It was once an essential appliance that ensured you looked smart for work or college, but the iron is fast becoming obsolete as more relaxed dress codes mean turning up in rumpled clothing is no longer a faux pas.
About 30% of 18- to 34-year-olds do not own an iron and “never iron their clothes”, according to consumer research. When asked why they did not possess an item considered vital by previous generations, the refuseniks said the main reason was “their clothes didn’t need ironing”.