This year I’ve embarked on a low-plastic waste challenge for my family. Every fortnight I’ll be posting a low-plastic WIN that I’ve had in Alice Springs. Please email me at [email protected] if you have any good ideas you’d like to share!

Solution: Sustainable fashion

In my wish for a world without plastic, I’d take a magic wand and totally disappear plastic clothes hangers. Instead I’d champion wood or metal clothes hangers, which are much higher quality, hold up your heavy winter coats with ease and at the end of their life are easy to recycle or biodegrade. Like most plastic alternatives, we’ve been sold a substandard quality of product for an economic gain for business.

Whilst on the topic of clothes, three of my favourite items of clothing are starting to come to an end. What is impressive about these items is that they have all lasted between 15 and 20 years each and I’d estimate that each item has had over 600 wears! When I checked the tags, at least two of these items were made in Australia (the third item’s tag had faded too much to tell). This suggests to me that sourcing Australian made clothing is better for the environment!

Finally, learning to sew a button or darn a hole is a great way to help our clothes last a little longer. If by any chance sewing a button or darning is something you’ve always wanted to learn but haven’t had the chance, send me an email and I’d love to have a lunchtime sewing bee together.