Clothing goes through multiple resource-intensive processes before reaching your closet, so to create a greener wardrobe there are various steps you can take to lessen its environmental impact.
One of the key steps toward sustainable fashion is selecting eco-friendly fabrics. Look for brands using GOTS-certified organic cotton or pineapple leather made from wasted pineapple leaves (which has half of the environmental impact of traditional cow leather). Other great choices include recycled polyester and bamboo rayon.
Declutter your closet
Before making space for sustainable clothing, it’s necessary to clear out your closet of clutter. Sort items by category – such as jeans or black jeans – until each category is empty. Once each is, you can begin to take stock of what you own – then decide which pieces you will keep and discard accordingly. Don’t forget a “maybe” pile.
If you want to shop sustainably for fashion, prioritize brands that prioritize zero waste. This means reducing fabric waste during production and using recycled materials; while also using digital printing techniques that use less water; nontoxic dyes and fabric finishes; as well as repurposing preexisting materials like denim.
Tencel and lyocell fabrics are among the more eco-friendly fabrics available today, as their fibers are made from cellulose derived from plant cells instead of petroleum-based plastics, using less energy in production than polyester or cotton, as well as being considered biodegradable.
Pact clothing brand stands out as another eco-friendly option with their responsibly sourced and sustainably manufactured materials, such as organic cotton GOTS certified material recycled polyester blend, produced in Fair Trade Certified factories to ensure garment workers receive fair wages. Their offerings include tees, sweaters and dresses that use recycled polyester content. Plus their pregnancy and baby lines made of organic cotton from GOTS certification as well as Fair Trade Certification factories guarantees garment workers are paid fairly.
As well as purchasing sustainable brands, consider secondhand shopping or hosting a clothing swap among friends as another sustainable fashion tip. Doing this can allow you to upgrade your wardrobe without contributing to wastefulness in fashion industry. Another suggestion would be creating a capsule wardrobe of classic pieces that will serve you for many seasons; this helps avoid unnecessary overshopping as they quickly go out of style.
Look for sustainable brands
One effective way to lower the impact of your wardrobe is by purchasing items from ethical brands who prioritize sustainability. But before making purchases, take time to thoroughly research each brand’s sustainability practices – taking note of materials used and production methods as part of this evaluation process.
Be a responsible consumer when shopping for jeans or coats by selecting sustainable materials like organic cotton and Tencel that help the environment. Bypass virgin synthetics that use fossil fuels and take decades to break down and instead look for items certified by organizations such as Global Organic Textile Standard, Leather Working Group or Forest Stewardship Council.
Consider whether the brand you are interested in has demonstrated transparency with regard to their supply chain, too. Garment workers are some of the lowest paid professionals worldwide; as a result, a brand’s commitment to economic sustainability via fair wages and safe working conditions for its employees will make a tremendous difference.
Last but not least, you should select brands that produce durable clothes. A general guideline would be to purchase clothing that will likely outlive five years, and perhaps longer with proper care. Fair Indigo stands out in this respect by crafting clothes made of sustainable materials like organic Peruvian pima cotton that last as long as possible.
Whimsy + Row offers sustainable clothing options suitable for the modern creative woman, such as flirty cotton dresses and classic styles like cropped wide-leg pants that will elevate her everyday wardrobe for years.
Invest in timeless pieces
An investment in sustainable fashion pieces is something you’ll have for years. To build one, the key is buying less but better: avoid trend-led clothing that could quickly go out of style in favor of timeless classics that stand the test of time.
Caspelich notes that fashion may not typically be considered eco-friendly, yet many sustainable brands do exist that focus on style and ethical production. She considers those investing in sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester and cellulosic textiles to provide more value.
These fabrics, made of preexisting material rather than extracting new resources from the Earth, decrease water and energy usage as well as landfill waste. Furthermore, some brands produce their clothing with the intention of lowering CO2 emissions, addressing overproduction, supporting biodiversity conservation efforts, as well as paying their workers fair wages.
To identify the top sustainable fashion brands, look for certifications such as Made in Green by OEKO-TEX and Bluesign. Also keep an eye out for Certified B Corporations; businesses which meet stringent social and environmental criteria including paying their workers a living wage – Cline recommends Eileen Fisher as an Eileen Fisher is one such sustainable fashion brand offering fashionable clothing made of organic material.
Everlane is another highly regarded brand, providing an online catalog that displays their supply chain in detail. They use high-quality organic cotton, produce their garments with integrity and work with fair factories that pay their workers living wages; additionally they employ non-toxic plant dyes and support regenerative agriculture practices.
Wear what you already own
As you transition towards more sustainable fashion, it’s essential that you maximize the wear from what you already own. Conducting regular clothing audits will allow you to identify which items you wear frequently (hello floor-length sequined dress!) as well as those gathering dust (hello floor-length sequined dress). One way to extend their lives further is washing less frequently – according to Levi’s research, every 10 times they are worn instead of every 2 can reduce water and energy use by up to 80%!
Consider purchasing less and selecting items that reflect your personal style to minimize impactful purchases. When adding new pieces, choose brands with transparent supply chains and clothing made with eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton, recycled polyester and Tencel; keep an eye out for certified green materials such as GOTS-certified organic cotton, recycled polyester and Tencel as well as other alternatives such as pineapple leather (crafted from its stems) or soy-based options without harmful chemicals.
Consider choosing a brand that embraces circular fashion, which allows customers to return clothes for credit and reprocessing. Patagonia uses recycled materials in many of their products including jackets, hats and shoes and even hosts Worn Wear clothing swaps where customers can exchange pre-worn pieces for store credit exchange. Furthermore, they repair and reprocess their apparel for extended lifespan.
Know what to do with the clothes you don’t want
The clothing industry is one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gases worldwide. Between using fossil fuels for polyester and cotton production, factory emissions, and the truckloads of clothes burned or buried every second, textile emissions contribute significantly to climate change. Furthermore, they cause environmental harm; demand for rayon depletes forests while cotton fields divert water away from food crops while polluting rivers with untreated wastewater, while shearers, farmers, and workers raising, shearing, or slaughtering animals specifically for fabric may face human rights repercussions as they raise, shear or slaughter animals specifically for fabric production – all contributing directly or indirectly to climate change.
There are a few steps you can take to make your wardrobe more eco-friendly:
Making purchases that are eco-friendly while remaining fashionable may seem impossible at times, but there are sustainable options such as shopping your friends’ closets or renting from companies like Rent the Runway and Style Lend that may offer sustainable solutions.
When selecting fabrics, seek sustainable options like organic cotton and Tencel (a renewable resource). Both require less energy and water consumption during production than their conventional counterparts while using no harmful chemicals in its production. Also look out for brands who provide transparent information regarding their supply chains and certifications to make sure they use eco-friendly materials in their designs.
Reduce clothing wastage by washing it as infrequently as possible to extend their lifespan and decrease wear-and-tear, thus cutting back on waste. Studies estimate that washing clothes every 10 times rather than twice weekly saves gallons of water, energy and climate change impact. If necessary, choose low-impact detergent or reusable laundry bag, and don’t dry afterwards for energy savings.
