Fast fashion encapsulates everything that is wrong with fashion. greenhouse gas emissions Problems include slave labor, overproduction, cultural appropriation, and stealing designs from artisans and small businesses. but fast fashion It’s not an inevitable choice. There are ways to dress well, be sustainable, and even save money. Let me explain.
The bigger problem is not a result of fast fashion, but a cultural shift toward limitless shopping. The shift towards endless choices of cheap goods at low prices means buyers will never be satisfied and will continue to buy more and more cheap junk to fill a void that can never be filled. This is an illusion of low prices when in reality we are shopping more than ever. Free movies from Patagonia Shithropocene We investigate this issue further.
So what is the solution to all this? Act of resistance. A cultural shift to slow down, buy less, invest in quality over quantity, love your clothes, take care of what you have, and support a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry.
It may sound like a lot, but it’s actually very simple. It starts with your wardrobe and the things you already own.
Organize your closet: Start with the clothes you already own
To create the sustainable wardrobe of your dreams, you first need to consider all the clothes you already own. A big part of sustainability is reusing and utilizing what you have, and your wardrobe is no exception.
To start, take all your clothes out of your closet, drawers, etc. Start with a blank canvas by emptying your closets and drawers.
Next: Organize all your clothes into three piles.
- clothes worn often
- clothes worn occasionally
- clothes you never wear
Clothes you wear often are the easiest to start with. If everything fits well and doesn’t need repairs, simply put it back in the closet. Put anything that needs repairs or resizing in a new, fourth pile. tailor-made clothes.
Next: Look at clothes you’ve never worn. Is there something there that you like but that doesn’t work for you? Put it in the fourth pile. tailor-made clothes.
Also, ask yourself if there are clothes in this pile that you really want to wear. Move those items to the occasional wear pile.
Is that enough? Anything left in the never-worn pile needs a new home. Remember: never throw your old clothes in the trash. Instead, choose one of many A more sustainable option dispose of or retrieve old clothes Earth911 Contact your nearest recycling center.
Next, take a look at the clothes you wear occasionally. Put the clothes you want back in your closet so you can wear them regularly again.
You can put everything else back in the closet, but keep it in a separate section from everything else. Over the next few weeks you will be trying to wear these clothes. If you don’t use them after a few weeks, it’s a good idea to move them into a pile where they won’t wear out and find a new home for them.
Finally, take the fourth pile you created. tailor-made clothes Then take it to your local tailor. Repairing your clothes and customizing them to fit better is not only cheaper than buying new clothes, it’s also more sustainable!
Do you know your personal style?
Knowing your style may seem self-indulgent at first, but it’s actually anything but. To create a wardrobe that works well and you love, you first need to know who you are and what style you like. Once you know what you like, you can build a wardrobe with clothes that are all used until they are no longer usable. What could be more sustainable than that?
If you don’t know your personal style, how can you find out? Discovering my own style It may take decadesAnd for many of us, it’s evolving. Like most things, you can simplify and find more joy in doing so.
First of all, don’t worry about trends or what influencers are wearing. That’s not your personal style. Instead, Use Pinterest Discover your personal style for free. Create a new board and name it ‘my style“. Then search for style inspiration and pin everything you like to this board.
Once you have at least 30 Pins, it’s time to edit them. Take a second look at the board and unpin anything you don’t like or wear. The goal of personal style is to find clothes that express your style, creativity, who you want to be in the world, and your confidence.
Once you feel your board is ready, you’ll have your personal style. Build your wardrobe accordingly.
One thing to remember: Personal style changes, but not every day. Build a personal style that you can maintain for at least five years.
Make a shopping list: What new clothes do you need?
Now that you’ve organized your closet and know your style, make a list of what clothes you need to create your style. What’s missing from your closet that you can see in your favorite clothes?
Need some new parts? Do you already have everything you need? Are you starting from scratch? Know where you are so you can create an intentional shopping list.
Now make a list of all the items you need to achieve your ideal style. Lists are very important to ensure you only buy what you need and not buy impulsively.
Remember to be creative and flexible when doing this exercise. For example, if you have an outfit you like with a green overshirt, but you already have a blue overshirt, you can use the blue overshirt instead and you don’t have to buy a new one.
Have you considered a capsule wardrobe?
If you’re starting from scratch or looking to start with a completely new style, a capsule wardrobe can be a great option. no way capsule wardrobe There are limited quantities – 10, 20, 30 – so they can be easily replaced and everything wears out. For example, one of the items in your capsule wardrobe might be a black skirt, and that skirt can easily be paired with any of your eight tops of choice.
As you can imagine, this is a very sustainable option. If you want to make a batch of 20 capsules and already own 10, shopping is easy because you only need to buy 10 more.
How to Buy Sustainable Clothing
Now that you know what you need, you might be wondering how you can buy sustainably. If you enjoy thrifting or shopping on a budget, this is a great starting point for sustainability. \
Take your list to your local thrift store and see what you can find. It helps keep your clothes in use and keeps them out of landfill.
Another good option is to shop around for what you need. sustainable brand. This is a great choice because sustainable brands do things like use more sustainable raw materials, conserve water, save energy, reduce GHG emissions, and pay fair wages to clothing manufacturers. Shopping these brands helps push the fashion industry toward better practices.
However, when shopping for sustainable brands, it’s important to find trustworthy sources to avoid greenwashing. Eco-Stylist is one of the sources that thoroughly researches brands to find the most sustainable brands on the planet. you can use brand guide Find over 100 verified brands and filter by what matters to you, including gender, clothing type, vegan clothing, living wage, and more.
Need help? Consider a Personal Stylist
If all of this seems overwhelming to you, a personal stylist may be the answer. These professionals can help you clean out your closet, identify your ideal style, and even shop for clothes.
For many people, creating a sustainable wardrobe is too much work. You need to know your style, find a brand that fits your style, then figure out which brands are actually sustainable, and figure out which brands fit your size. The list goes on. You can quickly see where people get overwhelmed and give up. towel.
I created Eco-Stylist to help people solve these exact problems. We provide accessible services Personal Styling Subscription We understand your style and provide shopping recommendations tailored to you based on your unique style profile.
Remember that living more sustainably starts with small steps. We can all make a difference, the most important thing is to start!
About the author
Garik Himebaugh is the founder. eco stylistYour trusted source for finding and shopping sustainable clothing. He has been a sustainable personal stylist for six years, helping people discover their own style through sustainable brands. Garik holds an MBA from the University of Iowa.
