With eco-fashion on the rise, assembling a sustainable wardrobe is more affordable and convenient than ever before. Like other eco-conscious lifestyle changes, building a more sustainable wardrobe is not something you need to do overnight. Greening your closet bit-by-bit not only suffices. It is also more feasible. If you’re looking to add nothing but sustainable clothing to your closet or dresser from this point forward, follow these tips.
Repurpose old attire
Not everyone has a penchant for DIY fashion. But it can be surprisingly simple to give old clothing and accessories a new lease on life. If you have a creative streak or are feeling bold or experimental, bust out your fabric scissors, a needle, and some thread and get to work. If you want to skip the needle and thread, there are plenty of no-sew ways to repurpose clothes you no longer like, that no longer fit, or that your roommates or friends no longer want.
Buy vintage
When adding to your wardrobe, the most eco-friendly thing you can do is acquire clothing that isn’t truly new. Whatever you bring home from the vintage shop will be new to you, and chances are it may not even have been worn much by its previous owner(s). Shop for vintage clothing at local consignment stores or online stores like Portero, The RealReal, and SnobSwap.
Research brands before you buy
Some clothing designers and manufacturers care about their environment. Stick to these eco-fashion brands when purchasing new clothes. A look at a company’s production process and green initiatives usually reveals whether or not the company is eco-conscious. A Peace Treaty, Edun, H&M Conscious, Kordal, Kowtow, Loomstate, Pelcor, and Reformation are eco-fashion brands you can trust.
Forego fur
Clothes made from fur, leather, and some types of wool are terrible for the environment. And not merely because of animal rights concerns. When fashioned into clothing, these animal hides and hair are treated with toxic chemicals that pollute the air, water, and land. Unfortunately for eco-conscious fur lovers who are fine with faux substitutes, the production of faux fur is also hard on the environment.
Familiarize yourself with fabrics
Where environmental degradation is concerned, some synthetic fabrics are as bad as clothing made from treated animal products. The production of acrylic, polyester, rayon, nylon, acetate, and triacetate fibers pollutes the environment. Some of these materials are also linked to health concerns.
Discard responsibly
Buying durable, responsibly-manufactured clothes that you’ll wear for years is the key to assembling a sustainable wardrobe. When you decide you’re through with an article of clothing, however, it’s important to ditch it in an eco-friendly way. If you can sell something to a vintage shop, that’s awesome. If you can’t, donate it. Don’t send clothing that can be worn by someone else or otherwise repurposed to a landfill.
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