Jigsaw: Clothing For Life Not Landfill
Jigsaw is a London-based clothing company with a message: Clothing is for life, not landfill. “We design and create products for life, not just for a season,” their website states. In their Fall/Winter 2015 ad campaign, they juxtapose older used clothing and accessories (borrowed from actual customers) with new pieces from their collection. A new blazer with an older sweater underneath. A new dress with an older purse. Even more interesting are the vignettes that accompany some of the photos–these aren’t just inanimate objects. They are well-loved pieces of someone’s past and present. Yes, it is an ad campaign whose purpose is to sell clothing. But more importantly, it is a reminder to all of us that clothing shouldn’t be thought of as disposable; even an older piece of used clothing still has value and relevance today. Take a look:
‘My bag and I first clapped eyes on each other in the summer of 1999 on Putney High Street. I was an impoverished student at the time and worked in a pub down the road from the Jigsaw shop. I passed the shop window every day and after weeks of lusting over the mannequin in the window, I decided that I had to have it.
I calculated what the expense would mean to my budget. It was a no go. I needed a plan B. There was only one other route to go down; and it didn’t involve my conscience. So I rang my dad and told him I desperately needed some new books for university. After not much persuasion (you can’t put a price on education), the money was mine. I went straight into the shop and bought the bag I had lusted after for so long.
As the assistant delicately wrapped up the bag in lavish layers of tissue paper and sealed it in a beautiful floral paper bag, I knew this wasn’t a mistake. I would wear this bag forever.
And wear it I did! I wore it every day for years. I wore it to work, I wore it to university, I wore it to the Fez club in Putney every weekend and I wore it on my first romantic getaway away with my boyfriend (who is now my husband).
Fast forward over a decade and I still have my beloved bag. Over the years the leather has become more supple and buttery, and it has aged so beautifully; I still get a huge amount of wear out of it to this day. The style is timeless and I still wear it throughout the seasons. In the summer I wear it with silk dresses and Grecian sandals and in the winter it looks great worn with a chunky knit and denim.’
‘Manchester in the late 90s was where I lived out some of my best years to date. I was 22 and working for Jigsaw Menswear in their King Street store. My decision to take employment at Jigsaw was simple: it was my uniform. I spent nearly everything I earned on the brand, from polos and roll necks to leather jackets – I had it all, and I was a proud ambassador of the brand too. It felt good to be a Jigsaw Man. We got noticed.
My Jigsaw uniform took me everywhere I went…I was really into the clubbing scene at the time and Manchester had some of the best nights.
I used to go to Paradise Factory, Pushca, Chuff Chuff and all of the coolest clubs.
This shirt was a purchase as the result of bagging myself a date. And unfortunately the shirt has hung around a lot longer than the date did. It became my go to staple if I wanted to smarten up my look. I remember wearing it out for my 23rd birthday; we went to a restaurant called Air, which was a big deal. I remember feeling ridiculously smart that night.
Back then I’d wear my shirt with smart trousers, but nowadays as my collection of shirts has somewhat grown over the years, it’s more of a throw in the suitcase and wear on holiday kind of piece. It still makes me feel special, but perhaps that’s because of all the good times we’ve shared together.’
Take a look at the used clothing in your closet. Do you have any items that are more than a year old? More than two years old? More than five years old? We’d love to hear from you about your favorite, best loved, longest lasting pieces of used clothing, shoes, or accessories!
