Christmas jumpers have become a bit of a tradition over the
past few years, firmly establishing themselves within British culture as a
necessity of the festive period. This newly formed tradition however finds
itself battling against the sustainability movement in that it is fundamentally
marketed as being a one wear item. A recent investigation into the reality of
Christmas jumpers and the impact that they are having upon the environment has
wielded some quite shocking results.
The charity, Hubbub, has estimated that around 12 million
Christmas jumpers will be bought this year, adding to the already 35 million
already existing in the back of our wardrobes-or more likely landfill-from
years gone by. These figures are quite shocking when we consider that these
further 12 million are undoubtedly destined for the exact same fate as their
predecessors.
So, what can we actually do, seeing as Christmas Jumper Day
looms ever near? Obviously boycotting the whole tradition feels excessive and
wholly unnecessary, especially when the day is to support the brilliant
cause of, ‘Save the Children’. But still, we cannot do nothing in the age of
sustainability!
Buy Second Hand
This is probably the most obvious choice, but with companies
like Beyond Retro having an incredible selection of one of a kind, vintage Christmas
jumpers you can’t really find fault with this choice. In addition to Beyond
Retro, most charity shops at this time of year will have a whole section of
their shop dedicated to such festive attire, allowing you to peruse at your
leisure, ruling out the chances of buying the dreaded itchy jumper. In addition
to these being a significantly more environmentally friendly option to a brand
new Christmas jumper, they will undoubtedly be a lot cheaper than buying one
new!
Buy with Longevity in Mind
This is another great way to get involved with the day. Buy a Christmas jumper which you will be able to wear throughout the festive period and that will last year after year! Everyone has their own personal style, and what I would be able to wear on a day to day winter period will be different to the next person, so keep that in mind when choosing your, 'classic' Christmas jumper! There are loads of great companies out there which place a focus on sustainability, such as Joanie, who have a really lovely selection of jumpers!
Swap with Friends or Family
You most likely know at least one other person who owns a Christmas jumper, so this could be a great way to try something new, without it costing anything! This is a particularly good trick if you only plan on wearing the jumper for that one day!
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