studio is local, which means my costs are much higher than if I were to import from China, Bangladesh or India, but when you buy my pieces, you’re investing in our communities and helping to pay someone’s school fees or rent. That’s difficult to put a price on.
If you want to look good without spending a fortune, check out these 5 tips for creating a fashionable wardrobe on a tight budget.
