Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to sacrifice your wallet for a more sustainable wardrobe. You see, being more eco-conscious is all about having the right mindset. Your closet is full of potential and you don’t need to spend big bucks to make an impact with what you wear.
There are several great resources out there to help you build a more sustainable wardrobe. But the first step you need to take before you fill up that online shopping cart should be to check out any local businesses near you. Local businesses are the heart of your community and an effective way to make a big impact is to show up where you are.
Stop by a local shop when you need something new and reach out to brands in your area. Work on cultivating meaningful relationships with the current network you have. You’ll gain a lot of momentum from simply reaching out to someone you already know or have heard of through word of mouth.
1. Do The #30wears challenge
Let’s start with what’s in your closet! You probably have a collection of favorites stashed somewhere you can easily wear over and over. But we all have that one item we hardly ever wear and still don’t want to get rid of. If you’re waiting for a sign to start wearing those clothes here is your sign!
30 wears is an app you can download on your phone to track how many wears you get from each piece. Simply take a picture of the garment you plan on wearing and start tracking the days! Using the hashtag #30wearschallenge on social media is also a fun way to spread awareness and encourage others to join in on the journey with you!
When you are out and about shopping, ask yourself if you’ll wear that item 30 times before you decide to buy it. If the answer is no, you can probably live without it. If you can wear something 30 times or more it's a good sign that purchase will be worth it.
2. Create Your Own Capsule Wardrobe
The “capsule wardrobe” concept originated in the 1970s, from an owner of a wardrobe boutique in London, by the name of Susie Faux. She believed in creating fashionable clothing in a minimalistic way and wanted to make it easier for women to choose their day-to-day outfits. This philosophy is about collecting clothing items with intention and building a closet that will support you long term.
To start building your own capsule wardrobe, experiment with the clothing items you have and find out the quantity you want to stick with. For example, maybe you love wearing pants and want to have 4 pairs to choose from within your capsule wardrobe. Maybe you only want 1 dress shirt or know you only need to have 3 pairs of shoes to alternate between. The goal is to have options of each item that you can interchange, and that will make your closet more versatile through the seasons. This will encourage you to focus on getting simple, quality items that won't go out of style and can be used multiple times.
I recommend creating a vision board of items you know you love and always come back to. You can even create a Pinterest board dedicated to clothing items and accessories for your capsule wardrobe. Start mixing and matching things to get a feel of what works for you!
3. Good On You
The Good On You app is everything you need to make the outfit of your dreams come to life in a sustainable way! This is a great tool to get social proof from others on brands that are worth the buy. Once you download the app you can check brand ratings, discover new brands, and become an advocate for change in the world of sustainable fashion.
They recently added a “location filter” feature that lets you search up sustainable businesses by region and country. Who knew that supporting local could be so convenient! They even have an online directory you can use to view brands without using the app. You can check it out here!
4. DoneGood
Done Good is an online shopping assistant tool that provides a curated list of sustainable brands to choose from. Having an account is totally free and offers loads of discounts and offers to save on quality products! They make it easy for you to find brands to purchase that reflect your values and beliefs. By using them, you are joining a community that has helped divert over a million dollars worth of consumer spending to brands that support the wellbeing of people and the planet.
5. Thrifted Clothing
If you’re on the hunt for a place to donate your clothes or need something thrifted I’ve got you! Check out these 5 resources for all your clothing needs! I touch on a few unique aspects each platform has to offer.
ThredUp is a gold mine for quality clothing at an affordable price. If you need to clean out your closet, you can even enroll in their donation program. The program gives $5 to a charity of your choice for every donation bag you give. Even if some of your items end up being unsellable, they will always recycle them responsibly.
Depop is a social platform for buying and selling clothing items. The app interface looks similar to Instagram and is simple and user-friendly. You can search thousands of different styles and use the filter setting to find a specific item by color, price, condition, etc. They recently set a goal to be climate neutral by the end of this year (2021) and focus on promoting a more circular and inclusive industry. You can learn more about Depop’s sustainability goals here.
Vinted has 45 million members and places a focus on giving second-hand items a new home. If you have clothing in good condition this is a great place to put your garments back on the market! They also have a unique feature where you can swap items with others for free.
Grailed is an all-in-one tool to ethically buy, sell, and explore vintage and luxury menswear. They focus on providing quality clothing and make it easier to shop and sell affordably, without hurting the environment.
6. Save Your Wardrobe
Save Your Wardrobe prides itself in being a full ecosystem of services for your clothing. In other words, if you need to repair those ripped jeans you absolutely love, they've got your back! In their app, they offer services like eco dry cleaning, repairs, and alterations. You’ll never have to worry about how you’re going to extend the life of your favorite garments again! You can also keep track of clothing items you have by logging them in the app. This way you can mix and match pieces to build new outfits you otherwise may have not considered trying.
In conclusion, knowing how your clothes are made is crucial to understand the impact you have. When you fill your closet with pieces that are ethically and sustainably sourced, you start to see the world around you differently. You realize that this is your home, and protecting where you live isn't optional. So fighting for what's right shouldn't be optional either.
