“How does what I wear affect the natural world?” “What can I do to have a ‘greener’ closet?”

Unsurprisingly, the choices we make about our clothing have impacts on the world around us. For the purposes of this post, I’m not as interested in proving to you just how horrific the fashion industry is to the environment. There are loads of articles, peer-reviewed papers, and a boatload of materials that can demonstrate that we, as individuals, need to buy less clothing.

I’m going to skip the overwhelming evidence that the fashion industry needs to change, and instead share about the types of changes I’ve made in my own wardrobe and how I’ve changed my relationship with clothing to practice more respect to the environment. In a world where consumers have the power to shape demand and the market…here’s what I feel individuals can do to be the change we want to see.

1. Give Love To What You Have – It’s tempting to start over from scratch when it comes to shopping for ‘sustainable’ clothes. Why own a plain white tee that has nylon in it when an organic cotton white tee is ‘more sustainable’? Well, using what you’ve got right now, and taking care of it, reduces the likelihood that it will go into a landfill or end up on a beautiful shoreline. So, I’d consider using what you have now to be the most sustainable option. I’ve found that instead of trying to purge everything in my closet that has polyester or other undesirable synthetic fibers, I’ve come to terms that it might just be better if I continue to wear these loved garments than to toss them and replace them with something new. If the garments I have become damaged, I find ways to mend them. I’ve also found that hang drying my clothes has saved me money on my energy bill and really prolonged the life of my favorite pieces. If I no longer love certain garments, and don’t wear them anymore, the next best option is to sell or donate them. If those options aren’t feasible, I ask myself if these garments can be repurposed in any other way. Can I cut these up and use it for cleaning? Can I use them somehow in the garden, or for crafting? Throwing a garment away is always going to be the absolute last option.
2. Don’t Fall For Greenwashing – Greenwashing is rampant. There are so many forces in the world we live in that will convince you to purchase something to fix a problem you didn’t realize you had until you watched an advert. Beware of buying, in general. The idea that we must have a new outfit for every occasion is, frankly, ridiculous. Unless you can, without photos, recall what you wore every day last week, then I’m certain others definitely won’t remember everything you wore last week or otherwise. Rewearing outfits, styling the same clothes that you have differently, and enjoying your favorite outfits in different settings is absolutely an adjustment worth making to save the environment. There are a plethora of companies who want you to believe that buying their product is good for the environment, when the truth is, buying no new clothing at all is the best choice for the environment.
3. Get Over The Addiction To Novelty – I can proudly say that the majority of my wardrobe is secondhand. I’ve been using Depop to find pieces for the last 6 years or so, now only a few items new whenever I absolutely need to (e.g. new underwear, new socks). It was not an adjustment that happened overnight. It took me months to realize that others can’t tell that the items I wear are secondhand, and that made me realize that, well, as long as the garment is in a condition that I find suitable, why shouldn’t I love and wear it as if it’s new? I’m not perfect, and, like I mentioned above, I do buy new from time to time, but, I certainly enjoy buying secondhand a lot more. I can find great pieces for a lot less than the exorbitant prices of clothes today. I feel great satisfaction in not only dressing well, but, knowing that I am contributing to a circular economy by buying secondhand.

I’ll leave this topic here for now. There will certainly be additional posts which expand on these ideas about fashion and its connection to sustainability.

Some questions to consider – Why do you buy new clothes? How many ‘duplicate’ garments do you own (e.g. how many long sleeve shirts, or how many t-shirts)? Do you wear all the clothes you have regularly? What’s your biggest resistance to buying secondhand?