The push for sustainability is impacting every part of our lives. We only have one planet, so it’s important that we all work together in order to protect it for as long as possible. That involves making better, more informed choices when it comes to our everyday lifestyles is essential if we want to do our part in saving the earth. As global warming is becoming an increasingly worse issue, we all need to start making more sustainable, eco-friendly choices in order to protect the Earth. This involves everything from our transport commuting options to the foods we eat on a daily basis.
However, one of the biggest offenders when it comes to contributing to landfill waste and global warming is ‘fast-fashion.’ Fast fashion refers to cheap clothes that are produced at a very fast rate, which often fall apart after a few uses and end up in landfill. In the past, clothes were made to last for years, but this isn’t the case in the modern day. However, for all of the fashion fans out there, whether you’re super dressy or smart casual – don’t worry. You can still have a killer wardrobe without it killing the planet. By just making a few informed choices, you can transform your relationship to fashion and flip your wardrobe sustainably. Here are some key sustainability tips you need to take into account when you’re flipping your clothes!
Say Goodbye To Trends
One of the biggest causes of waste is the amount of trends that constantly circulate in the fashion world – microtrends have also become a huge problem. Microtrends are trends that last just a couple of months, if not weeks, and contribute to fashion waste massively as soon as they fall out of style. Recent examples of microtrends include cow print and different ‘aesthetic’ styles, such as cottagecore. While following these microtrends may seem like harmless fun, these micro trends are mass-produced at a very high rate in order to meet demand. However, in a couple of weeks, these items then end up in landfill. Instead of following meaningless trends, instead focus on finding your own personal style and the motifs, patterns and cuts that you actually love. This way, you will create a sustainable wardrobe that represents you all year round – no matter what’s currently trending on Tik Tok.
Sell Old Clothes Online
Growing out of clothes is natural – however, instead of throwing them away, try to sell them online wherever possible. The amount of clothes in great condition that go into waste just because the owner didn’t want to wear them anymore is eye-watering, and you can make a lot of money selling your old clothes online. In fact, many people have created entire businesses out of selling clothes online! An SEO company in Melbourne found that searches around vintage or used clothes continue to rise each year, demonstrating rising consumer demand when it comes to second-hand clothes. More people are wanting to create a more sustainable lifestyle, which includes their wardrobes. Instead of throwing clothes away, try to sell them wherever possible.
If your clothes are a little bit worse for wear, the fabric can still be recycled into new clothing. If your old clothes have holes in them, try to donate them to a place which can recycle the fabric and create new items out of them. This way, your old clothes will go into creating something new, instead of rotting in landfill. Recycling and reusing are essential when it comes to becoming more sustainable.
Choose Better Fabrics
When you’re buying new clothes, make sure to look for sustainable fabrics that don’t harm the planet. For example, certain synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon are by-products of petroleum. This means that they are completely non-biodegradable, and they create a long term threat to the planet and the ecosystem. These are very common fabrics in fast fashion – but if you want a sustainable wardrobe, they should be avoided at all costs. Instead, buying plant-based and biodegradable fabrics is much better for the environment – and in many cases are more durable, too! Organic cotton and wool are some of the cheapest sustainable fabrics on the market, but recycled fabric is also good if you’re struggling to find sustainable choices.
Research Brands
Now that the modern consumer is looking for sustainable and eco-friendly brands more than ever, brands need to keep up with consumer demand to stand out from the competition. However, many brands aren’t being completely honest with how sustainable they actually are. They could be saying that they are making sustainable choices with their carbon offsetting, but this may not be the full truth. Before buying from a brand, make sure that you have fully done your research into them, so you know that you’re truly buying from a great brand.
Start Thrifting
As well as selling second-hand clothes, you should also consider buying them too. You can find amazing clothes, including high-end designer clothes, for a fraction of the price online. Buying second-hand where you can and giving clothes a new life is essential if you want to protect the planet and make better fashion choices. Furthermore, vintage clothing is often made of better fabric and lasts a lot longer than modern fashion, so you’ll be able to find high quality pieces that last you a lot longer than modern clothing. Check out online thrift stores like Vinted and Depop, as well as thrift stores in your local area!
Look After Your Clothes
One of the best things you can do to hold onto your clothes for a lot longer is to look after them better. Instead of washing your clothes with harsh chemicals that could contribute to them falling apart much quicker, instead, invest in gentle and eco-friendly detergents that protect your clothes. Overwashing your clothes wastes a lot of resources like heat, energy and water, and makes your clothes fall apart faster. Rotating your outfits more will give you more space between wears and washes, allowing you to look after your clothes better.
Only Buy Clothes You Love
A big factor when it comes to fashion waste is people buying clothes that they don’t actually love. For example, investing money into a formal red dress that you will wear for years to come makes more sense than buying cheaper dresses that you will only wear once. When you invest your money into buying clothes that you actually love to wear, you will create a wardrobe that you will love and be able to wear for years to come. Before you buy an item, ask yourself if you will wear it more than 20 times.
Sustainable fashion is now more important than ever – start creating your sustainable wardrobe with clothes that you will love for years to come!
