How to Care for Your Sustainable Men's T-Shirts and Make Them Last

Looking to transition to sustainable slow fashion? After all, fast fashion is the second largest polluting industry after oil and gas.

So maybe you have bought a few sustainable t-shirts. Now you are wondering what’s next.

Well, buying ethical and low-impact clothing is just the first step.

The true impact of a product depends on its entire lifecycle.

This means that from the sourcing of the raw materials to its making, and what happens when the product is discarded, all play a role. And the best way to make your clothes sustainable?

Is to make sure they stay in circulation for a long time.

The way to sustainable fashion, my guy, is paved with the needles and threads of care, mending, and repair. Your sustainable men’s t-shirt will last longer if you walk this path thus saving you money too. And who doesn’t like a little extra in the wallet, huh?

But before we heat up these imaginary pots of soup, let’s learn how to take care of our sustainable t-shirts for men.

While we spoke about the needles and threads of repair, the path begins with taking proper care of your organic cotton or hemp t-shirts. You must follow the washing instructions religiously.

Follow the Care Instructions for Your Sustainable Clothing

Do not mix different fabrics with polyester based ones, as the friction can harm the clothes and make them lose lustre. Try to avoid over washing, when possible, opt for sun-drying instead. But do not let hygiene suffer at the hands of a green life. If the -shirt does not come up with washing instructions, you can look at the fabric composition and how to care for those fabrics. For example, organic cotton clothing needs to be sorted by colour and washed in cool water. Among other things.

Usually, fabric softener is not considered sustainable and some say that it can damage your clothing, as can harsh detergents. I personally prefer herbal detergents due to my sensitive skin, but many use soapnuts and laundry sheets to be greener.

Just as there are washing instructions, directions are available for ironing and drying of sustainable clothing. Especially keep in mind that if your t-shirt is printed, the iron does not fall directly on the print. It is often advised to put a handkerchief on the print and iron that instead.

Carefully storing your eco-clothes is a good idea too.

But what happens when your t-shirt rips or a button falls off?

Mend, Mend, Mend.

That’s when the needles and threads come out. Stitching and repairing can be done yourself or you can take your clothes to a tailor to be mended. For larger rips, I use patches that can be added over the rip. This gives your shirts a whole new look as well.

Do you have any tips on how to care for and mend your clothes? Let us know in the comments.

And if you are still looking for a green or organic cotton t-shirt? Our Better Planet has tons of sustainable and conventional cotton clothing options for men, women, and all others genders. Check us out, maybe?