Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Wardrobe
If you’ve only ever known a life of fast fashion growing up, making the switch to a low-impact, sustainable wardrobe can feel foreign and unfathomable, even intimidating. If you ever felt that way, then you’ve come to the right place.
Surely fast fashion is widely available and affordable for many of us, and it allows us to participate in new fashion trends almost immediately after they hit the runway. However, there’s a reason why fast fashion rolls out a huge quantity of new trendy clothing at low prices — and when you take a deep dive into the production processes of typical fast fashion retailers, you might think twice about purchasing from them. Fast fashion is infamous for the plethora of companies that rely on low-wage labor that involves poor working conditions for the garment workers. Not to mention that this industry is one of the biggest contributors to climate change, pesticide pollution, and enormous amounts of waste.
Every part of the journey of a garment contributes to environmental pollution, from manufacturing to packaging, from distribution to shipping. How, what, and where we choose to consume plays a large role in combating the environmental toll of fashion; even though closing the loop in fashion involves collective efforts from industry leaders and governmental organizations too. Now more than ever, it's crucial for all of us to make more eco-conscious decisions.
Now, does the phrase “eco-friendly clothing” immediately conjure up images of plain, dull-colored garments that lack any sort of style or desirability? That’s not really the case as more and more brands are aware of the importance of sustainability and how that impacts their reputation among consumers, which means dressing sustainably no longer means compromising on style. Here are 7 tips on how you can be stylish without costing the earth. Read on!
REFRAME YOUR MINDSET ABOUT SHOPPING
Yes, buying something new can bring a certain level of euphoria. If you’ve experienced that, you’re not alone, as our brains are chemically programmed to respond to the joy of instant gratification which in this case, is shopping. Dopamine surges when you consider to shop, anticipating new products in your hands, and when you shop. Generally dopamine receptors are activated when you experience something new, exciting or challenging. Much like social media addiction, shopping has become a widespread pastime, a pleasurable and dangerously addictive activity. In short, fast fashion shopping is a way for buyers to get trendy yet inexpensive clothing whenever they feel the urge to shop.
It’s about time that we change our attitude to shopping: that we need everything that’s shiny and new in order to garner validation on the streets and on social media. So how can we curb the need to shop every time we feel the urge to?
Need vs Want
By evaluating our purchases on a basis of ‘need vs want’ could drastically alter our shopping habits. Delaying gratification isn’t only nice to our wallets, but also we could help to reduce unnecessary wastage that comes with our purchases ie: paper bags, or boxes, plastic bags, and bubble wraps if you shop online.
On the other hand, commercials and cleverly-placed advertising on social media make us feel as if we need to have the latest item, when in fact we don’t. So the less we expose ourselves to such ads, the less we feel the need to buy them.
Plan Ahead
How many times have you bought more than you intended to? Planning ahead before shopping eliminates unnecessary and impulsive purchases. Decluttering your wardrobe before you hit the shops also helps; you are unlikely to be tempted to buy another shirt when you realize you have another five. Once you identify what’s absolutely necessary, make a list and go shopping prepared.
Besides, buying less but sustainable, better quality clothing that lasts through the years is likely going to cost you much less than buying cheaply-made high street products that fades or loses its quality after several washes. It’s all about changing your mindset to invest in eco-friendly clothing made for the long run.
Be Aware of your Emotions
Do you shop when you’re sad, angry, or heartbroken? Research shows that our emotions influence our purchasing decisions, prompting us to make compulsive, irrational purchases. Even a small sign of unhappiness or depression could take away our ability to think clearly and logically. Unconsciously we may try to fill this emotional gap by shopping, which eventually becomes a coping mechanism when we’re not feeling our best. Thus, anytime you find yourself ready to put that credit card to use, stop for a moment to assess your mood and ask yourself, are you making a conscious, level-headed decision?
Pick up a Hobby
Shopping might be leisurely and entertaining, but it’s not a legitimate hobby (much in the same way that scrolling social media and binging Netflix aren’t proper hobbies). Hobbies should bring us value, inspiration, and relaxation. So what to do instead? There are plenty of ways to be creative, relax, and have fun. Perhaps shift your focus towards cultivating new hobbies and skills. Find some activity that gives you the same therapeutic experience that shopping does.
Shopping and consumption aren’t inherently “bad”, but like everything else, it has its place. As consumers, the power is in our hands to be mindful of how we shop.
2. READ LABELS & BE SELECTIVE ABOUT FABRICS
One of the best ways to ensure your purchase will be beneficial for both your wallet and the environment in the long term, is to read the labels and check the fabric composition. It’s also crucial to educate ourselves on which fabrics are best for the environment, and vice versa, so that we will be able to make the best call on purchasing decisions.
Synthetic, plastic-based fabrics such as polyester is one of the most widely used fabrics in fast fashion, and it happens to be one of the worst fabrics for the environment. Such fabrics, including nylon and rayon, are not biodegradable, meaning they will linger in landfills and will not decompose until unless destroyed, but it doesn’t stop there. Synthetic fabrics release microplastic particles when washed, leading to microplastics being released into the ocean, causing harm for marine lives which eventually ends up on our plate.
Therefore opting for natural, sustainable, and biodegradable fabrics is the way to go. Materials such as bamboo fiber, linen, hemp, etc are fantastic because they are renewable, breathable, lightweight, and boast an abundance of other benefits without putting a strain on the planet.
However, the process of harvesting certain natural fabrics are still damaging towards the environment and wildlife, for example, cotton and conventional silk. Cotton is a very water-intensive crop; and conventional silk is derived from boiling silkworm cocoons, killing the silkworm residing inside. Therefore it’s best to go for organic cotton and vegan silk respectively.
3. REUSE
It might sound obvious, but reusing is always the best use of your clothes. UK non-profit WRAP states that extending the life of your clothes by an extra nine months of active use would reduce carbon, water and waste footprints by around 4-10% each. Just because the novelty of a new garment wears off, doesn’t mean it can’t be worn again. The use of basic pieces could be prolonged by simply styling them in different ways, hence giving them a new lease of life.
If the garment is damaged or no longer retains its original shape, there are a plethora of ways to upcycle it into something new. Or if you’re not into tinkering with upcycling projects, leave it to brands that offer repairing services such as Patagonia and Eileen Fisher. Their services take back used garments from their customers, repair or upcycle them, and resell at a lower cost; which besides keeping the used garment away from landfills, also reminds everyone to make a more conscious choice in purchasing garments.
4. BUY WITH LONGEVITY & QUALITY IN MIND
Try to stay away from buying that statement piece you know you’re only going to wear for one occasion, or that trendy top just to impress everyone (even though you know at the back of your head that they’re going to fall out of fashion in no time), only to be left in the closet for years to gather dust, or donated and disposed of. It would be so much better for both your closet and the environment to invest in high quality basic staples that you can wear again and again. Adopt a keener eye to look out for those telltale signs that a piece of clothing is built to last; could be the breathability and comfort, or how resistance the clothing is to stretching etc. Furthermore, the versatility of a piece of clothing is also something to keep in mind when shopping, so that they can be used as building blocks for your outfits, without ever going out of style.
"Don't impulse or 'one wear' buy. It's worth investing in pieces you really love and are made from high-quality materials that will stand the test of time; pieces that you'll genuinely want to keep forever. Orlagh and I love the timelessness and cyclicality of vintage; that's essentially what we want Rixo to be for our customers: future vintage," says Rixo co-founder Henrietta Rix.
"We don't follow trends when we design our collections, and most of our pieces are made from 100% natural and high-quality fibres such as silk. We love the idea that our customers would want to wear their Rixo piece time and time again and know that it's not going to go out of fashion or fall apart after a couple of wears," adds her co-founder Orlagh McCloskey.
Hence, the well-aired mantra of “Quality over quantity” is something we should all aim for when it comes to building a more sustainable closet, without sacrificing style. So the more mindful we are of how we shop, what we buy, and the more environmentally conscious we choose to be, the greater likelihood that the industry will take note of our demands and change for the better.
5. RENT OR SWAP
Almost two-thirds of donated clothes end up getting binned (not even recycled!) every year rather than being in the hands of another owner. Only hardly 20% of donated clothing ends up in second-hand stores. Even so, only a mere 7% of people purchase used clothing, according to the Savers 2018 State of Reuse Report. Therefore it’s clear that sharing our wardrobes puts us a step towards a more sustainable future.
Now we know that there’s a huge disparity between the amount of discarded clothing and clothes that are given a second life, we can do our part by shopping pre-loved clothing and contributing to the circular economy. The circular economy, in short, is a concept that aims to make the most of resources while minimizing waste or better yet, eliminating waste; which in this case, challenges the fashion industry’s conventional linear production method. (Read more on our comprehensive guide to the circular economy concept here.) Thrifting used clothes aren’t only great for finding higher quality clothing (proven by the fact that they’re durable enough and still round for second-hand use) at an affordable price; profits at thrift stores also often go toward supporting local charity organizations.
Another way to keep your wardrobe updated without contributing to waste, is to opt for rental fashion and clothing swaps. Clothing rental sites are gaining momentum for its subscription style services, and it’s perfect for those who would like to try out new looks without buying anything new. Same goes for clothing swaps, which is a great way to share what you have with others and vice versa without money changing hands. Online consignment and resell platforms are also emerging and wildly popular with millennials — in fact the reselling market is predicted to overtake fast fashion in the next 10 years! Depop, one of the more popular platforms for consignment fashion, is gaining traction amongst millennials and Gen Z consumers due to the variety of vintage clothing sold by independent sellers on its platform. Such platforms appeal to a more eco-conscious generation as a way to participate in reducing fashion waste while staying fashionable.
6. HANDLE YOUR CLOTHES WITH CARE
Taking good care of your clothes is one of the simplest, no-brainer things you can do to curb your closet’s environmental impact. Of course if you buy better quality clothes, they’re much more likely to last a long time. However, depending on how those clothes were treated could seriously impact their durability and lifespan. Going the extra mile to look after your clothes could make them stay at their best for longer. That means you won’t have to replace things so often and you can purchase fewer clothes overall, hence reducing your contribution to the negative impacts of fashion in the long run. There are a number of things you can do to take better care of everything that’s hanging in your closet. For starters, consider how you clean and maintain your clothing.
Wash your Clothes in Cold Water
Cold water washing is the best for your laundry and the environment, as it is gentler on delicate fabrics, preserving your clothes for longer. Your clothes could potentially fade, shrink, or bleed if washed in hot water. Doing your laundry in cold water also means lowering your electric bill, as hot water washing requires a lot more energy to warm the water. According to the Sierra Club, every household that switches to cold water washing could eliminate about 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide a year!
Use Eco-friendly Detergents
Conventional detergents are often formulated with synthetic chemicals and additives, which affects your clothes, your health, and those of downstream aquatic ecosystems where wastewaters end up. Even though they’re cheaper and more accessible, conventional detergents often contain phosphates which can cause algae blooms that contaminate water bodies and produce toxins that harm marine life and humans.
When shopping for more earth-friendly detergents, look for labels that indicate a product is phosphate-free, biodegradable, and plant-based (instead of petroleum-based). Detergents of that nature are hypoallergenic, thus are gentler on clothes and sensitive skins.
Skip Dry Cleaning
It would be best to skip dry cleaning your clothes, or at least use it very sparingly. Conventional dry cleaning involves chlorinated solvents (like perchloroethylene, or “perc” for short), which when exposed could link to increased risks of a number of cancer diseases; eye, nose, throat and skin irritation; and reduced fertility; among other effects. Yikes!
Fix your Clothes
Over time, clothing that is frequently worn will surely show signs of wear and tear, even if it’s of good quality. So don’t be afraid to get it fixed over time, instead of throwing it away just because of a damaged zip or loose buttons. Extend the wear of your garments by patching them up with a sewing kit, or if that isn’t your thing, have a tailor or cobbler to do it for you.
7. SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE BRANDS
One of the barriers to dressing more sustainably is knowing where to shop. Roughly more than a decade ago, sustainable brands are such a rare find, and do not have much to offer in the first place. The good news is, in this day and age there’s so much more brands that operate with sustainability in mind, hence it’s easier for us to choose from. As consumers we get to vote with our dollars by supporting companies that make sustainable and ethical decisions when producing their clothes; especially considering the fact that every piece of clothing, even if it is sustainably sourced and ethically made, leaves footprints behind on our planet.
To begin with, do a little investigative work on a handful of brands you know and love, and start from there. Research on the origin of their product, where it was made, who made them, and how it reaches the shelves on stores. Brands that prioritizes sustainability tend to be more transparent regarding their production process and resources, and you can ask questions if you’re uncertain or if the details are murky. Social media is such an easy way to speak directly to brands and get your questions answered quickly.
As clothing is an indispensable part of our lives, it’s crucial to be selective and go out of your way to find out about the process behind the company when making purchasing decisions. The more knowledge you have, the better informed you will be to make the right choice. Brands that prioritize renewable resources, ethical treatment of employees, less resource wastage, and full transparency would form the list of sustainable brands that you can shop from.
We totally understand that sustainable brands are often unattainable and fairly expensive for some consumers, especially if they are used to the pricing of fast fashion brands. However that is exactly why investing in those brands will make them more accessible to more people of any budget in the long term. When we approach shopping sustainably, we should perceive it in the same vein as investing in luxury items for the long run, as the pieces will be part of your life, and last you through the years. Supporting brands that care about the earth makes the investment worth it, as they have a continued dedication to uphold ethical and environmental standards during all phases of the product life cycle, bringing down footprints that the fast fashion industry left behind.
As consumers, we are accustomed to the constantly changing array of styles, trends, and colors, thanks to the rise of the Internet and social media platforms. Companies leveraged those platforms to create a sense of urgency and desire, prompting a wave of fast fashion consumerism in the digital age. And the root of the fast fashion environmental crisis is partly because we’ve accepted rampant consumerism as the norm; the consequences of it never crossed our minds.
So how do you change the narrative where trendy disposable style is the norm? The answer is twofold: education and accessibility. Firstly educating consumers on the negative impacts of fast fashion consumerism, the benefits of adopting a more eco-friendly wardrobe, of buying less but better, etc. Secondly, making eco-friendly cleaning solutions, second-hand clothing, and clothing rental services more appealing and accessible to the general public. Such solutions would slowly and gradually shift the deep-rooted mindsets of ours that are accustomed to fast fashion; and normalizing sustainable apparel and goods.
Join us in revolutionizing the fashion industry as we strive to do better for our planet, our ecosystems, and our communities. Check out our page here to see what we have to offer!
If you’re interested in transitioning to a more sustainable clothing production process, let us know how we can help you in your journey here!
