Reducing the environmental impact of your closet with more sustainable clothes
The textile and fashion industry has long been known for being one of the most polluting ones worldwide. We are talking about inhumane working conditions, highly contaminating manufacturing practices, an excessive amount of overproduction and so much more. Nevertheless, for the last couple of years it has taken a change of course towards a more sustainable future: a turning point that involves not only brands but also consumers.
Brands are now making important changes in their production chain with the intention of creating greener garments, assuring healthy working conditions and fair wages for their employees. On the other hand, consumers are finally beginning to understand that their actions have consequences and that they can actually make a change when shopping more consciously. In basic terms, the future of fashion will be sustainable or just won’t be.
In order for you to achieve your ecological goals and to build a sustainable wardrobe, we’ve come up with a few tips to help you find eco-friendly brands and other shopping alternatives.
6 ways to nail your ethical shopping list and up your sustainable clothes game
Shopping more consciously means buying only what you really need and doing it from brands that are in equilibrium with both the environment and the people. But in an industry where we are constantly drowning in greenwashed advertising and where fast fashion is still a major issue, it might be a little bit difficult to fulfill this task. Not impossible, just a little bit tricky. Fortunately, there are a few things you can put in action to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible.
1. Buy local
The first thing to have in mind is to buy from local and sustainable clothes brands. This is one the most eco-friendly shopping methods because it helps reduce pollution caused by worldwide logistics. That is to say, you’re saving an incredible amount of energy by not buying your clothes from brands on the other side of the world.
Use your social media accounts to support small local businesses and help spread the word about them. We are entering a new era of collaboration and support, and it’s a great thing to be a part of.
2. Shop for sustainable clothes from multi-brand stores
This is a great tip, especially if you are recently starting in the sustainable fashion world. Because you still might not know a lot of ethical brands, buying from sustainable multi-brand platforms will allow you to discover plenty of stores. Here there are some of the best places to shop for eco-friendly and sustainable clothes right now:
3. Save the planet, buy vintage
Shopping from second-hand and vintage stores is the greenest alternative by far. It has been a common practice for quite a while now, but it has become a trendy option only in the past few years, especially among young consumers. Why vintage shopping is sustainable is very easy: buying pre-loved items reduces the need of producing new ones, therefore it helps save tons of energy and water.
Thrifting is an experience to enjoy in pairs because four eyes are always better than two! In addition, we recommend you turn on the notifications of your favorite vintage stores on Instagram (and follow them on every social media), so you don’t miss any updates and you can increase the chances to find that wanted garment.
4. It’s time to swap!
Have you ever heard of a swapping party? Well, it is for sure one of the greatest ways to update your wardrobe, and the best thing is that you don’t need any money. Yes, it’s free! The basic idea of a swapping party is that everyone has to bring their unwanted garments and then each person can exchange them for someone else’s. One piece of clothing for another. And it can also be applied to accessories, such as shoes, jewelry and so on.
You can either attend a swapping party in your hometown or organize one yourself with your friends and family. Check out Berlin Clothing Swap to get inspired!
5. Care for your clothes like the good friends they are
All of these tips have zero value if you don’t take proper care of your clothes. We highly advise you to look at your garment’s label tag on the inside to learn everything you need to know about how to wash, dry and store your clothes in order to achieve a long-lasting relationship with your closet.
6. Use them even after you can’t wear them
Last but not least, if you can’t wear them any more and no amount of sewing can save your clothes, don’t just throw them away. Make use of them elsewhere! You can use them as dish rags or general purpose towels for use around the house. If the fabric is thin enough, try making your own beeswax wraps – simply repurposing of items that have reached the end of life for one task keeps our things from reaching the landfill unnecessarily and allows us to further utilize the resources that were used to produce the good.
The journey towards sustainability has many roads. No matter which one you choose, always remember that the most important thing is to take the first step!