FROM SHRINKAGE TO BOBBLING, HOW LONG DID THEY LAST?

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT THE 30 WEAR TEST?

SUSTAINABILITY consultancy Eco Age say shoppers should be considering lifespan, not just price, and launched a #30 Wears campaign to encourage us to wear everything we buy at least 30 times.

You may think that you can take your old clothes to the charity shop when you tire of them, but poor quality clothes have little resell value, meaning they often end up in landfill.

HOW THE TEST WORKED

ALICE SMELLIE and scientist JIM HICKS, owner of the independent STTC Test Laboratory in Glasgow, submitted primary coloured clothing staples from eight popular retailers to a range of laboratory and home tests to determine their sartorial staying power.

HOME RESULTS

ALICE bought two of each item and took measurements such as from neck to hem and armpit to armpit. Then they were washed five times as per label recommendation. Shrinkage, stretching and difference in fabric were observed and measurements retaken.

LAB RESULTS

PILLING: Samples were rubbed against themselves at low pressures and in continuously changing directions — as happens when we move around — to see whether fabric bobbles. STRENGTH: This tested the fabric by clamping it in place and blowing compressed air at it until the material literally bursts. COLOUR FASTNESS: The fabric was sprayed with liquids which mimic the composition of human sweat. Discolourisation was exposed by the dye bleeding onto a white fabric swatch underneath.

Jim measured the above tests using a leading high street chain’s standards from around a decade ago. Whether they would last 30 wears and still be of reasonable quality is based on our observations of fading, feel of fabric and pilling.

You could probably wear most for this long, but they certainly wouldn’t look as smart.