Conscious CaringUpdated 5 months ago

Laundry alone accounts for roughly 30% of the carbon footprint of clothing. Did you know that by making conscious choices on how you care for your tights, you can reduce their environmental impact by saving energy and water usage, and increase their lifespan. 

Clevercare® is an initiative by GINETEX - the international association for textile care labelling - which provides useful tips on how to care for fabrics the clever way, by caring for our planet and extending the lifespan of garments. Below are conscious care tips in line with the Clevercare® initiative. For more information on Clevercare®, you can check out their website here: https://www.clevercare.info/en. 

Here are some conscious care tips - these are simple changes to your laundry habits that can help save energy and water - reducing your impact on the environment.

1. Wash less frequently

• It is known that we tend to wash our clothes more often than needed. 
  
• Don’t wash your tights unnecessarily when they are not dirty. Washing less often will save water and energy.
  
• In between wears, it may be enough to simply air dry tights to freshen them. Most stains can be removed simply by spot cleaning.

2. Wash consciously 
   
   

• While our care label indicates that our tights are machine washable, you can opt to hand wash them using cold water.
• If you choose to machine wash your tights in a wash bag, make sure the load is full, use cold water, and eco mode if possible. Also, avoid using more detergent than necessary.
• Dry cleaning is not indicated for your tights so avoid this washing method. Solvents used in regular dry cleaning can have harmful consequences on the environment.  

3. Dry consciously

• While our tights can be machine-dried, air drying is better for the environment and helps prolong the life of your tights
• The best way to dry your tights is to lay them flat on a dry towel, roll them up to remove extra water, unroll the towel and let the tights dry flat. Hanging your tights is less optimal as it can stretch the fabric
• If you choose to machine dry your tights in the wash bag, use the lowest temperature setting and don’t tumble dry for longer than necessary. Strong heat and prolonged drying can accelerate the wearing of your tights. 

4. Repurpose / Upcycle

• While our tights are very durable, they are not eternal. When they are no longer wearable, instead of disposing of them, consider repurposing them to extend their life cycle.

Here are some examples:

• Cleaning: use them as cleaning rags or to dust blinds
• Gardening: Use them as giant elastic ties to attach branches to plant tutors
• Scented bag: Make lavender bags to store in your drawers
• Vegetable storage: store your onions, garlic and other root vegetables, making a knot between each vegetable
• Stretching band: use them as exercise or stretching bands
• Hair ties