Non classé
The Big Summer Clear-Out: Making Room for Back-to-School!
Aug
Summer is in full swing, and after the frenzy of the sales, it’s finally time to slow down a little… At Oummi Abi Moi, August means reorganizing, sorting, and starting fresh! We tidy up, declutter, refocus on the essentials, and slowly get ready for back-to-school. And if you too want to take advantage of this quieter time to do your big summer clear-out, you’re in the right place because this article is here to give you plenty of tips and tricks to help you sort through your wardrobe… and your mind!
Why do a clear-out now?
August is a month of transition.
The days are long and bright, and you often find yourself with a little more time for yourself. It’s the perfect time to take stock of what you own, free up space in your wardrobe, and get ready for a lighter, calmer back-to-school season.
✔️ Save time every morning
✔️ Reduce stress and clutter
✔️ Rediscover pieces you’d forgotten about
✔️ Make room for exciting new arrivals!
And trust me—over here, we’re decluttering too: updating our collections (ever heard of clearance sales? I’ll tell you more in just a moment…) and preparing the ground to keep, bi idhnillah, only the very best. We even take advantage of this period to launch a big satisfaction survey—gathering feedback, reviewing the past year, and doing everything we can to move forward and approach the new season with peace of mind.
Where to start with your wardrobe?
Summer is also a season when we generally have more free time, so there’s no need to put pressure on yourself. Whether you’re more of a “get-it-all-done-in-one-day” type or prefer to spread it out over several days, the easiest way is to go step by step. Here’s an effective method to declutter without feeling overwhelmed:
Step 1: Sort into 3 piles
1. I keep: the pieces you love, wear often, and feel good in.
2. I donate or resell: abayas or outfits in good condition that you no longer wear or that you bought on a whim. If you’re on the indecisive side, tell yourself that if you haven’t worn it in two years, you probably never will. But it’s not lost—quite the opposite! Give it a second life by reselling it second-hand on dedicated platforms. As for Oummi Abi Moi clothing, we often repost listings in our stories, so don’t hesitate to contact us! Otherwise, this is also a great opportunity to help out other sisters in need or simply bring joy while lightening your wardrobe by making a donation or sadaqah:
“Give to close relatives their due, as well as the poor and ˹needy˺ travellers. And do not spend wastefully. Surely the wasteful are ˹like˺ brothers to the devils. And the Devil is ever ungrateful to his Lord.” (Surat Al-Isra, v. 26-27)
3. I recycle: for clothing that’s too worn out or stained. And yes—don’t throw them away! They can absolutely be repurposed or donated. Cut them up to make cleaning cloths, or donate them to the many associations and collection points that accept textiles to transform them into new materials.
Once the sorting is done, it’s time to get organized!
Step 2: Optimize your space
First things first at this stage, take the opportunity to wash and iron your whole pile so you can be at ease and enjoy even easier access to your wardrobe.
When it comes to storage, here are a few practical tips:
Sort by color
Start by arranging your abayas, jilbabs, or sets in a color gradient, from the darkest to the lightest shades. This way, you can visualize your wardrobe more easily, and picking your outfit of the day will be much simpler!
Adopt a good folding method
You probably know, my dear sister, that storing modest clothing is quite different from storing “regular” clothes. It’s not always easy to fold an abaya, jilbab, or even a khimar properly without wrinkling or damaging them. Yet, proper folding is essential to preserve the quality and beauty of these delicate garments.
For your abayas and jilbabs, to prevent them from creasing or losing their shape, it’s important to follow a few simple yet effective steps:
Lay the garment flat, face down.
Fold the sleeves inward toward the center.
Fold into a rectangle.
Finish by folding in two or three sections so it can be hung or stored neatly.
As for khimars, for those who don’t have the possibility or space to hang them, there are several simple and effective folding methods you can use.
The first method, the roll-up: Start by folding your khimar in half lengthwise to create a rectangular shape. Then bring both ends toward the center, and gently roll the fabric onto itself to form a small, compact roll.
This technique is perfect when you want to store your khimar quickly while avoiding unsightly creases.
The second method, the accordion fold: Fold the khimar by making regular pleats, alternating between wider and narrower folds, just like a fan. Make sure the folds are well-aligned for a neat and tidy result.
This folding style is ideal for organizing your khimars in a drawer or storage box, as it reduces wrinkling and makes them easy to store while keeping them ready to wear.
Useful Storage Accessories
The classic hanger
A must-have: simple, functional, and practical. Perfect for hanging your jilbabs without creasing them, and keeping them within easy reach every morning.
Pant or multi-tier hangers
Perfect for small wardrobes! You can hang up to three pieces on a single hanger thanks to their layered structure, a real space-saver when you’re running out of room!
For your hijabs, you can also opt for multi-ring hangers, which let you store a multitude of hijabs with ease.
Wall hooks or scarf hangers
These accessories are also very practical for hanging several hijabs without creasing them, while keeping them visible and easy to access. They also help prevent your scarves from getting tangled.
Stackable storage boxes
For organized storage in your drawers or on your shelves, plastic or fabric boxes are extremely practical. They allow you to sort all your pieces abayas, jilbabs, khimars, or hijabs by color, material, or use, while preventing them from creasing.
Vacuum storage bags
Perfect for major seasonal changes! These bags compress your lightweight clothing while protecting them from moisture and moths, deal for keeping your outfits fresh and ready to wear when it’s time to bring them out again.
At Oummi Abi Moi, we’re decluttering too… but at low prices!
If you’ve never noticed, there’s a clearance section on our website and it’s been filling up nicely over the past few weeks. And for good reason: we’ve decided to make room, too!
Whether it’s past collections, discontinued colors, or even pieces used in photo shoots, we’re applying our own advice by sending them to clearance or our pre-loved section, with discounts of up to 50% off!
It’s our way of giving our pieces a second life, while giving you the chance to score some amazing deals!
And after the clear-out… it’s time for back-to-school!
We won’t lie to you, we’re almost looking forward to back-to-school!
We’re preparing plenty of beautiful things for you, bi idhnillah: ever more elegant designs, even higher-quality fabrics, and pieces created to accompany you through every season. But one thing at a time! Before talking about new arrivals, finish this month of August gently… by decluttering, slowing down a little, and reflecting on what you want to keep and what you’re ready to let go of, so you can start autumn with both your space and your mind clear.
