The Christmas Jumper Highlights A Wasteful Society

Seasonal Fast Fashion.
A Christmas jumper used to be the ultimate in bad taste, whatever the time of year. Many dads, brothers or grandfathers would receive a pair of Christmas socks, maybe even a festive pair of pants. Children wore new PJ’s with a nod to the season, generally of a thicker variety to keep warm throughout winter. However, being landed with a Christmas jumper didn’t happen often and could be put down to particularly lousy luck on the gift front.

Google searches for ‘Christmas jumpers’ have been at rocket numbers since 2012 with this year forecasted to be the same. One reason is that offices and schools have dedicated Christmas jumper days. A time to be pressured into buying something new and wearing it for fear of judgement for not joining in.

Save The Children hold an annual fundraising campaign to raise funds; everybody is encouraged to wear a Christmas jumper on a particular day and donate a pound. While a brilliant charity that no doubt raise a lot of money this way, surely there is a less wasteful alternative.

A popular online retailer last year was selling a choice of nearly 90 Christmas jumper styles for women, and 30 for men. One hundred and twenty styles of Christmas jumper, from one shop! Has anyone stopped to think about the people who make these garments? Where these companies source the raw materials? And ultimately, where these clothes will end up?

Festive jumpers start making an appearance in shops both new and used at the start of October. Ruthlessly donated in January, the charity shops have been holding onto them because nobody wants to keep a Christmas jumper past the festive season.

Christmas is always a wasteful time of year. We have become used to throwing out used wrapping paper, cards, food packaging and waste. Are we now used to throwing out our clothing too? We can kid ourselves that the charity shop will take our old clothes, but we forget that everyone else is doing the same thing.

Might we forego buying a new Christmas jumper this year?

What about choosing a Christmas jumper that looks good and is worn year after year? Or go for one that is slightly less Christmas vibe and useful for the whole winter season. Buying secondhand is another good option. Or go DIY and add festive editions to a plain jumper. I understand the urge to buy at this time of year, to splurge on the perfect cosy Christmas. However, buying a Christmas jumper to get rid of it in January is wasteful and unnecessary.

And me?

Before you think I’m judging; I’m not. I have a festive jumper too. It gets worn every year in December; I store it with the Christmas decorations. It’s a fun thing and a joy, I get the appeal. I wouldn’t repurchase it now I know it probably wasn’t made ethically, but I already have it so wear it as much as possible. Below is a photo from last year and this year wearing the same jumper!

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