The idea of changing the way you shop for clothes to opt for more sustainable options can be a daunting one, but it isn’t as hard as you might think and it's definitively worth it in the long run. We have gathered these tips to help you dress more sustainably, without very much effort at all.
The 30 wears test
You have to start asking yourself, “Will I wear it a minimum of 30 times?” Livia Firth, the founder of Eco Age who began the #30Wears campaign says “If the answer is yes, then buy it. But you’d be surprised how many times you say no”. Avoid buying statement pieces that you are only going to wear once, and instead invest in something with more longevity that you can wear again and again, but can be styled in different ways and will not go out of fashion any time soon.
Buy from sustainable brands
To start off, you can do a bit of research and find a handful of brands that align with your values. After a while, you’ll know more about the subject and will have a whole lot of brands to choose from. Be sure to find out where the brands source their materials, what they are made from and how sustainable their production process is.
Buy second-hand online
The most sustainable clothing is already in your wardrobe, but sometimes it’s hanging up in somebody else’s, waiting to be re-sold! You can choose from a lot of different second-hand shops or swap pages available on Facebook. Given that 300,000 tonnes of unwanted clothes are binned, not recycled, every year, it's clear that sharing our wardrobes and contributing to the circular economy is a step towards a more sustainable future.
Look after your clothes
Choosing better quality clothing may last you longer, so think about possibly spending a bit more, but the clothing item will last longer, and therefore reducing the need to buy a replacement. Washing your denim on reverse will help them last longer.
Learn how to repair clothing yourself
This way you don’t necessarily have to throw away every damaged clothing item. If it seems too complicated for you, you can even find a good tailor to do it.
Donate your unwanted items
Rather than leaving them hanging in your wardrobe, or even worse, throwing them away, you could donate your unwanted clothes to a charity. There are many charities locally, which could benefit from these unwanted items, as long as they are still in good condition. Ones which have been somewhat damaged could also be used by animal shelters for bedding.
Rent for special occasions
For a one-time event, renting a specific piece of clothing can be the best option. It means less will be bought and less will be left ruining our planet.
It is all about changing your perspective! Learning how to dress more sustainably sustainably doesn’t mean wearing ugly clothes or spending huge amounts of money. You just need to adjust how you spend your coins and go for quality over quantity. That way, you will eventually have a high-quality, sustainable wardrobe to be proud of!
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