Quality Clothing as Heirlooms? Celebrating Things That Last

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I like my smartphone as much as the next person, but I’m also intrigued by things that last a really long time. Things that my children can inherit from me. Things like quality tools, classic books, good knives, or cast iron cookware. Up until today, I hadn’t really thought about my clothes in that way.

Outdoor clothing company Patagonia released “Worn Wear” before last year’s Black Friday as an “exploration of quality” and an “invitation to celebrate the stuff you already own”. Found via Farnam Street. Essentially it profiles a bunch of interesting folks who have used their Patagonia clothing for a long time. Depending on your perspective, the video could be about anti-consumerism, a great example of retail branding, or simply a bunch of cool people who do cool things.

Watching the video made me think of my 18-year-old LL Bean jacket. I first got it in high school, it’s been on many ski slopes and multiple continents, and I just wore it last week. Several years ago I had gained some weight and I tried to buy another one but they didn’t make it any more. Happily, it fits again.

From the video: “The most responsible thing you can do is buy used clothes.”

Related: Buy things that help you experience.

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Comments

  1. Your kids will buy their own quality tools, good knives, and cast iron cookware before you die 😉

    • Nah, haven’t you heard about “kids these days”? All they want is Chipotle and Snapchat. 😉 I’m trying to keep up the idea that parents actually cook food at home, so “Grandpas cooking” isn’t Stouffer’s Lasagna.

  2. Italiangirl says

    I really like this idea. It’s how I try to live.

  3. I’m glad you are back to your high school size. That should mean it will be a lot longer before your children inherit anything.

  4. ““The most responsible thing you can do is buy used clothes.”

    I didn’t watch the video so maybe I’m missing some context. But I can’t see how that could be the MOST responsible thing to do.

  5. This is a good related read: http://groundswell.org/the-bottom-line-patagonia-north-face-and-the-myth-of-green-consumerism/

    “Buy less, but if you must buy, buy Patagonia”

    An interesting “social experiment” – I’m cheering for them.

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