How to revive faded T-shirts – and other easy ways to keep clothes looking new

These records have either been collected personally by me, or "borrowed" from my mum's collection from the 1970s.

In the UK, due to the cost of living crisis and climate change, the second-hand clothing market is projected to grow by 85.5% between 2022 and 2026.

(According to WRAP, most clothes end up in landfill or get incinerated), but a study found that merely adding nine months to the lifespan of clothes through regular use would likely cut carbon, water and waste footprints by 20-30%.

So I've still got a striped skirt from Topshop that I bought almost thirty years ago when I was at university, and it's still in great condition. However, even someone like me who takes good care of their clothes might need to show a bit more TLC to make older items last longer. Does anyone have any tips on how to look after older clothes, and can faded vintage items be restored to their original glory?

Mending torn jeans with patchwork.

In the United Kingdom English language, this text could be rephrased as follows:
Sashiko is a traditional Japanese method of embroidery with a history spanning at least the Edo era, between 1603 and 1867. This technique not only added decorative elements to clothing but also served a practical purpose - repairing and mending garments. Given that fabric was a valuable commodity, as cotton and hemp fibres were labour-intensive to spin and dye at home, it was sensible to make do with what was already available and mend rather than discard items.

Emma Shaw is the founder of The Well Worn, a UK-based brand that is proudly built on the idea of "remade in the UK". According to Emma, the venture initially began small, with a few sashiko pieces. "During a business trip to Tokyo a few years ago, I was blown away by the expertise in mending and stitching that I encountered. Following some research and plenty of experimentation, I started mending vintage indigo fabric, which eventually became the foundation of my first products for The Well Worn, roughly four years ago."

I've had these "distressed ready" jeans for over ten years, and the small tears in the knees had progressively worsened to the point that when taking a seat, I looked like I was wearing a pair of shorts. I stopped wearing them altogether due to this, but I'd kept them as I was fond of the cut, and I'd planned to repair them at The Well Worn's sashiko workshops. Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity, and I've decided to give it a go myself.

You will need

Material centres for the patches
A vanishing fabric pen.
Sashiko thread and needle - I opted to utilise existing materials I had on hand in the name of being environmentally friendly, though I could have purchased sashiko-specific needles and threads.

You can use a contrasting fabric other than denim for the patches, attaching them directly over the hole for a neater appearance. To achieve a distinct repair look, I chose to manually sew the patches to the inside of the jeans, leaving the frayed edges visible on the outside. As an alternative, Shaw proposes using Pritt Stick to temporarily hold the patch in place. To ensure my stitches were straight and even, I applied a temporary line using a disappearing fabric pen and sewed along it before the mark faded away, marking out one box at a time to avoid any confusion.

I upped the thread count for a more distinct stitch and initially tried a star pattern, but soon discovered it was beyond my abilities, so I followed Shaw’s recommended approach for beginners. "Simple lines of running stitch to form a grid look really striking," she points out. "I like using ecru thread to make the stitch stand out, but if you're a bit hesitant, try using similar-toned threads." I opted for a wide range of colours to make a bold statement. The entire process took about four hours once I got the hang of it.

The Results

I'm delightful at the prospect. I shall certainly repeat the process on a pair of pre-owned denim trousers.

Restore worn, creased clothing with Dylon washing powder

I purchased a second-hand Elastica t-shirt from the 1990s at a local vintage shop. The dark blue was notably faded and showing signs of wear, but I still had a fondness for it. Until I spoke with Niki Vadera, the marketing director at Henkel, the group behind Dylon laundry detergent, which has just launched a new detergent that allegedly restores the appearance of old clothes to their original state after just ten washes.

"The idea behind it is that it smoothes out the fibres, which in turn helps restore the colour," Vadera explains, discussing the patent-pending Triple Renew formula's workings. "Looking at my white cap, I can see that it's covered in fluffy white specs on the fabric, making the dark grey underneath less visible. It's this that can make the clothing appear faded, rather than the actual fabric having deteriorated, which is likely due to washing causing the fibres to become raised and uneven, altering the colour." Vadera went on to say, "This product doesn't contain any dye." "The colour revitalisation comes from the removal of these raised bits and fluff," he continued.

I managed to get hold of a bottle of Dylon Detergent before its official release, and over the past month, I've assessed its reviving abilities on my t-shirt whilst also using it for all my laundry to prevent newer garments from colour loss and pilling.

Baca Juga

I've adopted the habit of washing my clothes less often for years now to extend their longevity, and the new gentle detergent from Dylon aims to promote this eco-friendly approach as well. "60% of garments are suitable for gentle washing if they're stain-free, or only worn for a few hours," notes Vadera. She clarifies that many detergents, especially those designed for stain removal, employ enzymes that cause chemical degradation to clothing, reducing its lifespan. By championing reduced clothing turnover, Dylon also hopes to benefit the second-hand market. "You may feel deterred by buying something from a vintage shop because it appears to be in need of TLC, but often it's you who can provide that care and attention yourself at home."

The Results

I noticed a noticeable change right after the first wash, but after ten washes, the bobbles were still present, although the colour has showed a definite improvement. I really like the scent of this product and will definitely continue using it.

Dylon Detergent, priced at £7, will be available in four variants - Colour, Blossom, Dark, and Sport - from 18 September in Tesco supermarkets, followed by a wider release in other leading retailers shortly.

Remove stubborn collar stains by combining equal parts of white vinegar and Bicarbonate of soda to create a paste. Leave the solution to sit on the stain for about 30 minutes to allow it to penetrate deeply. Soak the collar gently in cold water, then apply the paste gently to the area. Let it sit for another 30 minutes before washing it with soap. If the stain persists, repeat the process as necessary.

They can be as high maintenance to keep clean as a plain white t-shirt. I've noticed that a lot of my Bretons have dirty collars which haven't been properly washed in a standard wash, because of the yellowing effect that suncream and, I imagine, foundation have on the stains.

I've established that I choose not to use harsh detergents in my washing machine, so I decided to go back to basics for this one, using tips from social media accounts specialising in stain removal and some traditional products from my local hardware store instead.

You will need

Distilled white vinegar
Bicarbonate of soda

I began by submerging just the Bretons' collars in a mixture of two cups of cool water to one cup of vinegar. I left this for an hour, following which I cleaned the collars with some cleaning liquid, hoping it would suffice for removing the sunscreen stains. Nevertheless, there was still a noticeable stain on the collar, so I applied a paste-like mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water to the affected area (a remedy I'd read works for removing unsightly armpit stains) and left it there for a further one and a half hours. I then returned the bicarb-covered collars to the vinegar solution to allow the mixture to fizz for a few minutes, and finally, I washed the Bretons in a usual wash load.

The Result

Far from flawless, yet noticeably better now - to the extent that it's unlikely to be apparent to anyone.

Recommended

Safely cleaning your suede shoes can be a bit tricky, but here are four effective methods to remove stains and maintain their quality.
Method 1:
* Mix 1 part white vinegar with 2 parts water in a bowl
* Dip a clean cloth into the solution, making sure it's damp but not soaked
* Gently blot the stained area with the cloth, working from the inside out
* Allow the shoe to air dry at room temperature
Method 2:
* Obtain a clean, damp cloth or sponge and gently rub the suede surface in a circular motion
* Use a small amount of water or a suede cleaning solution specifically designed for the material
* Avoid soaking the material or using too much pressure, as this may lead to water spots
* Use a dry cloth to blot the area, then allow the shoe to dry naturally
Method 3:
* Use a suede block to gently remove dirt and stains
* A suede block is a polished piece of DARK suede that is rubbed across the stained area to lift off dirt
* Work gently and see the effectiveness of the block against the stain
* Use the block in a gentle, back-and-forth motion to clean the area
Method 4:
* Place a few pencil eraser crumbs on the stained area and gently rub the eraser into the stain
* Rub in gentle, circular motions until the eraser discolours due to the removal of the stain
* Brush the area gently with a soft-bristled brush to remove the crumbs and remaining residue
* Allow the shoe to air dry completely before storing

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