If I challenged you to wear the same dress for 100 days in a row, could you do it?
I did it. 100 days straight wearing the same dress.
I took up a challenge to: “Live simply, consume carefully and do good.”
That’s the motto of an American company Wooland, which uses Australian merino wool to create durable, breathable, odour-resistant sustainable garments.
Live Simply – More stuff doesn’t equal more happiness.
Consume carefully -Thoughtfully building a “quality over quantity” capsule wardrobe.
Do good -Together, leaving this world better than we found it.
Australians buy almost 15kg of clothes every year and most of it ends up in landfill, report finds. Australians buy 14.8kg of clothing, or 56 new items, every year, a new report has found, making Australia one of the highest consumers of textiles per capita in the world. 20 July 2022
Of course, you do wash it! [anticipating your question]
Being a fine merino wool dress, you can launder it easily, and it has the bonus of drying fast. You can wash the garment overnight and have it ready to wear again, the following morning.
It’s odour-resistant, so there isn’t the need to wash the item anywhere near as frequently as other pieces of clothing. Especially stretch fabric man-made fabrics that hold odours. You can wear this fine merino wool dress for a surprising number of days without washing, and there is no smell. That’s the benefit of wool. A natural fibre.
I loved it.
Less Washing is better for the Environment, and your clothes last longer.
Plus, this is a socially responsible company –
The packaging is plastic-free, being made from post-consumer waste.
Buying this dress will not save the planet;
But owning less is the most effective way to reduce our individual footprints, and [Wooland is] founded on the idea that women get more out of life when they have fewer things. We say own less, own better.We think Merino wool is the key to owning less clothing, since it remains fresher for longer compared to other fibers.
We also want to help break the pattern of buying clothes we never wear! Instead, we want to make the most worn item in your closet. [Wooland]
I tend to agree!
Australian Merino Wool
This company uses:
Wool from Australian farms that follow recognized standards relating to animal welfare and eco-friendly land management practices. Through the International Wool Textile Organization, we’re able certify and trace our wool purchase to a specific farm that meets our values in sustainability. We’ve recently partnered with the family-owned Ashmore Station, based in South Australia. [Wooland]
The farm is specifically focused on improving energy efficiencies, land conservation, and biodiversity.
Wool Clothing and Carbon Footprint
I found hand-washing the dress and draping it over a clothes hanger to dry, meant I didn’t even have to iron it!
Winning!
25% of a garment’s carbon footprint comes from its lifespan of care (washing, drying, dry-cleaning), and all that cleaning takes a toll on the garment itself.
Wearing wool means wearing a garment that requires less time, money, energy, and materials to maintain. Wool can be washed less and should be washed less.
The company says “way less,” and suggests spot-cleaning your garment unless otherwise necessary.
AEG Arabia (a premier appliance manufacturer) says that
“90% of the clothes we wash aren’t dirty enough to justify being machine washed. We know habits are hard to break, and laundry is one of them. Still, we encourage our customers to re-evaluate how and when they wash their clothes since wool excels at evaporating sweat, the breeding ground for bacteria that we associate with dirty laundry.”
What was the Downside of the 100 Day Dress Challenge?
Very little, if any.
Few people even commented that I was wearing the same dress!
Benefits of A Capsule Wardrobe
*I enjoyed not having to plan out what I was going to wear the next day, I knew. I didn’t have to co-ordinate two pieces together – the majority of my wardrobe.
*I could have fun accessorizing and working out different ways to wear the same dress. Somedays I would wear something over it, wear it as an underlayer, tuck it into a skirt making a top, or just accessorize with scarfs. And I have hundreds of scarfs from around the world. Prior to my self-imposed scarf ban, I used to think one could never have too many scarfs. Now I had the perfect use for all of them.
Once I completed the 100 days, I then qualified for $100 off my next purchase at Wooland and chose a t-shirt and a sleeveless wool dress.
In case you want to know, I have not worn these items exactly every day since the challenge expired, but they have become my favourite wardrobe item.
The t-shirt is perfect for exercising, yet keeps me sun safe and the dress is super smart casual and just in time for summer in Australia.
I will continue to downsize to a capsule wardrobe – a downsized version of my former wardrobe. I have already culled, given away, donated, recycled, upcycled and re-invented purposes for some of my older clothes. One top I had in my wardrobe for over 15 years and it was worn – a lot.
Wool is the Perfect Climate-Controlling Fabric
One particularly unseasonably hot day I actually changed into the dress and out of a skimpy synthetic t-Shirt, I had been sweating in whilst out walking. To my astonishment, the wool dress was cooler to my skin than the sleeveless synthetic top with bare shoulders!
Here’s the surprising part of wool’s thermal properties: wool keeps you cool in warm climates too. Lightweight wool garments breathe and wick moisture away from the skin, keeping the wearer cool, even in humid climates.
More than any other material, merino wool is a performance fiber. We love it for its wearability and its ability to go extra days between washing (even 100 days!). But merino wool has a myriad of other benefits including wrinkle- and odor-resistance, personal climate control, and of course, it’s naturally renewable. [Wooland]
Here are some reasons anyone should give it a try:
Learn how to get more wear out of a garment (e.g. when you spill on your dress, you’ll immediately take action to clean it since you’re wearing it again tomorrow!).
Recognize what you need and don’t need in your wardrobe.
Realize that your clothing isn’t what defines you (have you heard of the spotlight effect? It’s a phenomenon in which people tend to believe they are being noticed more than they really are.)
Have more money to spend on experiences with the people that make you the happiest.
Reduce your impact on the planet when you realize you don’t need a closet packed full of clothing.
Would I embark on another challenge?
For sure. But you can only do the 100-day challenge once with Wooland.com
We don’t need more clothes, we need better clothes.
For a country of 23 million people, Australia is the 2nd largest consumer of textiles per person in the world. A shameful stat. Almost half of Australians believe our country might actually rank between 6th – 12th in terms of textile consumption.
Fast fashion in Australia has become an addiction fuelled by cheap imported clothing manufactured in Third World countries or China. Multi-nationals produce so much clothing at such low prices even workers on the minimum wage could afford to change up their wardrobe as often as they might check their email inbox.
Rather than support companies exploring child labour or textile workers who are similar to contemporary slaves earning pitiful amounts for long hours of work, I would much prefer to support more ethically conscious industries and those that are environmentally aware.
1 in 3 garments produced ends up in landfill – unsold!
Citizen Wolfe – Australia
The donations of used clothing does not prevent textiles from entering landfill. Despite 83% of Australians donating unwanted or damaged clothes to charity, 14% of those charity donations end up in landfills.
For every 1 kg of used textiles that are diverted from landfill, 3-4 kg of greenhouse gases may be prevented from entering the atmosphere.
This year I have been working hard to reduce, recycle and re-use. The mantra for the 21st century.
I send my used textiles to a company that purposefully recycles them – e.g. Upparel which has to date diverted 731,137 kg of textile waste preventing 2,924,548 kg of gases.
I refuse to buy cheap t-shirts that lose their shape after two washes, even if they are cheaper than buying a salad sandwich. I refuse to buy new t-shirts at all now.
I question new clothing purchases:
Do I really need another cheap cardigan in another colour?
Another pair of leggings for yoga?
Newer Sweatpants that aren’t covered in ‘piling’?
The answer is NO. I don’t.
Day 1 of the 100 day Dress Challenge from Wool &
100 Day Challenge Wearing Merino Wool
For the past 47 days, I’ve been participating in a dress challenge at the company called Wooland.com – that is, I have committed to wearing the same merino wool dress (washing it overnight every few days of course), for 100 consecutive days. Being odour-resistant, quick-drying and comfy, it has not been a problem to wash it overnight, to change up my outfits around the dress, layering under or over it as needs and weather dictates.
I am so happy with this purchase that I hope will last me many years.
In developing new combinations of existing clothes, I find I haven’t doubled up on any combinations so far, using different tops, cardis and jumpers to prevent repetition.
That is, I have not worn the same outfit combination with the dress twice. This keeps my interest level in the challenge. ie. I have not become bored with wearing the dress and I really like the creative aspect with accessories, but it does present a problem.
This challenge had made me acutely aware of how many clothes are in my existing wardrobe. The challenge screams at me that I have way too many clothes for what I need. This is indulgent and not environmentally friendly or ethical.
I think I hear murmuring in agreement.
Capsule Wardrobes
Admittedly, certain clothes do get a good run with me. One shirt in my wardrobe is over ten years old and another is almost 17 years old. I tend to buy timeless, durable pieces, not trending high fashion that quickly dates. But… even so, I could get away with much much less.
Instead of chucking out half my items to create a smaller capsule wardrobe, which would contribute to landfills, I want to find an alternative that is more environmentally friendly.
A Second Life for Old Clothing
I intend to re-use unwanted fabrics to
Make new items from old – cutting down a maxi skirt to a mini skirt or tank top
Making a rag rug or quilts from scraps
Taking the fabric/scraps to a sewing group to make free recycled bags for the community to replace plastics
Making t-shirt yarn from older stretched t-shirts
Using excess textiles as paint or cleaning rags instead of buying paper towel and chux
Re-purposing unwanted clothes for little children or babies
Making dog coats or bandanas for fur-babies
Offering to friends or relatives who might wear them
Upcycle via a textile recycling program at Zara, H&M etc.
What do you do with your unwanted clothes and textiles?
Have you got an idea on how to re-use or re-purpose them?
Day 1 of 100 days has commenced with the arrival of theparcel.
Am I excited?
Hell yeah.
Will I still be excited in 100 days?
I reserve my judgement for now.
I have taken a bold step in accepting a challenge from Wooland, a company dedicated to promoting sustainable fashion and making women’s lives easier. The challenge runs over 100 consecutive days and it involves wearing the same garment for 100 days and documenting the process.
Why?
Our aim is to design the most practical, most wearable dress in your wardrobe.
The challenge rules mean I’m attempting to wear the same dress for around 8 hours a day, for 100 days, documenting the journey and styles, via a daily photograph. Photos that, ultimately, will be emailed to the company at the conclusion of the experiment.
If I can do that, I am eligible to claim a $100 credit at the Wool& web store. Keeping to the challenge for 100 days will be tricky but at this point, I’m determined.
My savvy shopper radar is activated and ready to go the distance!
Advantages of Wearing the Same Outfit for 100 days
Natural, breathable fibre clothing is way nicer, next to the skin, and to be honest, I am highly attracted by the benefit of a simplified morning routine, making “what to wear” the easiest question of my day.
No daily indecision regarding what clothing co-ordinates with what; what is socially appropriate and if it looks good. (First world problems)
Saving water and less laundry – who’s against that?
Less ironing – wool is wrinkle resistant
Less use of chemical detergents in the waterways
Supporting a sustainable product – fine merino wool from a sheep’s back
Exercising creativity – inventing different styling options
Living with less overall
Reducing the impact on the planet
Wool is a performance fabric with remarkable odor-resistant properties. A few reasons why you’ll love wool.
Disadvantages of Wearing the Same Outfit for 100 days
Will I become bored?
Will I forget to document the challenge each day and miss the challenge benefits?
What if the dress become stained/damaged/stretch out of shape?
Will it dry in time for me to wear again the following day?
It has taken around eight weeks for this dress to arrive, such is the demand and popularity for this product, made with fine merino fabric, (and a small part in nylon).
I’ve chosen a very practical black style with short sleeves for durability. With winter approaching, there is less chance of me sweating in the tropical heat.
Being somewhat of a germophobe, and Covid and all, the issue of washing the dress infrequently does play on my mind.
Because I won’t be sitting at a desk for 100 days. I’ll be out and about.
Furthermore, I am reminded by the company marketing speels, that wool is not just breathable and naturally soft, wrinkle-resistant, it dries quickly, making keeping the dress clean fairly simple.
And that is part of the point.
Wash less. Do we really need to wash clothing if it isn’t smelly and dirty? Aren’t we trying hard to be sustainable in terms of reducing water use, chemicals in the waterway and keeping clothing durable but smart-looking?
Countdown to Thursday, 4 August 2022
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days
hours minutes seconds
until
100 Day Dress Challenge
Could you wear the same garment each day for 100 days?
Something to Ponder About 