World Journal (New York) - World Journal (New York) - Weekly Supplement
慢時尚興起
省錢還能護地球
Extending the life of your wardrobe is good for the planet and your finances. Experts give their tips on how to make your outfits last as long as possible.延長你的衣櫃壽命有助地球與你的財務，專家提供秘訣讓你的衣物盡可能長久保存。
●Unless you plan to wear a suit of armour for the rest of your life, there is no way to make your clothes last for ever. You can get close to for ever – if you are prepared to darn. As a society, though, we have become less inclined to make do and mend because the advent of fast fashion has made clothes so affordable that there is no incentive to repair them. In addition, the acceleration of trends – where once there were just two seasons, autumn/winter and spring/summer, now there are also resort, cruise and pre-fall collections – means consumers are continually enticed to buy new things. It is estimated that, in the UK, the average lifetime for an item of clothing is 2.2 years.除非你打算終身穿盔甲，否則沒有長久保存衣服的辦法。如果你打算縫補衣物，衣服幾乎能穿一輩子。不過當前社會中我們越來越少縫補衣物，因為快時尚到來使衣物變得平價，也使人沒有動機修補衣服。此外，過去僅有春夏與秋冬兩季，現在還有度假、巡演與初秋系列，多種潮流加速出現代表消費者持續受誘惑購買新產品。據估計，英國平均一件衣服單品的壽命為2.2年。
●Extending the lifespan of our clothes isn’t just good for our finances, but also benefits the environment: the fashion industry is a major global polluter and human rights abuses are rife in the garment industries of developing nations.延長衣服壽命不僅有助於我們的財務也有利環境：時尚產業是全球主要汙染源，發展中國家成衣業侵犯人權的事也屢見不鮮。
●Not so long ago, people learned basic sewing skills. The chances are that, if you ask an older friend or relative, they will be able to show you how to patch things. And there is no doubt that, if you want your clothes to last as long as possible, looking after them is the best place to start. But how do you make your clothes last for ever?人類在前不久學會基本的縫紉技巧。實際上，如果你詢問年紀比較大的親朋好友，他們還能教你如何縫補。毫無疑問，如果你想讓衣服盡可能長久保存，最好從好好保養衣服開始，但你要如何永久保存衣服？
Check the seams: It sounds obvious, but if you want your clothes to last, you need to invest in well-made garments in good-quality fabric. Don’t assume that expensive items are best – check for yourself.檢查縫線：顯而易見，如果想延長衣服壽命，必須投資以優質布料仔細製成的衣物。別以為貴的單品最好，親自檢查一番。
●Know your fabrics: Every garment will eventually wear out after repeated wearing and washing, but the jury is out on which fabrics are the most durable. Some experts prefer the longevity of synthetic fibres such as polyester, while others favour natural fibres such as cotton.認識布料：每種布料經反覆穿與清洗後終會磨損，但哪種布料最耐穿還很難說。有些專家喜歡耐穿的合成纖維，例如聚酯纖維；但其他專家青睞棉花等自然布料。