8 Steps to a More Sustainable Wardrobe
Building a sustainable wardrobe can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. There are small steps you can take to make your wardrobe more environmentally friendly and reduce your impact on the planet.
By making small changes now, you can contribute to a larger, positive impact over time!
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Why Maintaining a Sustainable Wardrobe Matters
As someone who loves fashion, you might not realize the impact that your wardrobe can have on the environment. Making an effort to shop sustainably and maintain a sustainable wardrobe can have a positive impact on the planet and encourage change in the fast fashion industry.
Here are a few reasons why building a sustainable wardrobe is important:
A Sustainable Approach to Fashion is Better for the Planet
The fast fashion industry is responsible for a significant amount of pollution and waste, so it’s important to be mindful about the choices you make when shopping for new clothes.
Sustainable fashion products take many forms. Eco-friendly clothing and jewelry may:
- Feature natural and ethically-sourced components
- Use less energy and water to produce
- Generate fewer carbon emissions during production
- Incorporate more recycled or repurposed materials
In short, a sustainable wardrobe is better for the planet in both the short- and long-term!
Sustainable Fashion = Ethical Fashion
Sustainable brands are more likely to be transparent about their manufacturing practices and where they obtain their materials. Because sustainability is often tied to ethical practices, you can shop for eco-friendly clothing with confidence, knowing that the workers who made your clothes were treated fairly and compensated fairly for their work.
The More You Promote Sustainability, The More Accessible It Becomes
As conscious consumers become more vocal about their choices and how important it is to shop sustainably, fashion brands feel more pressure to lean in toward these preferences, adopting more sustainable and ethical practices.
While fast fashion is still a prominent feature of the industry, more and more brands are promoting transparency and sustainability than ever before.
What this means is that your efforts and advocacy make it easier for every consumer to embrace their personal style while also doing their part to protect the planet!
How to Build a Sustainable Wardrobe One Step At A Time
Building a sustainable wardrobe does not have to be difficult or expensive. There are a few simple steps you can take to make your wardrobe more sustainable. Here are a few tips to get started!
Sort and Organize Your Current Wardrobe
Go through your current wardrobe and sort your clothing by type, season, or any other system that makes sense to you. This will help you determine what pieces you already have and what might be missing. You may find that you have all the pieces of a sustainable wardrobe already!
As you sort, keep in mind which items you wear most often and which ones you never seem to reach for. This practice will help you identify the styles, silhouettes, materials, and brands you prefer most, which can inform your future buying decisions.
Donate or Recycle Unwanted Clothing
After you have sorted your clothing, you might find that there are some items that you no longer want or need. Rather than throwing these clothes away, consider donating them to a local thrift store or recycling them.
Some cities have textile recycling programs that allow you to drop off unwanted clothes, which will then be turned into new products or fabrics.
Invest in Quality Over Quantity
Many of us enjoy the thrill of shopping, but it’s important to be selective when making purchases, as buying new clothes or jewelry can contribute to the fast fashion cycle.
When you do buy items, it is important to invest in good quality items that will last longer instead of fast fashion pieces that are lower quality.
Shop Second-Hand and Support Sustainable Brands
Buying second-hand clothes is a great way to save money and extend the life of clothing and jewelry that are already in circulation. You can also make a point to support brands that use recycled, upcycled, repurposed, or reclaimed pieces and materials, which give new life to existing products.
Consider the Wearability and Versatility of New Pieces
When you are shopping for new pieces, take the time to consider how often you will actually wear the item. Will it go well with other pieces in your wardrobe? Is it something that you feel comfortable and confident in?
Livia Firth, founder of Eco Age and the Green Carpet Challenge, recommends using the “30 Wears” test – in other words, if you don’t expect that you will wear a piece at least 30 times, don’t buy it. Opting for longevity and versatility is key to building your sustainable wardrobe!
Do Your Research
When you are buying new clothes or jewelry, take the time to research the brands and find out what their sustainability practices are. Making informed decisions is a big part of being a conscious consumer!
Take Care of Your Wardrobe and Jewelry Collection
How you wash and care for your clothes and jewelry is an important part of maintaining an eco-friendly wardrobe. Washing less often and in cooler water can help save energy, for example, and generally taking proper care of your belongings will help them stay in better shape for longer.
When it comes to clothing, you can also learn how to repair items to extend their lifespans and prevent them from ending up in landfills.
Learn how to take the best care of your jewelry in the summer here!
Advocate for Sustainable Fashion
In addition to taking action in your own wardrobe, you can also help promote sustainable fashion by being an ambassador for sustainable fashion in your everyday life!
You can do this in many ways, such as:
- Educating yourself and others about the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry
- Publicly supporting brands that practice sustainability
- Writing to or calling representatives to express your support for eco-friendly practices in the fashion industry
- Shopping second-hand and encouraging your friends, family, and followers to do the same
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Not only is a sustainable wardrobe better for the environment, but it also supports fair labor practices and can help you save money in the long run. Using the tips above can help you get started on building your own sustainable wardrobe!
Reclaimed With Love is an eco-friendly jewelry subscription service that delivers reclaimed pieces of demi-fine jewelry to conscious consumers. Our parent company is committed to sustainable practices and fair labor standards, so you can trust that the pieces you receive in your subscription use sustainable practices, recycled materials, and ethical labor.
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