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the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Kokubunji, 2022.06.08

I watched a Youtube video about the textiles industry. It's now so wasteful that 10% of all clothing produced globally is simply never worn. And the average garment that is actually purchased is only worn seven times before it's discarded. As I write this, I'm wearing a shirt I've had at least three years, and probably more than five, meaning I've likely worn it thirty to fifty times. So, for every shirt I have like this, there are an absolute tsunami of shirts worn one to six times. Depressing!

Here's the video.

And here's a great comment:

Дмитро Стасюк

8 months ago

I was raised in what is called 'Soviet clothing culture'. In Soviet Union when people bought clothes, at first they were used as their holiday clothes - something to go out on a weekend, on a date, etc. After some usage, same clothes became their casual wear to go to their work. Then, when the clothes had become to look too worn out, they could become wearable at home, whre there is no need for a cool dress. Then they could become the clothes to do some work which implies dirt - like gardening of DIY fixing something. And after all the same clothes could be turned into rags and used to clean your house. Despite there is no such scarcity in consumer gooods now, I still find this clothing culture to be the most rational way to treat clothes and still have some really old shirts in use.

rand()m quote

It's difficult in times like these: ideals, dreams and cherished hopes rise within us, only to be crushed by grim reality. It's a wonder I haven't abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.

—Anne Frank