Context: I noticed I have some clothes from 10 years ago that are still good to wear, and some newer things I have barely worn yet. I wondered if I reached a point where all the clothes I own would be enough to last for the rest of my life. There is a dresser and a closet worth of things.
For the sake of this question, let’s say you can’t buy, borrow, steal, receive as a gift, find, or make anything new to wear. All you get is what you have now. Is it enough?
William Gibson pointed out that during the Depression someone could buy a workshirt for about 35 cents and wear it every day to the coal mine, until it was time to pass it on to their kid.
Clothes were built of sturdier stuff back then as well, even t-shirts. Modern fabrics that are soft and thin are relatively new inventions. Even t-shirts from the 80’s/90’s are a different story and a lot less comfortable.
A massive amount of effort has gone into making things comfortable in the last 40 years. We don’t have have itchy tags inside t-shirts anymore.
Finally, when you pass it on to your child, either it fits both of you very badly, or you’re re-sewing it to fit the new person.
People also used to repair clothes a lot, darning, elbow patches, etc.
Thank synthetic fabrics for today’s lack of durability.