By Girl Tyler
You don’t have to sacrifice style, quality, or spend a ton to have an eco-conscious closet. Go through your clothing and separate each item into one of the following categories: (1) I still love this; (2) I don't actually love this; or (3) Someone else will love this. The first category is for your favorite clothes you would take with you into the afterlife if it were possible. The second is for the items you totally forgot you had and would like to wear again but you’re not sure where or when. And lastly, category three is for the pieces you should never have purchased in the first
place, but you're frugal and cannot bear to throw them out.
Spend the afternoon consolidating your wardrobe and trying new outfits by pairing and layering your favorite looks. Consider ways to reuse your current clothing. Have a seamstress make alterations to any ill-fitting items or DIY and try to patch them up yourself!
Category (1) and Category (2) should merge into one pile. Combining the two is the moment of truth where mixing and matching will come in handy. There's a chance you can squeeze four looks out of one. Category (3) can be donated to a women’s shelter or thrift shop so they can find a new home. There is one important rule here--do not buy more unless you have to. Special occasions do arise where you’ll need to purchase a garment or accessory but, consider investing in quality pieces you’ll wear for years to come. Food and waste aren't the only things occupying landfills. Unused clothing can cause pollution too. Being an outfit repeater was once a fashion sin, but nowadays, it's responsible. Try sustainable fabrics on your next shopping trip or online browsing spree. The organic materials are biodegradable and high quality to last for a long time.
GET STARTED ON YOUR ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS WARDROBE WITH THESE SIMPLE TIPS.
Support sustainable brands that advocate for eco-friendly clothing with ethical practices to reduce pollution.
Do your research and press these brands to be transparent about how they work toward sustainable fashion. The reward is in the long-lasting material and feel-good approach to sustainable clothing made from locally sourced materials, by workers who are paid fair wages.
Take your smarts to the laundry room.
Use gentle detergents and try a dedicated wash day instead of using frequent cycles to cut back on water use and energy consumption. Consider air-drying your clothes as well.
And last, but not least, invest in eco-friendly jewelry.
Gold, silver, and platinum pieces can contain dangerous materials and have been known to cause greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. If you're on a budget, go thrifting
and purchase gently used items or swap with your friends.
