Spending hours on Instagram and featured websites on them. Exposing myself to late night shopping therapy on new trends that you “must-have” got my monthly budget overspent on fashion. I love them -> click a picture -> upload -> 1000+ likes -> then what? Do I wear them again? Common, I cant click pictures in the same outfit again!!!
So I started investing in the lower-priced product but high on fashion to keep myself refreshed.However, does purchasing of garments at less expensive costs or purchasing an item on sale makes you a savvy purchaser?
The best way to answer the above is by calculating CPW (Cost Per Wear)
The total amount paid for the product/the number of times you wear it = CPW
Go ahead!!! Figure whats the CPW of the top you are wearing at this moment and remark on the article beneath.
Yet, CPW is a serious troublesome count in the event that you see it… When do you realize you have arrived at the most extreme use over a garment
Suppose this top is INR 800. Calculating the CPW was 800/10 times worn = INR 80 used. To achieve a full usage value you have or in other words to use each penny spent requires me to wear this 800 times!
🤷🏻♀️ is that even possible?
Doubtlessly not!! So how do we say that each product is maximum used.Considering the depreciation factor and other accidental circumstance.The theory surely doesn’t add up.
We need an average! At-least a pre-defined average to ensure that the garments brought is a sustainable choice.After a tons of exploration, I came across the 30 wear rule.This 30 wear rule could be a valuable CPW supporting tool which will help in determining the righteousness of the cloth to be a part of your wardrobe.
The 30 wear rule was delivered by Livia Firth Co-founder of Eco Age.A sustainable fashionista who spreads her voice on sustainable lifestyle.In her world famous documentary of true cost.She mentioned what was called the 30 wear rule. In simple words a set of thought process before buying a particular cloth and they are:
- Are you going to wear this for more than 30 times?
- Are you going to wear it after 6 months?
- Is it going to survive 30 washes?
This 3 questions can definitely make you a smart buyer.
So CPW may not give you the perfect usage value, however it creates a huge impact in your buying decision.I brainstormed on this very concept to understand how it can be useful for me when I go out to buy something.
CPW MAJOR ROLES:
1 ) Comparative analysis: Quality VS Quantity
Suppose you have to buy a pair of jeans. You either want to have 2 pairs of jeans of INR 700+ INR 700 = INR 1400 which does sounds like a woolaah offer.A high on quantity but a low on quality !! and then there is 1 pair jeans that is of high on price INR 4000 and high on quality So which one do you go for?
Now lets calculate the CPW to see which is the smart buy option?
As the above suggest, the right sustainable way of purchasing is investing high on the quality product rather low on quality product.High on quantity does not only devalues your wardrobe but also leads to overflowing of things that you do not really require.
2) Comparative Analysis: Where to Invest more?
This is the most important aspect of fashion.Where should I invest more cash? Is it on cloths? Is it on Bags? Or is it on Stiletto? The answer provided by CPW made so much sense.
A high priced bag is any day a better investment than investing on cloths or stilletos. As footwear have a very low longevity where as cloths never stay in fashion for long.But a bag is your friend!! Investing high amount for a good quality of bag can be your best friend forever, and trust me. bags never go out of fashion!!! so hell yeah!!! go buy that Gucci you have eyed on for long.
3) Comparative Analysis: Party wear or regular t-shirt?
We often get this part wrong!! and CPW says a hell noo on investing on party wear! And its the mare truth!!!
There is no better explanation than the image above.
This three clothing behaviour can make a huge difference in not only your overflowing wardrobe but also in the global clothing wastage in the year.In my previous blog I had documented the disastrous effects of our fashion.If you haven’t checked that out check it out now. A CPW way of buying behavior could make a difference.
I made the same mistakes as you earlier! after purchasing my cloth from the sale, I wear it a few times approximately 7 or 8 times. Then I start using them as the night wears because, hey!! I paid for it. And then what again? Its time to get it rid of them for my new ins.
2000 women in the UK were surveyed to conclude exactly the number of times a single piece of cloth was worn by them. Surprisingly the average was 7. And looking at this shocking number I thought to myself how many times do I wear a single piece of cloth! And guess what. Apart from the daily white and black t-shirt, it is not more than 7.
So I dare you now! The cloth you are wearing right now! How many times have you worn it before?
Comment below with your number!
If its more than 30 times, pat yourself at the back!! I call you my sustainable buddy!!!
Through this entire lecture on where and how to spend !!! My motive is to help you become a logical buyer!
Make sure your wardrobe contains more on the “mix-it-up cloths” and less of the “once in a while” ones.These few tips on conscious buying will make a huge impact on your styling habits and creative dressing. You don’t have to wear exactly what that blogger wore! You just need to understand the pattern and follow.
P.S “Fashion fades, style is eternal”- by Yves Saint Laurent
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