Style Your Closet for a Sustainable Future
Sustainability has certainly become a buzzword in recent years but it’s something that’s truly important for everyone to be mindful about, and be a part of in order to make the world a better place.
BUY LESS, CHOOSE WELL, MAKE IT LAST
I’m not trying to do something different, I’m trying to do the same thing in a different way.’
— Vivienne Westwood
If we’re all a bit more sustainable, we’ll end up having less of an impact on the world we’re living in, and that means more opportunities for those generations to come, to enjoy the planet for longer.
Transforming your wardrobe doesn’t mean sacrificing style – it means making smarter, more sustainable choices. In this short guide, discover practical and stylish ways to revamp your closet with the planet in mind. From mindful shopping to creative outfit rotation, these ‘Ways to Style Your Closet for a Sustainable Future’ tips will help you look good while doing good.
5 Ways to Style Your Closet for a Sustainable Future
Ways to Style Your Closet for a Sustainable Future #1
Choose Sustainable Brands
When it comes to picking outfits to buy and topping up your closet, consider how sustainable the brands are that you are buying from. A simple check online will give you more insight into the brands ethos. Articles and reports on companies are also a great way to find out more about who you are buying from and what steps they take to be kinder to the planet.
The best thing about sustainability becoming more popular is that you’ve got a lot more choice to choose from nowadays. Whether it’s picking out a 2 carat princess cut lab grown diamond or spending your money on clothing that’s made from recycled plastic. There’s a lot of choice in sustainable brands that make it easier to shop in general.
Ways to Style Your Closet for a Sustainable Future #2
Rotate, Recycle or Donate Clothing
When it comes to sustainability, the more you can save in the way of throwing out garments, the better. That’s why, if you’re able to, you should recycle or donate any clothing that you no longer need or want.
But before that remember to rotate your clothing. Rotating your clothing helps reduce overconsumption by maximising the use of what you already own, minimising the need for constant new purchases. This simple habit lowers your fashion footprint, conserves resources, and supports a more sustainable, circular approach to style.
It makes sense that recycling old clothing is going to be better than throwing them out in the bin – consider turning your favourite old jeans into shorts to get some extra time out of them. Children don’t need new ‘painting shirts’ for school when your old t-shirt will do, plus kids love wearing mum and dads stuff so it’s a win win!
And when it comes to donations, once washed and wearable, your clothes will be resold or given to those who will actually get use out of them. And that’s a wonderful feeling for everyone involved.
Further Reading: Making a Self-Sustaining Life in 4 Basic Ways
Ways to Style Your Closet for a Sustainable Future #3
Care For Your Clothes
Caring for your clothes is an important part of getting the most out of them. That’s why care labels are so important to follow, so that you help maintain the garments in good condition for as long as possible.
photo by Anna Voss
The more attentive you are to your garments care labels, the better. Remember: Always check the care label for specific instructions. More lines under the wash tub generally mean a more delicate cycle. Consider using cold water to prevent fading and shrinkage. Avoid tumble drying if possible to extend the life of your clothes.
Here are some key washing and drying instructions you should look for on clothing care labels:
Washing:
- Machine Wash: A tub symbol indicates the item can be machine washed. Check the number inside the tub for the maximum temperature in Celsius (e.g., 30°C for cold, 40°C for warm). Dots inside the washtub also indicate water temperature.
- Hand Wash: A tub with a hand symbol means the item should be hand-washed.
- Do Not Wash: A tub with an X means the item should not be washed in a machine.
- Cycle: Lines under the tub indicate the wash cycle: one line for permanent press, two lines for gentle.
- Bleach: A triangle indicates whether you can use bleach. An empty triangle means any bleach is okay. Diagonal lines mean non-chlorine bleach only, and an X means no bleach.
Drying:
- Tumble Dry: A square with a circle inside means you can tumble dry the item. Dots indicate the heat setting (one for low, two for medium, three for high). An X means do not tumble dry.
- Air Dry: A square with lines indicates air drying. Three vertical lines mean drip dry, one horizontal line means dry flat, and a shape like an envelope means line dry.
- Temperature: Like washing, dots can indicate dryer temperature. One dot is low heat, two is warm, and three is hot.
Ways to Style Your Closet for a Sustainable Future #4
Shop for Secondhand Clothes
To help become a more sustainable household in general, when it comes to shopping for fashion, consider shopping for secondhand clothes rather than buying brand new. Every brand new item you buy is going to contribute to the environment and the carbon emissions you produce personally.
Secondhand clothes have already produced their carbon contribution, and therefore, you avoid creating any more pollution by buying clothes already made. Simple!
Further Reading: Embracing Sustainable Travel – Towards a Greener Future
Ways to Style Your Closet for a Sustainable Future #5
Invest in Your Clothing
Finally, be sure to invest in your clothing – from fabrics to finishings, where possible. If you’re buying really cheap clothing, then chances are, it’s going to be cheap and cheerful in its quality too. While that might work for some people, for others, it’s going to result in a lot of cheap fabric ending up in a dump somewhere.
From bad stitching to flimsy fabrics, when you buy cheap there’s a very good chance you’ll be throwing out that barely worn top sooner than you’d hoped – again meaning you’re quickly contributing to mass pollution.
While many of us aspire to shop for beautifully handmade garments crafted from organic and natural materials, the reality is that these often come with a price tag that doesn’t always align with our budgets – especially for families with growing children who outgrow clothes quickly. Living rurally can also mean relying on online shopping, which adds to our carbon footprint.
Still, it’s important to make the best choices we can within our means. Being mindful of the brands we support – understanding their approach to sustainability and how they treat their workers – helps us shop with intention, even if we can’t always shop perfectly.
Did you know?
Textile production is estimated to be responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution from dyeing and finishing products.
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