Fast fashion encapsulates everything wrong with fashion: more GHG emissions Slave labor, overproduction, cultural appropriation, and theft of designs from artisans and small businesses, to name a few issues. 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 the impact of fast fashion, but the cultural shift towards endless shopping. The shift to an endless selection of low-priced, cheap goods means buyers are never satisfied and just keep buying cheaper and cheaper junk to fill a hole that can never be filled. The illusion is that prices are lower when in reality we are shopping more than ever. Patagonia free movies shitty new era Let’s discuss this issue in more detail.
So what is the solution to all this? An act of resistance. A cultural shift to slow down, buy less, invest in quality over quantity, love clothes, appreciate what we have, and support a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry.
It sounds like a lot, but it’s actually quite simple. It starts with your closet and what you already own.
Organize your closet: Start with the clothes you already own
To build 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 closet is no exception.
First, remove all your clothes from your closet, drawers, etc. Start with a blank canvas by emptying your closets and drawers.
Next, organize all your clothes into three piles.
- clothes often worn
- Clothes I sometimes wear
- clothes you’ll never wear
It’s easiest to start with clothes you wear often. If everything is fine and nothing needs to be repaired, put everything back in the closet. Place anything that needs repair or size adjustment in a new fourth pile. tailored clothes.
Next, let’s take a look at the clothes you never wear. Is there something you like that doesn’t work for you? Put it in the fourth pile tailored clothes.
Also, ask yourself, is there anything in this pile that you really want to wear? Move those items to the pile of items you wear occasionally.
Is it over already? All the stuff left in the never-worn pile needs a new home. Remember: never throw old clothes in the trash. Instead, choose one of many more sustainable options Get rid of old clothes or search for them earth 911 Go to your local recycling center.
Next, take a look at the clothes you usually wear. Put everything you want to wear back into your closet so you can wear it regularly again.
For everything else, you can put it back in the closet, but keep it in a separate section from everything else. I’ll be wearing these items over the next few weeks. If you don’t use it after a few weeks, it might be time to move it somewhere you’ll never wear it and consider finding a new home.
Finally, take out the fourth pile you created. tailored clothes Then I take it to a local tailor. Repairing clothes and having them tailored to fit better is not only cheaper than buying new clothes, but it’s also more sustainable.
Do you know your style?
Knowing your style may seem like self-indulgence at first, but it’s actually not. In order to create a closet that you love and use, you first need to know who you are and what style you like. Once you know what you like, you can create a wardrobe of clothes that you can keep using until you can no longer use them. Nothing could be more sustainable.
If you don’t know your personal style, how can you know? While finding your style It may take decadesAnd for many of us, it’s evolved, and like most things, we can simplify it and find more joy in doing so.
First of all, stop worrying about trends and styles that influencers are doing. It’s not your personal style. Instead, Use Pinterest Find your personal style for free. Create a new board and name it something like “.my style”. Then look for style inspiration and pin all your favorites to this board.
Edit when you have 30 or more pins. Go back over your board and unpin anything you don’t like or won’t wear. The goal of personal style is to find clothes that express your style, your creativity, who you want to be in the world, and make you feel confident.
When you feel like your board is ready, you’ve completed your style. Build your wardrobe accordingly.
Remember, personal style changes, but not every day. Build your own style that will last at least 5 years.
Create a shopping list: What new clothes?
Now that you’ve organized your closet and know your style, it’s time to make a list of the clothes you need to create your style. What is your favorite piece of clothing that is missing from your closet?
Do you need some new stuff? Already have everything you need? Starting from scratch? Know where you are so you can be intentional with your shopping list.
Make a list of everything you need to achieve your desired look. A list is very important so that you only buy what you need and avoid buying on impulse.
Remember to be creative and flexible when doing this exercise. For example, if you have a favorite outfit with a green overshirt, and you already have a blue overshirt, you may be able to use blue instead and don’t need to buy a new outfit.
Have you considered a capsule wardrobe?
If you’re starting from scratch or are aiming for a completely new style, a capsule wardrobe may be the best option for you. a capsule wardrobe They have a limited number of pieces, such as 10, 20, or 30, and the pieces can be easily replaced and all wear out. For example, if one of your capsule wardrobe items is a black skirt, you can easily pair that skirt with any of the eight tops you choose.
As you can imagine, this is a very sustainable option. It’s also easy to shop because if you know you want to make a 20-piece capsule and you already own 10 pieces, you only need to buy 10 more.
How to buy sustainable clothing
Now that you know what you need, you may be wondering how you can buy it sustainably. If you enjoy being frugal or shopping on a budget, sustainability is a great place to start. \
Take your list to your local thrift store and see what you can find. It helps keep clothing from going unused and thrown into landfills.
Another great option is to buy what you need sustainable brands. This is great because sustainable brands are doing things like using more sustainable raw materials, conserving water, conserving energy, reducing GHG emissions, and paying clothing manufacturers a fair wage. It’s a choice. By purchasing these brands, you are helping to push the fashion industry towards better practices.
However, when purchasing sustainable brands, it is important to find a reliable source to avoid greenwashing. Eco-Stylist is one of the sources that thoroughly researches brands to find the most sustainable brands on the planet. can be used brand guide Search over 100 vetted brands and filter by gender, clothing type, vegan clothing, living wage, and more by what’s important to you.
Need help? Consider a personal stylist
If all of this seems daunting 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, building a sustainable closet is a daunting task. You need to know your style, then find out which brands match your style, then figure out which brands are actually sustainable, then figure out which brands fit your size . The list goes on…you can quickly see where people are getting overwhelmed and throwing up. towel.
I created Eco-Stylist to help people solve these very problems. Provides an easy-to-access environment personal styling subscription We identify your style and provide shopping recommendations curated just for you, based on your unique style profile.
Remember, a more sustainable life starts with small steps. We can all make a difference. The most important thing is to just start.
About the author
Garrick Himebo is the founder of. eco stylistthe trusted source for finding and purchasing sustainable clothing. He has been a sustainable personal stylist for 6 years, helping people discover their style with sustainable brands. Garik holds an MBA from the University of Iowa.
