Last year, the FT’s fashion editor Lauren Indvik made a pledge that surprised us. She vowed to buy just five new items of clothing and shoes all year long. The number comes from a study that says in order to stick to the Paris Agreement’s goals, five new items of fashion a year is the optimal goal for those who live in the world’s richest countries. Lauren tells Lilah how the experiment went and whether she stuck to five things. She also shares her tips for buying fewer new clothes.

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We love hearing from you. Lilah is on Instagram @lilahrap. You can email the show at lifeandart@ft.com.

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Links (all FT links get you past the paywall):

– Lauren’s article about the ‘five things pledge’ and how it went: https://on.ft.com/4aO1WV3

– Lauren recommends using TheRealReal for second-hand luxury clothes in the US; in the UK she shops the Vestiaire Collective

– The report from the Hot or Cool Institute that inspired Lauren: https://hotorcool.org/unfit-unfair-unfashionable/

– Lauren also mentions the Ellen Macarthur Foundation: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/

– Lauren is taking a break from her Fashion Matters newsletter while she is on parental leave, but you can start receiving it when she’s back if you sign up now: https://on.ft.com/48QdvJv

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Special FT subscription offers for Life and Art podcast listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial, are here: http://ft.com/lifeandart

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Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Sam.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Why our fashion editor buys almost nothing new

Life and Art from FT Weekend