Many of us use fashion as a form of self-expression, it’s a great way to make a statement and boost your confidence. You might know lots about fashion, or be a little clueless. Either way, most of us want to look our best.
When you’re creating your wardrobe you’ll need to think about green practices as well as glamor. How can you ensure that your wardrobe is eco-friendly? It’s actually easier than ever before to go green, there are so many different options available. To revamp your wardrobe today, focus on the following ideas.
1 . Try a clothes swap
The fashion industry creates a lot of waste, which is incredibly bad for our planet. If you’ve got items that you no longer wear, consider taking these items to a clothes swap event. As the name suggests, you can trade your unwanted clothing, and take home second-hand garments for free. There are plenty of benefits of checking out a clothes swap including:
- Support second-hand fashion in your local community.
- Bag yourself a few glamorous items with nothing to pay.
- As the old saying goes, ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!’
- Research green brands
To build yourself an earth-kind wardrobe you’ll need to research eco-friendly fashion brands. Find out how the clothing is made and what materials are used. Learn about the ethics of the brand, and the sustainability initiatives. Try to judge their sense of CSR, do you think they are a socially responsible brand?
Researching green brands is important, but it can take some time. The Good On You app makes the research process less time consuming. All you have to do is search the brand name, and you’ll get plenty of info about green practices.
- Set mindful shopping rules
To create a wardrobe that’s both green and glamorous it’s a good idea to set mindful shopping rules. What exactly are mindful shopping rules? Mindful shopping means thinking a little more carefully about the items you buy. It means shopping responsibility, and avoiding overconsumption. Here are a few examples:
- Avoid buying clothing garments if you already have a very similar item at home.
- Only buy clothing that you need or that you love.
- Clear out your wardrobe before going on a big shopping spree.
- Hire clothing
Are you guilty of buying a clothing item and then only wearing it once? Perhaps you love a new dress for a party or night out? We all want to look out best, but buying something you’re only going to wear once is a huge waste. So what’s the answer? Hiring clothes is the way forward! There are plenty of companies that will allow you to hire clothing items at affordable prices. You can get yourself a super stylish one-off kind outfit, without the commitment.
- Use pre-loved apps
Buying pre-loved clothing is one of the best ways to be sustainable. There are lots of apps and sorts where you can buy lovely second-hand clothing. If you’d like a few ideas to get started, try a few of these:
- Thred Up: Here you’ll find plenty of beautiful pre-loved clothes, from high-street brands to designers. Have a few items to sell yourself? Thred-Up makes the process super easy.
- PoshMark: If you love glamorous designer gear but you don’t want to pay designer price-tags, PoshMark is the app for you. Here you’ll nab yourself some gorgeous items without breaking the bank.
- Grailed: This app is specifically for men’s wear, here you can pick up vintage garments, street wear clothes, or find garments from independent designers.
- Shop in vintage stores
If you’re serious about sustainability, vintage stores are the place to be. Explore the rails and treat yourself to some beautiful clothing items at affordable prices. If you’ve never shopped vintage before, make 2022 the year that you give it a try. You’ll save money and shake up your style. Vintage stores are the perfect place to experiment with old school glamorous looks.
- Slow fashion
Fast fashion should be avoided, and slow fashion is where it’s at. What exactly does slow fashion mean? According to The Good Trade, ‘ Slow fashion is the widespread reaction to fast fashion. It’s thoughtful, intentional, and holistic.’
Slow fashion focuses on versatile, classic pieces that last. Read up on the slow fashion movement, the more you learn, the easier it is to create a sustainable wardrobe. Supporting the slow fashion movement is the best way to go green.
- Quality garments
When you’re shopping for new clothes ensure that you buy high quality garments. Cheaper items need to be replaced more often, creating plenty of waste. Whether you’re shopping for men’s leather jackets or women’s classic jeans, it’s better to invest in a higher quality item. The leather jacket is a timeless fashion item which many of us own. If you’re keen to learn about leather alternatives, read up on the following materials:
- Pinatex
- Waxed Canvas
- Recycled Rubber
- Cork
- Learn about materials
While we’re on the subject of materials there are so many other eco-friendly materials to look out for. When you’re shopping for clothing items look for organic cotton, hemp, bamboo and soy cashmere. Other earth-kind materials include apple leather, woocoa and Alpaca wool. Learning about the materials you are purchasing can help you to reduce your carbon footprint, and think carefully about the items you consume.
You might not be able to go eco-friendly every single time, but each small effort you make has a collective impact.
- Learn to sew
Learning how to sew is a super handy skill, when you learn how to sew you’ll be able to fix your clothing items if they break. It might sound difficult, but really all you need is the right knowledge. To learn the ropes check out a few video tutorials, or read a few articles. If you prefer you might like to take a sewing workshop? Next time that your favorite dress gets a hole in it you’ll be able to fix it up good as new.
- Podcasts to inspire
There are so many places to find green fashion inspiration. To continue your learning journey, check out a few of these podcasts:
- Wardrobe Crisis Podcast: If you’re keen to learn more about sustainable fashion, this is the podcast for you. Tune in to hear about all the latest green fashion trends and tips. Recent episodes have explored themes such as ‘Is it time to de-fashion?’ and ‘sustainable designers you need to know’.
- Pre-loved fashion podcast: Hosted by Emily Stochl, every week you’ll learn about the second-hand fashion industry. If you want to make a difference and become a more mindful shopper, tune in.
- Clear out old items
Before you shop for a new look make sure that you clean out your old items. If there are garments you no longer wear, you’ll need to dispose of these first. There are lots of ways that you can get rid of your old items. You might sell them, donate them or recycle them? Clearing out your wardrobe gives you a chance to look at the clothing items you already have. Perhaps there are a few old fashion pieces that you could rework?
Using these twelve ideas you’ll look amazing and go green at the same time. Revamping your wardrobe takes a bit of time, and it’s so important to remember sustainability. From preloved apps to vintage stores there are so many places to find green fashion items.
(Image: unsplash)
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