10 Ways To Help The Environment With Your Wardrobe
If you’re looking for ways to help the environment but are stuck on ideas, look into your closet and you’ll be surrounded with ways to make a change. The clothes we wear cause so much more damage to the environment than we are ever taught about. Simple adjustments in our daily routines in how we view fashion and support brands will make a huge difference. All it takes is people making a few small changes to help save the environment. Even if you feel like you aren’t doing enough, small habits made by thousands add up, so your part matters in making this necessary change.
1. Shop On Poshmark
Poshmark is a second-hand, online retailer where individuals can post clothes that they either no longer wear, or clothes that they bought and never returned, but are unworn. When you receive your package in the mail, you have a few days to decide if it is still in good enough condition to accept, ensuring that you aren’t being cheated out of your money for second-hand clothing. It’s also a great site to sell your clothes on if you are looking to get rid of clothes you no longer wear. Supporting sites like Poshmark reduces the success of fast fashion brands, which are harmful to the environment.
2. Upcycle Old Clothes
Upcycling some old clothes may seem like a daunting task if you aren’t handy with a sewing machine, but there are some simple ways to redesign clothes you no longer wear. Upcycling clothes means you are taking something you already own and have already spent money on and are recreating it into something new to wear. Whether you change it to an entirely new outfit or just stitch up a few areas that need some attention, upcycling clothes will help save some money and the environment! It is a great way to cut down on waste and have a sustainable closet.
3. Don’t Support Fast Fashion
Fast fashion brands are some of the most popular stores that people shop at, of all ages, but mostly teenagers to lower twenty-year-old girls. These brands do not have ethical practices nor are they doing any good for the environment. Fast fashion brands find cheap materials that will break easily and quickly, but not too fast, in order to keep their customers returning to buy more. Falling into these traps is very easy for the consumer to do, along with the easy access and assurance of the brand, but steering clear of brands that are harming the environment is important.
4. Accessorize And Buy Less Clothing Items
Knowing how to accessorize will keep you from feeling the need to buy new clothes because you can create new outfits without going shopping. If you know the proper way to accessorize an outfit, you will be able to make one outfit versatile and transform it into a different outfit for multiple occasions. Having just a few pieces like jewelry, hats, hairpieces, and shoes will give you the ability to completely transform any outfit you have into something completely new.
5. Know How To Properly Wash Every Item
If you know the proper way to wash your clothes, you will be able to make them last longer. Oftentimes, we end up washing and drying all our clothes the exact same way, slowly ruining the quality we paid for. Read all the labels and know exactly how every item needs to be washed and dried. Hanging up your clothes to dry can often keep them lasting longer.
6. Give To Charities
If you have a closet full of clothes you want to throw out, giving back to charities is a great way to clear out your closet, but make sure you are doing it the right way. Oftentimes, we don’t look into guidelines for what can be used in charitable donations and what gets thrown in the dumpster anyways. If you want to help the environment and avoid having clothes go in the dumpster, make sure you are only giving away clothes that can be redistributed as second-hand clothing. If you have clothes that won’t qualify, reach out to local designers who can use scraps of clothes to create new pieces.
7. Read All Labels
Knowing exactly what is in your clothes and how they were produced is more important than most people realize. Oftentimes, we have no idea what materials are being used to make our clothing, let alone who and where it is being made. If you are buying from a variety of brands, chances are at least one of them could be using factories and sweatshops to have your clothes made. These unethical practices are hurting the people making your clothes. Know what is in your clothes and be sure to shop from brands that aren’t harming employees in the production process.
8. Donate Old Clothes
Donating clothes you no longer wear is a great way to reduce waste in the environment that is so often filled with clothes, fabrics, and harmful materials. Giving clothes away will help not only people who can’t afford to shop at the stores that you purchased them from, but it also helps keep the environment clean. When we dispose of clothes, they go straight back to the Earth and are harming our planet.
9. Use Hand Me Downs
Hand me downs are often frowned upon, mainly because they are normally coming from an older sibling and you want to have your own personal style. Yet, hand me downs don’t have to be a bad thing, and, better yet, they can be used to save you a fortune if you know how to style them the right way. Using old clothes and transforming them into your own style is a great way to save money and help the environment. If you have an eye for styling, you will be able to transform any hand me down into a new look!
10. Support Sustainable Brands
Sustainable fashion brands are often overlooked, either due to pricing or location issues, but finding sustainable brands to support is important. Brands that devote their company to having a sustainable message are on a mission to end fast fashion and make the Earth last longer. There are different brands for all budgets, and finding the right fit for you is key!
