It’s time to step away from the laundry machine. In the first of a series of columns, Lauren Bravo explores how washing your clothes less isn’t just more sustainable, it also helps make your garms go the distance

It’s often been said that less is more. And though ethical dressing has evolved beyond the old stereotype of minimalist wardrobes in uniform greige, the adage still holds true in many ways. Far from sustainability being something you can buy off the rack, the most meaningful change we can make is doing less. Shop less. Get rid of less. And here’s an easy one: do less washing.

Yes, really. “Underconsumption core” – AKA the radical act of … er, wearing and using the things you already own – is TikTok’s latest obsession, while the not-for-profit global movement Fashion Revolution has long preached that the most sustainable garment is the one already in our wardrobe.