You’ve seen those fashion documentaries and read those articles that show piles and piles of clothes that end up in landfills. It’s super disheartening, and alarming. The good news is, that we can do it better. Making more conscious choices as a consumer of clothes can be one of the largest ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint.
Here are 3 easy-to-implement ways in which you can make your wardrobe significantly more sustainable:
It is so important to build a wardrobe that is made up of neutral staples, where everything goes with everything. This is key, so you don’t end up with a cupboard full of clothes and feel like you have nothing to wear. You can choose the neutrals that you like the most. They are easy to style and incredibly classy. Some love a palette built on camel, browns and off-white tones with hints of blush, and others like black, greys and olives. Here is a “capsule wardrobe” guide that can help you through the process.
Ideally, 80% of your wardrobe and your shopping budget should be spent on neutral, staple, basic and simple clothing.
Good fabrics, Good clothes
Have you looked at the labels of the clothes you buy?
Look out for materials that are more natural or are recycled. Natural fabrics feel better on the skin, and a certified organic cotton t-shirt just feels more luxurious. Organic Cotton, specifically, uses far less water and has a much tinier cotton footprint. But that is just one of them, there are Hemp and Linen, fabrics that get softer and better with every wash and look absolutely incredible. For times that we have to go back to polyester, for trousers and blouses, opt for “recycled” or “non-virgin” options. It’s a great idea to study fabrics, and it’s a super interesting ride. Here’s a fun blog about fabrics that might help!
This one is not as glamorous, but probably the easiest to implement. An incredibly sustainable choice to make would be to wash your clothes less often. Apart from t-shirts and workout clothes, most articles of clothing can go between 2-5 wears depending on how carefully you wear them. Of course, this depends on a BUNCH of things, but it is likely that you’re washing clothes more often than needed. I’m quite finicky about hygiene and found this guide helpful in drawing a balance.
Quick Hack: Get a rack, or a bunch of hooks, or designate a drawer for clothes that are not worn enough to be washed, but not to be mixed with freshly laundered clothes. (A place for everything, everything in its place!)
Sustainability can be intimidating, and it is easy to feel like nothing you do will ever be enough. But it is small steps, that add up to reduce tonnes in carbon emissions. Things that become a part of your lifestyle, invariably will influence those around you and step by step, together we will come together to make choices that are cognisant of the environment, and compassionate to the people living in it.