JOANNE Watkinson
CAN YOUR WARDROBE SUSTAIN YOU?
Becoming more sustainable is a responsibility that we all share. Sir David Attenborough made it very clear by telling us “what we do in the next 20 years will determine the future for all life on Earth”.
It is an apocalyptic statement, that we must heed. Each of us can make small changes to the way we live in order to reduce our carbon footprint such as eating less meat, reducing our home energy consumption and water waste, and of course consuming fashion less ferociously.
Lately, savvy influencers have switched their content and narrative to include the phrases repeatwear and recycle to appeal to those who care about climate change.
If, like me, wearing your clothes on repeat is the norm this concept may amuse, but it’s refreshing compared to the influencers who wouldn’t be seen in the same garment twice.
Some people have a tendency to stand on their soap box and preach this newly-found message causing us to feel guilty unnecessarily.
“Shop your own wardrobe”, “Buy nothing for a year” are popular phrases with influencers.
This vow is the perfect option for influencers and fashion insiders who have spent the past decade being sent a steady supply of free clothes, but not everyone is in this position of privilege.
A Bottega-touting influencer shopping from their own bulging wardrobe for a year isn’t too much of a stretch, but there are any number of reasons this might not be something you can do.
You may have just had a baby/lost weight/gained weight, or you aren’t fortunate enough to have built up a wardrobe of useful clothes.
Someone who has consumed fashion heavily deciding to stop is positive, however, it’s also a sign of extreme privilege and those who suggest you do it via their platforms should be transparent about how their circumstances might be very different to yours. They may take multiple long haul flights but there will be no mention of that.
Another message I am seeing being pushed more frequently is “buy one thing a month” again, great, I’m here for considered purchases, buy what you love. But when that one thing a month is a Chanel bag, we’re not on the same page.
Be sustainable in a way that works for you.