Build a more ethical wardrobe
Wanting to build a more ethical wardrobe is a commendable and worthy cause. It’s a good way to go green, do your part to help out the environment and cause less waste that comes from fast fashion. Shopping from ethical brands takes a bigger budget, and nowadays that can be difficult to do when our dollars have to stretch to many other things as well. But the good news is buying from sustainable brands isn’t the only way to have an environmentally friendly wardrobe. Supporting ethical brands is only the tip of the iceberg of a whole set of strategies you can use. Here are a few ways you can build a more ethical wardrobe.
Only buy pieces you 100 percent love.
The fast fashion industry may have gotten its name from the quick rate at which runway designs are delivered to the masses, but it just as accurately describes the way we now shop. We pick up new pieces here and there, because it’s all so cheap and won’t break the bank. The result: a closet full of so-so stuff that we are not too crazy about. So we keep on shopping to fill that void, to replace imperfect pieces with better alternatives and to finally feel like we have enough to wear; but it’s a never-ending cycle. So how can you break that cycle? Start choosing better! Don’t just buy the first pair of jeans that fits; find a pair you love and will wear for years, instead of just a season. Train yourself to be more selecvintage
tive when it comes to buying new clothes.
Don’t buy things that you know aren’t ideal and will want to replace soon.
Instead of five cheap, mediocre sweaters, keep looking until you find the one that you truly love. By learning to wait, you’ll not only buy less in the short run, but also in the long run because, over time, you’ll build up a much better, more satisfying closet.
Take good care of the clothes you already own.
Taking care of the clothes you own is the best and most basic thing you can do to build a more ethical closet. Repair what’s broken, hand wash what needs to be hand washed, fold heavy sweaters instead of hanging them and so on. Clothes that are welltaken care of last (and stay nice) for longer. That means they’ll need to be replaced less often and you can buy fewer clothes overall, thereby reducing your contribution to the costs of fashion in the long-term.
Buy vintage or secondhand items.
Another budget-friendly alternative to buying ethical brands is to repurpose pre-worn clothes and save them from becoming landfill. Finding what you want in a
or secondhand store can be time-consuming, but often worth the effort in exchange for some truly unique pieces. And don’t think what you find in a secondhand or thrift store won’t be fashionable. You would be amazed at what people decide to give away or sell. With companies like Poshmark and Luxury Garage Sale, high-end pieces are well within your reach so you won’t be missing out. So give it a try if you haven’t yet!
Go for clothes that are high-quality and durable.
No matter the brand, buying clothes that are well-made and consist of high-quality materials is more eco-friendly than buying lower-quality pieces, because they’ll last longer and need to be replaced less often. And less closet turnover means what, exactly? Less shopping overall!
Support ethical brands.
From Everlane to Reformation to Cuyana, there are plenty of options. Ethical brands do cost more than your fast-fashion brands, but that is because they use higher quality fabrics and materials that are better for the environment; so that means higher price points. But, in the end, if your goal is a more ethical wardrobe, then it will be worth it to you.