10 Ways To Make Your Wardrobe More Sustainable

The global fashion industry is currently in a crisis when it comes to pollution, waste and an abuse of human rights. One way we can all help is by making our wardrobes more sustainable. This can go a long way to creating a positive impact on the environment as well as our wallets. And to do so is easier than one would think. I'm outlining ten ways to create a more sustainable closet. Some of these are just simple habit shifts that anyone can easily do.

1. Organize Your Closet
If you haven't done so in awhile, go through your closet. Take stock and remove anything you don't wear anymore. Knowing exactly what you own will keep you from buying repeat items and also helps you to have a better handle on your wardrobe in general. Assess the items you have set aside and separate them into three piles - items you still might wear, items you’d wear if they fit better, and items you won’t wear anymore. The first pile should be integrated back into one side of your closet and revisited the next time you clean it out again. At that point you should reassess if you've rediscovered any favorites or these are just pieces you're just not going to wear again. Set aside the first two piles on one side of your closet and then separate the last pile into items that can be sold, donated, recycled or given away.

2. Tailor, Upcycle & Repurpose
Give those items you still like but don't fit well or require mending a critical eye and make a decision on whether they're worth the cost of tailoring to you. A simple mending or alteration can give new life to an old piece of clothing. If pieces just simply don't work any more, try repurposing them into another piece of clothing altogether like turning a dress into a shirt or transforming them into a household items. Old shirts can be used as cleaning rags. Anything you can do extend the life of your clothes increases it's sustainability.

3. Shop Your Closet
If you feel like you have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear, the simple act of shopping your own closet can be a fantastic way to see your wardrobe with fresh eyes and this is a sustainable practice as well. You might rediscover old favorites that have been hidden away behind those pieces on regular rotation. Challenge yourself to find different ways to style and wear off season pieces by layering or pairing them in unexpected ways to create new outfits. Doing this can help you to appreciate all of your clothing while finding creative ways to wear them.

4. Rotate Your Wardrobe
This one goes hand in hand with shopping your closet. We all have certain pieces we love and as much as we want to wear to wear them all the time, we should refrain from doing so in order to extend their life. Regularly rotating your clothes will create more space between wearings as well as more space between washes. Sustainability has a lot to do with getting the most out of your wardrobe and something as simple as not wearing the same items all the time can go a long way to making a big difference in the lifespan of your wardrobe.

5. Take Care Of Your Clothes
If you want your clothing to last, you need to take good care of it. This means proper storage and not washing it too often since that can lead to fading, shrinking, loss of shape and a general degradation in quality. Consider investing in a fabric steamer to freshen clothing in between washings. Washing less and being mindful of care instruction will help your clothes last longer as well as lessen their environmental impact since all the resources that go into it like water, heat and energy have a significant carbon footprint.

6. Shop With Intention
Shopping with intention is integral to building a sustainable wardrobe. This means changing your mindset when it comes to shopping. Instead of looking at it as a chance to splurge, shift your focus to being mindful. Identify needs in your wardrobe and look towards making an investment in staples that can be reworn time and again. When you select a piece of clothing, consider it's fabric content and care, how you plan to wear it as well it's potential for styling versatility. Apply the 30 wears rule. If this is an item you can wear a minimum of 30 times, it is a good purchase. Consider trends carefully and opt for timeless looks that won't go out of style. Trans-seasonal clothing that works all-year-round is another good bet. Doing these things should help you to make smarter and more sustainable shopping decisions.

7. Choose Quality Over Price And Quantity
Fast fashion is always attractive because of it's low price but it's unsustainable because it's made from cheap materials so it's not going to last. This has a negative impact on the environment since it will result in more clothing in landfills. Instead of buying 10 pieces of trendy inexpensive clothing that you might wear a handful of times, choose to invest in in 1 or 2 pieces quality clothing that will last you a lifetime. High quality, well made pieces crafted from natural and sustainable materials are a sure way make your wardrobe more sustainable. Yes it will cost more initially but this tactic actually saves you money in the long run because you will end up with items that you can wear for years versus items that might fall apart after a few months.

8. New Isn't Always Better
New may be nice but choosing to buy vintage or secondhand offers a unique opportunity to discover one of a kind pieces clothing at friendly prices while helping to keep textiles out of landfills. Thrift stores, vintage and consignment shops as well as designer resale sites like Vestaire Collective, Thredup and Fashionphile often carry many of your favorite designers and brands. Shopping secondhand can open your eyes to a whole new world of fashion and it will feel good to give a pre- loved clothing/accessories a new lease on life.

9. Choose Your Fabrics Wisely
Fabric production carries certain environmental impacts. Read labels and make good choices. Organic cotton, silk, tencel, hemp, linen, wool, and recycled materials are better since they require less water, resources, and chemicals to produce. The fabrics you should avoid due to toxic production and polluting processes include polyester, acrylic, viscose, and conventional cotton.

10. Less Is More
Sure shopping is fun but there is nothing sustainable about overconsumption. Most of us are probably guilty of buying more than we need. That's why it's important to regularly organize and audit your closet so you know exactly what you own. If you already have five black coats, you really don't need another one. Learn to love and appreciate what you already have and take good care of your clothing and you will realize that less is really more.

If you want to make your wardrobe more sustainable, consider putting some of these practices into action. Even small changes can make a difference and understand that it will take time to create  a truly sustainable closet that reflects your environmental and ethical values as well as your aesthetics. When it comes to shopping, do your your research and look for brands that are transparent about their production practices and labor policies and pay fair living wages to their workers.