There is a quiet rebellion happening in wardrobes across the world. Not the fast-paced, trend-chasing kind of rebellion that thrives on catwalks and TikTok feeds, but something gentler, slower, and infinitely more powerful. It’s the rebellion of holding onto clothes. Of refusing to let go simply because the calendar, or the industry, says the garment has expired. Because here’s the truth: fashion has no expiry date. We are taught to believe otherwise. Fashion weeks arrive in dizzying succession - Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter, Resort, Pre-Fall - each season urging us to refresh our closets, as if what we wore last year has suddenly lost its beauty. High street chains move even faster, with “new drops” arriving every week, making it feel as though yesterday’s purchase is today’s embarrassment. And so, our sense of style is constantly linked to “newness,” when in reality, some of the most cherished, powerful garments we own are not new at all.
01)
The Timelessness of Memory
Growing up in my family, a sari was not just an outfit; it’s a memory. I remember how a handwoven sari worn by my great grandmother was still folded neatly, wrapped in tissue, and taken out on special occasions by my mom. Decades have passed, yet its allure hasn’t dimmed. In fact, its age adds to its power. Every crease tells a story. I often think about this when I see people today rushing to buy clothes they will only wear once. What if, instead of chasing trends, we leaned into tradition not as rigid rules but as anchors of meaning? What if we allowed our clothing to age with us, to evolve, to gather stories along the way? Fashion’s true magic lies not in how quickly it changes, but in how deeply it endures.
02)
When Expiry Dates Were Invented
The idea of clothes “expiring” is not natural. It was invented. Before industrialisation, clothing was made to last. Garments were hand-sewn, hand-loomed, patched, repaired, and passed down. People owned fewer items, but they loved them fiercely. The expiry date arrived with fast fashion. Suddenly, fashion was industrialised, mass-produced, and marketed in cycles that mirrored the food industry: “fresh” collections, “last season’s” leftovers, “must-have” pieces that would soon be replaced. It created artificial scarcity and artificial urgency. A blouse bought in January was “out of date” by June. This mindset has seeped into us so thoroughly that we often don’t question it. But unlike milk or medicine, clothes do not spoil with time. A well-made shirt doesn’t suddenly disintegrate because the trend cycle moved on. It is we who are taught to see it as unwearable, unfashionable, expired.
03)
What We Lose With Expiry Dates
When we treat clothes as disposable, we lose more than money. We lose identity. Take the Sri Lankan handloom industry. For centuries, villages across the island wove fabrics on wooden looms, producing vibrant sarongs, saris, and shawls that carried cultural pride. But when imported synthetic fabrics flooded the market, many people abandoned these heirloom textiles. They were seen as “old-fashioned,” not in line with modern trends. The result? A decline in skilled weaving communities, a near extinction of certain traditional patterns, and an erosion of cultural heritage. What expired was never the garment - it was our perception of it. The same is true globally. Denim, trench coats, little black dresses - all began as practical, durable garments designed for specific functions. None of them were meant to “expire.” Yet the fashion industry continues to churn out endless variations, convincing us that the one we already own is not enough.
04)
Clothing the Spirit
There is also a spiritual dimension here. As a yoga practitioner, we learn that energy clings to objects. A beloved garment carries the imprint of the moments we lived while wearing it. The dress you wore to a festival, the blouse stitched by your mother’s hands, these pieces carry energy that new clothes cannot replicate. When we allow our clothes to live longer, we allow them to clothe not just our bodies, but our spirit. We begin to see them as companions rather than consumables.
05)
Learning From Heirlooms
Consider heirlooms. A handloom saree that belonged to your mother. A beautifully carved Kandyan necklace passed down by your great grandmother - None of these come with an expiry date. In fact, they gain value with time. Luxury fashion has long understood this. Chanel jackets, Hermès scarves, Louis Vuitton trunks - these are not sold as disposable items but as investments. The irony is that while luxury fashion markets its durability, the wider industry still thrives on built-in obsolescence. The true challenge, then, is to extend that heirloom mindset into everyday fashion.
06)
Living Without Expiry Dates
So, how do we begin to reject expiry dates in fashion?
Here are some simple practices:
- Re-wear with pride. Stop apologising for being seen in the same outfit twice. Style icons from Kate Middleton to Zendaya have embraced re-wearing. It’s a quiet revolution against waste.
- Care as much as you wear. Washing less, mending small tears, and storing garments properly extends their life.
- Restyle creatively. A sari can become a skirt, a jacket, a scarf. A men’s shirt can transform into a dress. Fashion thrives on imagination, not shopping.
- Swap, don’t shop. Clothing swaps with friends or communities breathe new life into pieces without buying new.
- Invest in quality. A few well-made items will outlive dozens of cheaply made ones. Timeless silhouettes always return.
07)
The Future of Timeless Fashion
Interestingly, lots of consumers are starting to lead this change. Platforms like Depop, Poshmark, and Thrifted show that “pre-loved” fashion is no longer seen as shameful. Vintage shops are thriving. Reworked fashion - where old garments are remade into new designs, is becoming a creative movement. In Sri Lanka, too, there’s a quiet return to artisan crafts like handloom. These fabrics don’t just resist expiry dates - they are strong, natural, biodegradable, and rich with culture. They are made to endure, to be loved, and to be passed on. The irony is that by slowing down, fashion is becoming more relevant than ever. Trends are fleeting; timelessness is always in style.
08)
A Gentle Reminder
The next time you open your wardrobe; I invite you to pause. Notice the pieces you’ve held onto for years. Ask yourself why. Chances are, it’s not because they were trendy, but because they meant something. They fit not just your body but your life. Fashion has no expiry date, unless we allow it to. By reclaiming timelessness, we not only protect the planet and our cultural heritage but also rediscover the true purpose of clothing: to express, to comfort, to accompany us through time. Because in the end, the most fashionable thing we can wear is not “newness.” It's a memory. It’s meaning. It’s love.
