What makes a garment something we want to take care of?
It might be the jacket passed down through generations, the blazer found at a flea market, the dress sewn from an old duvet cover – or that everyday shirt that’s been with us for years. Our favourite garments have something in common: they stay. They are worn, mended, and cared for.

In Sweden, we buy an average of 14 kilos of textiles per person each year. At the same time, reuse remains low and garments have short lifespans. My Favourite Garment wants to show a different path – one that focuses less on what we should stop doing, and more on what we already do when we care for the things we love.

Through the Swedish campaign #mittälsklingsplagg (#myfavouritegarment), people are invited to share stories about clothes they have chosen to keep, repair, or reuse. These stories show that sustainability is not only about technology and recycling – it is also about feelings, memories, and everyday choices. They are interwoven with research-based knowledge about materials, textile care, and sustainable habits, showing how the circular transition can become both tangible and personal.

The project is carried out by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, ElectriCITY Innovation, Slow Fashion Hub, and Stockholm City Mission. Together, they aim to create tools, role models, and stories that make it easier for more people to live sustainably – at school, at home, and in the community.

Project components
• National campaign: #mittälsklingsplagg invites people across Sweden to share stories about the garments they love and what they mean.
• Education: Schools gain access to teaching materials linking clothing to the environment, consumption, and creativity.
• Local testbeds: In Hammarby Sjöstad, methods such as workshops, repair events, and storytelling activities are tested.
• Digital platform: An open-access website gathers stories, knowledge, and tools for teachers, organisations, and households.
• Exhibition and activity kit: A travelling exhibition with discussion guides and creative exercises makes local engagement easy.
• Policy and dissemination: The project develops strategies and resources for long-term impact on consumption patterns.

Goal
To make sustainability something we can feel – not just something we know.
Through storytelling, participation, and creativity, My Favourite Garment shows that care, repair, and long-term use can become a natural part of fashion and everyday life in a sustainable future.