Earth Day is just around the corner, a day that reminds us how important it is for us to make an effort to become more environmentally conscious shoppers. But even with good intentions, building an ethical wardrobe can undoubtedly be a challenge. It can prevent you from wearing familiar brands and limit your trend options, not to mention curbing your impulse buying urges and resisting the temptation to always buy new things for special occasions.
While all of these concerns are valid, getting started on a sustainable wardrobe isn’t as hard as you might think, and it’ll definitely be worth it in the long run. The most important thing to remember is that you’re making a positive change, no matter how small it may feel at the time. Every step you take towards becoming a more environmentally friendly shopper is a positive one.
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To support you on your journey to sustainable fashion, we’ve collected 10 tips from leading industry experts to show you how to make the biggest impact with the smallest changes (with almost no effort at all).
1) Educate yourself
The most important first step to becoming a more conscious shopper is to do some research to help inform your decision-making. Knowing where to start, and more importantly, where to shop, is key. Thankfully, it’s now a lot easier than it used to be. There are a ton of brands that operate with a sustainability-focused philosophy. Do your research, find a few of your favorite brands, and start from there. After a while, you’ll have a larger portfolio of knowledge and a multitude of brands to choose from. Browse our guide to stylish, sustainable brands that are working hard to carve out a greener place in the fashion industry.
Agata Pospiesinska featured in Harper’s Bazaar UK
Amy Pawny, creative director at sustainable brand Mother of Pearl, reminds us how important it is to do your homework. “I always encourage people to do a little research and ask questions if there’s something they don’t understand,” says Pawny. “Social media is a really easy way to interact with brands quickly and directly. When making these special purchases, you want to make sure you’re buying from brands that align with your values.”
A general rule to apply when researching whether a brand is sustainable is that if you’re having trouble finding their credentials, there’s a good chance they’re not as eco-friendly as they claim. Read our “Unstitched” series, which highlights brands that understand exactly what it means to be a sustainable force for good in today’s fashion world, featuring brands like Ninety Percent, Brother Vellies, Bite Studios, and House of Dagmar.
2) Well beyond 30 wear tests
For many years, the benchmark for buying new clothes as a suitable investment has been aiming to wear them at least 30 times. The 30 Wears Challenge was created in 2015 by Eco-Age co-founder Livia Firth and journalist Lucy Seigle to encourage shoppers to ask themselves whether they will wear an item at least 30 times before purchasing it. But as sustainability becomes a bigger part of our daily lives, questions are being asked about whether 30 wears is enough when buying clothes to last a lifetime.
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Today, fashion is more environmentally conscious than ever, making the 30-wear rule feel a bit outdated. In fact, your goal should be to buy clothes that you can wear forever, not just 30 times. “The fashion landscape was very different back then. There was much less awareness of sustainability and fewer brands doing sustainable things,” Firth said. “A lot of people came up to me and asked me, ‘Where should I shop? What should I buy?'”
Jeremy Mohler // Getty Images
So, instead of buying showy pieces you’ll only wear once, invest in long-lasting pieces you can wear again and again. Opt for versatile pieces that can be styled in different ways, rather than pieces you know will go out of style quickly.
3) Invest in clothes that can be worn all year round
Only buy items you know you can wear year-round. If you live in a cold, rainy place, don’t buy an entire summer outfit every year. Instead, invest in versatile layered pieces that you can wear for more than one season. Jeans, t-shirts, classic dresses, and timeless coats and jackets make for more sustainable clothing.
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4) Take care of your clothes to make them last longer
This may sound obvious, but it’s so important. Sure, buying quality clothes will last longer, but this applies to everything hanging in your wardrobe: the better you look after them, the less often you’ll need to replace them. From caring for your cashmere to washing your denim inside out, it takes effort to make your clothes last longer.
“If you’re looking to invest in a garment care essential, we recommend a steamer, either handheld or stand-alone,” advises Frej Lewenhaupt, CEO and co-founder of garment care brand Steamery. “A steamer is an effective, gentle alternative to ironing, leaving your clothes smooth, fresh, and wrinkle-free. The hot steam reduces odors, kills bacteria, and removes all traces of wear from your clothes. We also recommend a fabric shaver, which is a great tool for removing pilling from knitted items and extending their life.”
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5) Donate your unwanted clothes
Donating unwanted clothes to a good cause instead of leaving them hanging in your wardrobe helps others to be more sustainable. Someone will enjoy giving your clothes a second (or even third) life. A great way to do this is to have a one in, one out policy – that is, live by the mantra that every time you buy something, you donate something.
John Schulli // Getty Images
6) Change your shopping attitude
We all know how fun shopping can be and how exciting it can be to wear new items. But an item doesn’t have to be brand new to get that feeling of newness. Picking out vintage pieces or renting a special piece for a special occasion is a smart way to get the same feeling. Vestiaire Collective, The RealReal, and 1stDibs are all great options. Check out more of the best designer resale sites below.
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Another eco-friendly way to keep your wardrobe up to date is to choose renting fashion. Considering that 300,000 tonnes of unwanted clothing are thrown into the trash every year instead of being recycled, it’s clear that sharing your wardrobe and contributing to a circular economy is a step towards a more sustainable future. The concept of a circular economy is, simply put, an economic system that aims to minimize waste and maximize resources. It challenges fashion’s linear production line, where clothes end up in landfills. Using a rental platform instead of buying something new every time means you buy less and less to spoil the planet. Check out our top rental platforms below.
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7) Invest in quality over quantity
It’s all in the planning. Buying higher quality, more sustainable items may cost more than buying cheaper alternatives from the start, but it’s about changing your mindset. Yes, they’re more expensive, but you’ll wear them for longer and you’ll buy less overall each season. Buying just a few high-quality items a year instead of a lot of cheap, less eco-friendly items can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. Basically, save, invest, and buy less.
Edward Bartello // Getty Images
8) Adjust your spending habits when buying new things
Retarget your splurges. Instead of spending your savings on a wedding dress or shoes you’ll only wear on special occasions, spend your “investment” funds on things you’ll wear every day. Stop thinking, “I can’t spend that much on jeans.” Instead, think you’re only going to buy one pair of jeans for the time being, and make it happen. After a few seasons, you’ll have a high-quality, sustainable wardrobe you can be proud of.
9) Learn to repair your own clothes (or find a good tailor)
If something rips or your heel breaks, you don’t necessarily have to throw it away. Learn how to repair your clothes and accessories. Or, even easier, pay a professional to fix it. Think twice before using it as an excuse to buy something new.
Being more sustainable in fashion can be as simple as finding a great tailor you can trust, rather than throwing out clothes that feel out of date. Check out Sojo, an alteration app that connects users with local seamstresses and tailors who will deliver items that need alterations or repairs – by bike, of course (the most eco-friendly option).
“Donating your clothes to charity or taking them to a clothing recycling facility doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be resold or recycled; the clothes you think you’re giving new life to often end up in landfill,” founder Josephine Phillips reminds us.
Eric Madigan Heck, Harper’s Bazaar
10) Change your perspective and stick to it
“I don’t think the word ‘eco’ should immediately conjure up images of oatmeal-coloured clothes, or clothes that are too big, or that lack luxury, beauty, detail or glamour,” says Stella McCartney. “I don’t think organic has to look ugly. Why can’t it be beautiful? I don’t think we can ask consumers to compromise. I think we can’t say, ‘This jacket looks awful but it’s organic. Here’s a cheaper and very beautiful jacket, but don’t buy it because it’s not organic.'”
As more and more brands realize the importance of being environmentally conscious, dressing sustainably no longer means compromising, so stop thinking that way.
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