True Cost Series | Cost Per Wears with a Classic Denim Jacket
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Cost Per Wears of a Sustainable Denim Jacket
In this True Cost Series, we will explore a different perspective. Rather than focusing on the manufacturing cost, we will consider the consumer's point of view and how we can make higher prices seem more affordable. For many of us, anything over $100 seems unreasonable, and we believe we can find a cheaper alternative elsewhere. However, we often fail to think about the long-term value of our money. While we can purchase a denim jacket for less than $50 at Target, will it last for years to come, and have we considered the environmental and social implications of the product? I believe that budgeting the "cost per wear" is similar to budgeting for morning coffee or happy hour drinks. It allows us to think about the bigger picture and understand where our money goes. Investing in a well-made, ethical garment becomes more worthwhile when we can assign a value to each time we wear it. This approach encourages us to make more thoughtful purchasing decisions.
What is the Cost Per WEar for a Sustainable Denim Jacket from Able? Let’s Break It Down
Garment | Merly Jacket
Brand | ABLE
Price | $148
I chose to purchase a piece of clothing that is timeless and can be paired with almost any outfit. ABLE is one of my favorite brands, particularly because of their high-quality denim that lasts for a long time. A few months ago, I added their Merly Jacket to my denim collection, and I thought it would be a great topic for the True Cost Series. The jacket is made from cotton and lyocell, and it perfectly blends a vintage tomboy look with a feminine touch. Considering the costs involved in creating a garment, I believe $148 is a reasonable and accessible price for something that you can wear for years to come.
I’m sure many of you are familiar with the concept of ‘30 Wears’ where you only purchase something you think you would wear 30 times or more. If we break it down to the cost per 30 wears, you would be spending less than $5 each time you wear the jacket, which is basically the cost of a cup of coffee at your local coffee shop. This seems reasonable, but this is the type of clothing that you can wear many more times than 30, so we need to break it down even further. Let's assume that we wear it twice a week for half of the year, a little over 50 times, and then we repeat this for at least five years. This brings us to about $0.56 per wear, which is reasonable, right? Here's another example from Jen at ABLE who has owned a Merly for three years.
1 Wear Per Week for 6 Months out of the Year = 26 Wears
26 Wears x 3 Years = 78 Wears
$148 / 78 Wears = $1.90 Cost Per Wear
Since the jacket is very well-made, Jen plans to keep it longer which only adds more value to your dollar & a decrease in cost per wears. I feel like a good goal is to have a cost per wear below $1 for most items in your wardrobe.
We all want value out of the items we purchase. If we can sit down before each purchase, and look at cost per wears, we may think twice before purchasing something. Remember, fast fashion brands like Zara & Forever 21, create pieces that hold up on average 10 wears. So, you buy a $40 jacket and are paying $4 per wear… Not so much value there.
Okay - let’s style this awesome denim jacket so we can be inspired to wear it more & more, and really get value out of our dollar! I put together a week of outfits with the Merly Jacket for florida fall. I’ll make sure to style it for winter coming up soon. This really is something you can get away with wearing almost everyday!
How do you feel about this way of thinking when making your purchases? If you want to learn more about why a sustainably-made garment comes with a heavier price tag, please check out my other True Cost Series:
Why Does a Sustainable T-Shirt Cost $36?
The High Price of Hemp
A Bra with No Secrets
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