6 Ways To Make Your Wardrobe More Sustainable
There are more ways than you think to make your wardrobe more sustainable. We all need to be more conscious of our purchasing choices, and making small changes to your wardrobe is the perfect way to start. Who doesn’t love an excuse to buy clothing? The point of fashion is to make us feel good, so why not feel better when you know that your wardrobe is helping the environment?
1. Explore second-hand options
The best way to make your wardrobe more sustainable is to help keep clothes out of landfills. Buying vintage and second-hand clothing will not only help the environment, but it’ll make your wardrobe more unique. Second-hand pieces are typically one of a kind, and who doesn’t want to wear something that’s totally unique? The best part about buying second-hand; thrifting is so much fun! Spend hours in your local op shops and you never know, you might find something amazing!
2. Upcycle your old clothing
Have pieces in your wardrobe that feel a little old? Whether they don’t fit you anymore or have a few holes, you never know what a little tender loving care can do! Watch YouTube tutorials or get your inspiration from Pinterest to upcycle your old clothing. Add patches, sew up holes or tailor your old pieces to give them a new lease on life. What’s more sustainable than increasing the lifespan of the wardrobe you already have?
3. Choose quality over price
Whilst fast fashion seems too good to be true for your wallet, it’s incredibly unsustainable for the environment. Fast fashion is made from cheap materials, and aren’t designed to last long, which will result in more clothing in landfills. Investing in quality pieces will make your wardrobe last a lifetime. Pieces made from natural and sustainable materials, or handmade by craftsmen will definitely make your wardrobe more sustainable. I know the high price tag sounds scary, but it will be so worth it in the end.
4. Find sustainable brands
The majority of fashion brands are unsustainable, regardless of how much they claim to be good for the environment. There are countless brands who are 100% sustainable, but they’re just not as well-known. Use websites like Rankabrand and Wellmadeclothes to both find out how environmentally friendly your favourite brands actually are, and to find sustainable brands that are bound to have your next favourite piece.
5. Shop with purpose
In the world of fast fashion, its often that we only buy pieces to wear them a few times, or only to be on-trend. Before heading to the shopping centre, have a plan of what you want to purchase so you don’t impulse buy. When you want to buy a piece of clothing; imagine different ways to style it with what you already own, situations that you’ll wear it and whether you actually need it. If it doesn’t make you happy when you put it on, it’s not worth it. Having second thoughts before buying something will make you more sustainable, and will also make your wardrobe more sustainable in the long run.
6. Take care of the clothes you already have
Make your wardrobe more sustainable by being conscious of how to make your clothing last longer. Read the care instructions on the labels of your clothing to make sure that you’re washing and drying them correctly. Specific materials and pieces have different ‘needs’ when being washed, so don’t just throw all of your different pieces into the washing machine and select the basic setting. It’ll make your wardrobe last longer and will therefore be more sustainable. Also, when you wash and dry your clothing, you’re also having an environmental impact. Air dry your clothing, use cold water in your washing machine when possible and always run full loads to be more sustainable after you purchase your new sustainable wardrobe.
