The 81st General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) was held in September 2026 at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA. The next important stop on the world agenda will be Türkiye. The 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) will be held in Antalya, hosted and chaired by Turkey, on 9-20 November 2026. On this occasion, the issue of sustainability, which is expected to remain on the agenda until November, brings with it discussions about consumption habits. Erhan Kıyağan, Founder and CEO of Tailor Ayhan Classics, also shared his evaluations and suggestions on increasing the lifespan of existing pieces in men's clothing by using them longer and in different ways.
Erhan Kıyağan stated that when choosing a suit, how the jacket and trousers can be evaluated separately can be taken into account and said, "One of the issues we pay most attention to in our meetings with our customers is how the parts of the suit can be evaluated as well as the use of the suit as a whole. Timeless colors such as navy blue and gray provide an advantage in this regard. When simple patterns and quality fabrics are chosen, it is much easier to use the jacket and trousers with different pieces."
4 OUT OF 5 CONSUMERS USE PRODUCTS LONGER BEFORE CHANGE
The State of the Consumer 2026 research, published by global consultancy firm McKinsey in June, points to the change in the way consumers evaluate their current products. According to the research conducted with 4,863 consumers in Brazil, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the USA, 82% of the participants use the products they own for a longer period of time before replacing them. 69% state that they repair products instead of throwing them away, and 68% actively try to reduce waste.
According to Erhan Kıyağan, "The ability to adapt a piece to different environments in men's clothing is one of the factors that increase its usage options." While navy blue and gray are among the useful options in the men's wardrobe, brown and beige tones can also be paired with different pieces. Erhan Kıyağan explains, "Instead of focusing on a single combination when purchasing, it is important to look at how the selected piece can be used with the existing wardrobe."
“THE JACKET OF THE SUIT CAN ALSO BE ADAPTABLE TO DAILY COMBINATIONS”
One of the ways to expand the usage areas of the suit is to remove the jacket from the classic shirt and tie combination. If the cut and fabric are appropriate, the suit jacket can also be paired with fine knitwear, a polo collar or a plain T-shirt.
Erhan Kıyağan says, "A jacket in the right cut does not have to be limited to a shirt and tie. When combined with a thin knitwear, polo collar or a plain t-shirt, the same jacket can gain a more casual and comfortable look. The important thing here is that the cut and fabric of the jacket suit this."
Stating that a similar approach is valid for trousers, Ertan Kıyağan evaluates: "Plain patterns and colors that can be easily matched with different pieces make it easier to make different combinations with suit trousers. Thus, the same suit can be used in a classic way in business life, while the jacket or trousers can be adapted to different environments on their own."
THE CORRECT SIZE AND CARE IS DETERMINANT DURING THE USE PROCESS
Size selection, fabric and care also play a role in how long a garment can be used in the wardrobe. Erhan Kıyağan points out that a suit should first be chosen in a cut that fits the body correctly. He states that regular maintenance contributes to the preservation of the product's form, and that small size adjustments needed over time can make it easier for the piece to continue to be used.
Erhan Kıyağan says, "Cuts that are not too pretentious and fit well can be more easily adapted to different areas of use. The same suit can be used in business life with a more classic combination, and when paired with different pieces, it can be used in invitations or in daily life."
THE SECOND QUESTION IS IMPORTANT IN THE PURCHASING DECISION
Erhan Kıyağan, Founder and CEO of Tailor Ayhan Classics, points out that considering the usage area in advance while shopping can increase the functionality of the wardrobe and concludes his words as follows:
