Conscious Consumerism: 4 Tips For A More Earth-Conscious Wardrobe

Your wardrobe shouldn’t be like a stamp collection. Having a bunch of clothing pieces and not using them at all is pointless. But it’s also something that fast fashion brands pretty much want you to do. It’s time to change the way we think about fast fashion and clothes. If you want to be a conscious consumer, you should make sure that your wardrobe consists of items you’re actually wearing. And if they are made in a green way and are eco-friendly, you’ve really hit the mark.

Having an Earth-conscious wardrobe isn’t that difficult actually. These four tips will help you achieve that.

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1) Buy clothes made by sustainable brands

If you want to go green with your wardrobe, this is the proper starting point. Before you decide on buying a certain clothing piece, check if the manufacturer is an eco-friendly one. With a little help from the internet, you can easily find out if the brand is sustainable or not. If you buy products from companies that don’t take care of the environment, you will support their work method and help them grow with your money. If you buy sustainable products, you’re doing the exact opposite.

2) Repurpose your existing wardrobe

If you don’t want to wear a certain piece anymore, think twice before throwing it away. Many groups and foundations are warning of possibly catastrophic damage if current growth trends continue. While the fast fashion trend is real and some companies are even destroying unsold clothes and accessories, the secretive nature of the industry makes it difficult to accurately quantify the scale of the problem. However, if you have a sewing machine and some basic sewing skills, you can easily repurpose your garment or alter it. Don’t throw it away if it tears or rips. You may be able to fix or upcycle it. Even if you don’t have much sewing knowledge but you want to learn about it, don’t be afraid to try it out. Find yourself an affordable sewing machine and consult the internet or your local craft shop on how to properly use it.

You can turn your pants into shorts. Old shirts can be turned into new skirts. Dresses can be turned into skirts or vests. You can repurpose practically any garment into something different. There are a number of benefits to sewing clothes instead of buying them and you can even repurpose what you already have in your wardrobe but don’t need anymore. You’ll be saving money while keeping the Earth clean by recycling.

3) Make your wardrobe compact

It’s better to have a few quality garments you like to wear often that to have a bunch of clothes you never put on. If you won’t wear it often, why should you buy it?

Try to create a minimalist style wardrobe for yourself. Don’t waste money on products that will sit around in your closet for a few years until you finally give it away. Focus on the things you’ll be wearing every day. If you have a few different garments for different occasions, you can refresh them after a while by making various combinations with other pieces you own. Three pieces of clothing can be turned into nine outfits this way. So even a small wardrobe can provide you with a lot of different styles and possibilities.

4) Swap your outfits with your friends

This is a very interesting and practical concept. All parties involved gain from it, so you should definitely try it out with your friends. When you get tired of wearing some of your clothes, you don’t have to repurpose it or throw it away. If it’s still in a good condition, try organizing a clothes swapping party with your friends.

The concept is simple, you all gather around and everyone brings a few different garments they won’t be wearing anymore. Then you put all those clothes on racks or on the floor. After checking them all out, you exchange the items between each other so that everyone gets something they will wear every day. It’s like second-hand shopping but without using money. Not only is it a fun way to spend an evening with your friends, but it’s also an eco-friendly and sustainable activity!