Five years ago I wouldn’t have thought twice about the impact my wardrobe was having on the environment and little would I have let it stop me from buying something new. In fact only when I started researching a couple of years ago, did I realise exactly how much of an impact our wardrobes have, which quickly resulted in 2018 being my year off from buying new clothes. The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries and it’s responsibility for the environment has been overlooked until recently, and if like me, expressing yourself through what you wear is what you do, but you like the idea of stopping climate change more, there are a few tips for doing both:
1. Re-wear
Wear the clothes you already own over and over again and don’t be scared of a #repeatOOTD. This is absolutely and ultimately the best advice to give to anyone looking to reduce the impact of their wardrobe. Lucy Siegle, environmentalist, journalist and author, goes by the mantra of giving a piece a minimum of 30 wears, and if buying something new, ask yourself if you will wear it 30 times and if not, consider if it’s really something you should buy, even if the price is unbelievably cheap (just think how much the people it took to make it were paid).
2. Make & Repair
A hole, a missing button or a broken zip doesn’t mean the end of a piece. The art of sewing is not lost yet and it’s never too late to learn. Whether you’re brand new to it or a skilled seamstress, repairs don’t have to blend in, take inspiration from the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-sabi and make a feature out of the repair so you needn’t worry about keeping it neat. Don’t forget, tailors still exist and are always there as a back up if it’s for that special piece or you don’t have the time to DIY.
3. Buy second hand or attend a clothes swap.
You might love clothes, like them, or at the very least, wear them. Reformation, a sustainable clothing brand, says ‘being naked is the number one most sustainable option’, but it’s not likely we’ll all swap to that yet. Buying from charity shops gives money to charity and you can often find hidden gems, but keep in mind when you’re thinking of donating unwanted clothes to charity, that there are other options. Clothes swaps are growing ever more popular as an alternative and you can find advice to host your own on many websites such as getswishing.com, or simply swap with your friends and family - get wardrobe raiding! Online selling communities such as Depop and Vestiaire Collective also offer ways to find (and sell) unique second hand and vintage pieces without leaving the house.
4. Think about the materials and beware of greenwashing.
You’re likely to find a whole host of fabrics in your wardrobe and it’s tricky to work out what’s best. This section is worthy of it’s own article, but generally speaking 100% natural fabrics or recycled natural fibres (leather is also worthy of it’s own article) are better than manmade polyester which is an oil derived plastic fibre. The problem with polyester garments is that every time we wash them we release micro plastic fibres into the water system. When vintage shopping it’s sometimes hard to find many natural fabrics amongst the 80’s polyester and nylon, and for polyester items we already own there is the Guppyfriend washing bag we can use to reduce the loss of microfibres. Be careful of ‘greenwashing’ and the increasingly popular ‘green' idea that clothing brands are using of turning recycled plastic bottles into fibres. Unfortunately this is not as great as it sounds as it creates the same micro plastic releasing problem as polyester and if it continues to gain popularity could start making the problem worse.
5. If you have to buy new, take your time and do the research.
It’s difficult to not ever buy anything new as things such as underwear aren’t necessarily a good idea to buy second hand. It’s also good to encourage new and existing brands and independent designers to find creative ways at tackling the problem and take responsibility. Just a few examples are Maison Cleo, a French mother and daughter duo using a traditional made to order model, using only leftover natural fabrics to create elegant limited edition styles and Zerowastedaniel are piecing together cutting floor offcuts to create unique patterns. A few great places to discover ethical and sustainable brands are through ecoage.com, Fashion revolution and know the origin, and some great fashion and sustainability advocates to follow on social media are Lucy Siegle, Céline Semaan and Clare Press.