More and more Romanians say that they have come to buy clothes less and less often, to give up impulsive purchases and prefer to keep, for years in a row, their favorite clothing items. This habit also has a positive side in terms of protecting the environment, which often goes unnoticed.
Romania went through periods when, for many Romanians, good clothes were a luxury, and the same pair of shoes was worn until there was nothing left of it.
Years when good clothes were a luxury
Boots and slippers were kept in families, worn by older brothers and then passed on to younger brothers, and shoemaking and tailoring workshops were commonly frequented by locals. Sometimes, poverty weighed heavily on the essential needs of many Romanians.
A letter from 1946, preserved in the village of Alun in the Forest Land, reveals the difficulties the locals had even in purchasing a pair of shoes.
“I am the only child of my parents, my father is more sick and old. He can no longer work the little wealth I have. I, with the salary I receive from this town hall, cannot live or buy a measure of corn, compared to today’s dearness. Although I have been appointed to the post of communal collector for five years, I have not received a single draw from the collections made, breaking my boots in vain and remaining in the present barefoot; to buy other boots I have to work for 5-6 months”, wrote the official Bănuţ Herban, in a letter addressed to the local mayor’s office, in which he submitted his resignation.
Other locals from Tinutul Pădurenilor say that one of the reasons why their parents and grandparents worked in the iron mines in the area was because they received boots, a luxury footwear in the mid-20th century.
The abundance of offers creates other problems
Eight decades later, Romania no longer knows such shortages, and the purchase of clothes and shoes is within everyone’s reach.
From clothes for a few lei in second-hand shops to luxury products in malls, the fashion industry offers a wide and diverse range, which sometimes raises other problems. Impulse buying is a phenomenon often viewed with concern because of the additional costs it brings to consumers.
At the same time, research carried out in recent years has focused on the impact that the wardrobe has on the environment. Every stage in the life cycle of clothing and footwear, from their manufacture to their use and subsequent disposal, leaves its mark on the climate and natural resources, scientists show.
Most often, society’s attention has focused on how clothes are produced and how textile waste is managed. But the way they are used and maintained is essential to reducing the impact on the environment, say the authors of a study published in Ireland, entitled “Exploring practices that can encourage the maximum sustainable use of clothing.”
Research by Helen Maguire and Frances Fahy shows that the majority of Irish people interviewed were not aware of their own behaviors related to the wearing and care of clothes and did not consider the impact their actions may have on the environment.
“Barriers and enablers of sustainable clothing consumption have been identified, such as the influence of social media on the repeated wearing of the same items, the widespread disregard of clothing care labels and the considerable acceptability of wearing second-hand clothing. Bringing these practices to the fore has a positive potential for improving the sustainability of clothing wear and care in the future.”concluded the authors of the study.
Increasing the use of each product and reducing the number of manufactured items are essential to reducing the climate and environmental impact, another scientific research related to the textile industry shows.
Without pretending that they are motivated by the desire to protect the environment, by buying less clothes or keeping the same clothing items for long periods, many Romanians reported on social media platforms that they got used to buying clothes less and less. The main cause remains the “closet full” and the feeling that, once bought, the clothes end up forgotten on the hangers and on the shelves.
Romanians, be more careful about new clothes
The message of a young man who claims that he will try not to buy clothes for a year has caused many reactions on the Reddit platform.
“I’ve collected quite a lot of clothes over the years and I don’t think I’d have a problem with not buying anything for a year. It’s not just the financial part, but I’ve literally filled my closet to the brim. I’ve realized that I have clothes that I’ve never worn or I’ve worn a maximum of three times.”he reported.
Other Romanians told that they got used to buying clothes only when they feel they need them, donating the old items they no longer need.
“I work in the mall, and 90 percent of people simply buy. Many say to me: “Ma’am, if you knew how many I have at home…”. In the shoe store where I work, many products start at 500 lei and up, but people buy them. And I think they would buy even if it cost 2,000 lei.” says a Romanian woman.
Other Romanians notice that, in recent years, consumerism – that is, the phenomenon of buying more than is needed – is influencing more and more people. “Since the Revolution, that’s all we do: we buy,” adds one of them.
Shoes are no longer bought just to be worn, but to be collected, another observes.
“I also buy expensive shoes, but I take care to maintain them. My winter boots cost me 500 lei eight years ago and, with a little care, I have used them to this day.” he states.
Many Romanians claim that they have kept regular clothes for over two years, but have only worn them a few times.
“I smiled the other day when I pulled a sweatshirt out of my closet to go for a run and realized I’ve had it for 15 years, from when I was in college.” completes an Internet user.
Another claims that he hasn’t bought clothes in over a year, but has made heavy use of the items he received from relatives on various occasions.
“When I can no longer wear them outside, I wear them in the house. When they break or get holes, no one can see me anyway, they have ventilation, they are good to wear around the house in the summer. When they completely break down, I throw them away. If I gain weight, I make them smaller to fit. If they are too small for me, I give them to my younger brother.” writes a young man.
With age, the desire to buy new clothes fades, someone else thinks.
“I’d like to have a pair of sneakers that will last me 20 years, wear the same three fleeces in the winter that are comfortable. When clothes are just clothes, you don’t need a lot.” add this one.
Other Romanians say that they rely on quality and, for this reason, are reluctant to shop offers. They consider it unnecessary to fill their closets with cheap clothes, which they will not wear.
“If I exclude the fact that I got new boots, because the old ones broke, I haven’t bought anything new in the last year. I don’t need: if I have too many clothes, I don’t know what to wear.” says someone else.
Fewer clothes in the closet, easier choices
A Romanian states that he has been trying for several years to buy only necessary things.
“I go by the following rule: fix what I can, donate what I don’t wear anymore and it’s in good condition, and… I was even thinking of taking up crocheting and unraveling the older sweaters, which I rarely wear, to make various accessories or blankets out of them.” add this one.
A young woman says that all her clothes fit in four drawers, and although she sees many items she likes in stores, she knows she doesn’t need them.
“Wearing the same things for a long time and having fewer options also creates a certain identity. In the family I am the person who wears a lot of green. Also, psychologically speaking, the more you reduce your mental load at home, of making choices upon choices every day, the more relaxed you will be.” believe this.
Another Romanian says that he has several clothes and pairs of shoes that he uses in rotation, and another says that every time he buys a new coat, he discards an old one.
“I haven’t bought clothes in over a year (apart from socks and underwear). I also donated more than half of the clothes I had because they were taking up so much space. I had so many clothes I forgot what I bought, and a lot of them were new.” someone else adds.
Some Romanians say they have been wearing the same clothes for years, since high school.
“I don’t buy new clothes until they start to get holes and disintegrate on me as I walk. The ones I don’t wear anymore and just sit in the closet I don’t dare throw away because I can’t stand buying clothes.” says someone else.
