What are you supposed to do with old clothes? • Hacker News Board

Re: What are you supposed to do with old clothes?

#171

Post by lodi » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 4:21 PM UTC

akeck wrote: post #134

1vuio0pswjnm7 wrote: post #115

"The garment industry has a vested interest in ensuring that the rest of us think of clothing as disposable, or at least mutable. This is especially true of fast-fashion companies, but it's also true for luxury brands, even if they market their products with the promise that they'll last a lifetime." Responsible journalism. +1 Currently trying out some "guaranteed for life" hiking socks made in Vermont. No doubt some…

Does anyone know of a Darn Tough Socks equivalent for blue jeans? I only get 6 months - 2 years out of mine.

I like Origin Jeans: https://originmaine.com/durable-goods/bottom-game/factory-de...

Super robust, proper pockets, good fit, triple stitched, enough flex to squat in, etc. Twice what I normally would pay for jeans but ended up being totally worth it. But you do have to get used to the heavy denim feel and they'll never be as breathable as disintegrate-in-two-years jeans.

Re: What are you supposed to do with old clothes?

#172

Post by Ahmedb » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 9:11 PM UTC

In my country we give them to people with lesser means on the streets. When the winter season gets close some people will start collecting clothes to bring them to people living in the mountains

Re: What are you supposed to do with old clothes?

#173

Post by kenned3 » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 10:17 PM UTC

staticman2 wrote: post #168

kenned3 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to question those large "boxes" and their true motives. Homeless People have literally DIED trying to get things out of the bins. If the goal is to get the clothing to those who need it, why build the bins in such a way that removal is impossible? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/cambridge-... "At least seven Canadians have died after getting stuck in clothing donation bins, and the latest fat…

Wouldn't the goal of the bin be to stop someone from selling the items in the bin?

How do you know they intended to sell them? Read the article, they were homeless.. i'd guess they were looking for something to stay warm in an uncomfortable Canadian winter?

I thought the "goal" of the bin was go put used clothing in the hands of those who need it?

Re: What are you supposed to do with old clothes?

#174

Post by staticman2 » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 10:25 PM UTC

kenned3 wrote: post #173

staticman2 wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn't the goal of the bin be to stop someone from selling the items in the bin?

How do you know they intended to sell them? Read the article, they were homeless.. i'd guess they were looking for something to stay warm in an uncomfortable Canadian winter? I thought the "goal" of the bin was go put used clothing in the hands of those who need it?

What I meant is, from the point of view of the creator of the bin, locking the bin prevents a criminal from taking all the donations meant for homeless people.

If the charity leaves it unlocked they have no control over whether donations go to somebody who needs charity.

Re: What are you supposed to do with old clothes?

#175

Post by 1vuio0pswjnm7 » Fri, Aug 12, 2022, 5:00 AM UTC

1vuio0pswjnm7 wrote: post #115

"The garment industry has a vested interest in ensuring that the rest of us think of clothing as disposable, or at least mutable. This is especially true of fast-fashion companies, but it's also true for luxury brands, even if they market their products with the promise that they'll last a lifetime." Responsible journalism. +1 Currently trying out some "guaranteed for life" hiking socks made in Vermont. No doubt some…

https://grist.org/business-technology/2011-11-11-is-your-stu...

Re: What are you supposed to do with old clothes?

#176

Post by michaelgrafl » Fri, Aug 12, 2022, 3:38 PM UTC

anon291 wrote: post #137

michaelgrafl wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately many parents pass on really shrill and tasteless clothes made from cheap synthetic fabric. If you care about esthetics and teaching your children about style and materials, trading clothes becomes much more difficult. Flea markets turned out to be a much better source for fantastic old clothes, but require more time and at least some money. However, with three children who inherit their older siblings c…

> However, with three children who inherit their older siblings clothes, many pieces don't survive the third iteration of wear and tear. Wow those cheap synthetics passed down among countless generations at church sure look good then.

You mean they look intact. I'm pretty sure they don't look good.

Re: What are you supposed to do with old clothes?

#177

Post by michaelgrafl » Fri, Aug 12, 2022, 3:48 PM UTC

stevekemp wrote: post #145

michaelgrafl wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately many parents pass on really shrill and tasteless clothes made from cheap synthetic fabric. If you care about esthetics and teaching your children about style and materials, trading clothes becomes much more difficult. Flea markets turned out to be a much better source for fantastic old clothes, but require more time and at least some money. However, with three children who inherit their older siblings c…

Over the past few years I've been raising a child, and we bought literally nothing for the first two-three years. When he was born the government gave us a box of clothes, and accessories, and later neighbours gave us their children's old clothes too. But I find it fascinating that you talk about teaching children about style. Our child, like almost all the others I've seen, would just wear what they were given. When…

It's a question I can't answer. But I guess like most things it's a mix of nature and nurture.

My son's favorite t-shirt right now has a print of Sonic the hedgehog, because that's what he's playing on my Dreamcast.

But other that he prefer's toned down and restricted color combinations. And I often get compliments for well our children are dressed, although it's purely my wife's work.

It's sad that peer pressure starts as early as three years old. My oldest son used to like wearing light pink and dresses at that age, but only at home. Never at kindergarten.

My youngest son, now 2, says he wants to be a girl. Turns out he's envious of his sister wearing dresses. He also paints his nails when my wife forgets to hide her nail color well enough.

We mostly let them decide themselves as long as it's fit for the weather, and they usually do well.

Re: What are you supposed to do with old clothes?

#178

Post by DigitallyFidget » Fri, Aug 12, 2022, 5:19 PM UTC

trgn wrote: post #22

> There is simply no easy, universal guidance for the most Earth-friendly or hassle-free or socially good way for you to dispose of your old clothes But there is. In fact, the answer is right in the setup of the article. > For much of American history [...] most of the population considered the endless accumulation of material goods unseemly, Basically, don't buy so many clothes to begin with. And then you don't have…

Eventually you will have to dispose of old clothes as they start to get holes, tear, break seams, and just generally fall apart.

I still have shirts from over 15 years ago. I buy new clothes maybe once or twice a year at most. When it becomes too swiss-cheesed to wear in public anymore, I just use it as a rag/drying towel. I just recently bought all new socks and retired all the old ones to rags. When the rags are so oil stained, torn up, and useless, then I'll finally retire them to the trash.

I keep old ruined pants for patch material, too, since my pants are pretty much all the same few colours. Sewing is easy, you don't have to be good at it, if you can manage to get the thread through the needle eye and tie a secure knot, you've already done the hardest part of sewing. The rest is just pushing the needle back and forth through the material. Doesn't matter how sloppy the stitching looks, if it holds, it's good. Nobody is going to lean over, inspect it, and say, "You, sir, sew like an idiot." It really requires zero skill, just buy a cheap sewing kit that comes with thread and needles, and give it a go. Nylon thread is the best, IMO, because you can use a lighter to melt the thread into the fabric and then not have to worry about having a secure start and end knot that won't come loose.

Re: What are you supposed to do with old clothes?

#179

Post by racl101 » Fri, Aug 12, 2022, 7:04 PM UTC

thomasahle wrote: post #52

racl101 wrote: post #16

As a guy who has always worn hand-me-downs in child hood and teenage years I wear my clothes out until they are no longer wearable. So I just convert them into rags or toss them in the trash once they have too many tears.

Along those lines, I also like to have my clothes repaired when they get the first tear or two. That usually adds a couple of years to their lives, and it costs way less money and effort than buying new clothes. (Perhaps depending on how much you usually pay for your clothes.)

Yeah me too. I got a few jogging pants that I've patched up a few times. Nothing wrong with them except for the hole in the crotch.

Re: What are you supposed to do with old clothes?

#180

Post by gatestore » Fri, Aug 12, 2022, 7:59 PM UTC

This is the latin american flowchart of old clothes

Clothes to go out -> Clothes to use only at home -> Sleepwear -> Kitchen cloth

https://www.tiktok.com/@celessalas/video/6951157711803354373...