6 simple ways to save money and upcycle your clothes amid the cost-of-living crisis

Kathryn Shuttleworth, Managing Director of ethical school uniform provider David Luke, provides her top tips on how you can save money upcycling and repairing your clothes whilst faced with the cost-of-living crisis.

With 3.1 million tons of textile waste going into landfills each year and the cost-of-living crisis creating financial pressures for many, the luxury of buying a new dress or shirt seems somewhat less of a priority.

Therefore, David Luke has put together their top tips on how to maintain and upcycle your looks in the most cost-effective and sustainable way. So, whether you consider yourself to be a style connoisseur or someone who just wants to make the most out of their wardrobe you can continue to do so affordably.

6 Top Tips to Save Money on Clothes 

     1. Repair

Often, we’re too quick to throw away clothes at the first sign of wear and tear. We’re all guilty of it. However, whether you have access to a sewing machine or just a trusty old needle and thread you can easily repair lost buttons, fallen hems and holes formed on your favourite items.

       2. Swap & Sell

Nowadays there are hundreds of sites such as Vinted, Depop, and eBay where you can buy and sell your second-hand clothing online. These can be great places to pick up some new staple pieces for your wardrobe as well as earn you some money in exchange for preloved clothing. It’s a win win.

      3. Thrifting

Over the past couple of years, thrifting has become an increasingly popular way to revamp your wardrobe on a budget – seeing an 86% search increase for ‘clothing thrift shops near me’ over the last 12 months. If you’re willing to do a little bit of digging, there are some hidden gems to be found and upcycled.

      4. Upcycle

With TikTok and YouTube at your disposal, people are producing more creative and innovative ways to make the most out of your pre-loved wardrobe. Did you know you can extend the life of trousers by turning them into shorts for the summer? What about a top? With some simple hemming, ankle-skimming trousers can be given a new lease of life.

       5. Spread the Cost

If you’re shopping online, look out for credit options such as Klarna and Clear Pay, which can help spread the cost of buying new clothing.

       6. Maintain

Ever shrunk your favourite jumper or turned white socks pink? Just imagine how much more wear we could have out of clothes if we took just 2 minutes to read and understand the care labels of our clothes. David Luke has created a laundry guide to help simplify and explain the labels which so often get looked over.

Kathryn Shuttleworth, Managing Director at David Luke, comments; “With the cost of living becoming increasingly expensive for the average household, buying and selling clothes sustainably and embracing a ‘Love it, Fix it, Swap it’ approach has never been more important.

Being able to upcycle and repair existing wardrobes not only helps to reduce our environmental footprint significantly but can also be a fun and cost-effective way to re-fresh our wardrobes. Nowadays, with social media platforms and online tutorials at our fingertips there are so many fun and innovative ways in which pre-loved items can become a new and exciting item of clothing without the cost of buying new.”