2021 was another Corona, and knitting in front of Zoom, year. Indeed, I managed to knit two sweaters, a pair of socks and sewed two tops and a dress for myself. In addition, I again inherited clothes from family (7 items). So, in total, 13 items entered my wardrobe despite the no shopping commitment. However, I really didn’t buy any clothes at all, in essence a good no shopping year. Although, on the shoe side (that is not included in my wardrobe count), I bought two pairs of second hand boots via Sellpy. Super cheap and useful. I was very lucky that they actually fit.
In terms of items leaving the wardrobe, I wore out 6 items and gave away 7 items that I bought as young (too short skirts and the like). So a total of 13 items left the wardrobe. Subtracting items going out from items going in, this year my wardrobe went plus minus 0 items. At the end of the year I still had 528 items in the wardrobe. Over the last five years, however, I’ve reduced the wardrobe with ca -23 items. 23 items less in the wardrobe is quite a significant decrease. Still, the wardrobe feels really full.
At five years of no shopping, I am starting to miss certain things that I have worn out over the years. I would rather like to sew some replacements for these items. However, I don’t really have that much time to sew. In contrast, I knit far too many wool sweaters (who needs two new wool sweaters during a year?). It’s much easier to get time to knit since you can do it anywhere (e.g. bus and train knitting). As I have blogged about before, the climate impact of these handknitted sweaters is in fact low. So this is an indulgence I will continue to allow. I actually parted with one of my first knits, a Siri cardigan that went to my sister, just so that I can knit a new one. I love to knit the Siri cardigan.
On the mending side, I spent a total of 3 hours mending clothes last year. It seems to be the average. Maybe I only need 3 hours a year. It was only my first year of no-shopping that I spent much more time mending since mending was a new ambition at the time and I had a backlog. Of course, after five years of mending, the need for mending is much lower. I don’t even have a mending pile at home anymore. I used to have two big piles.
As for dry cleaning and shoe repair, I spent a record low sum of 1050 SEK. This is likely an effect of Corona since it’s mostly party wear that requires dry cleaning. With fewer parties – less need for dry cleaning.
So, will I continue another year? Of course I will. No clothes shopping is a habit at this point. If I can sew two or three items this year, it would be great and add some novelty. But as I have 500+ items in the wardrobe I am sure I would manage without it too.
Anyone else doing no clothes shopping or similar? Would love to hear how it’s going!
And if you want to know how the no clothes shopping commitment started back in 2017, this is when I made the commitment.