The Sustainable Wardrobe Cheat Code
Growing up, the looming threat of climate change was ever-present. I remember elementary school, and first learning about global warming, with the ice caps melting, and polar bears losing their homes. It was jarring information to discover, not even at double digits, I was becoming aware of not only my mortality but the mortality of everything around me. The trees and animals that I thought were as permanent and promised as gravity; or my mom knowing when I did something wrong, were as fragile as the baby birds awaiting their mother’s return. A naive and idealistic child, I assumed that if climate change were as universally understood to be an urgent issue needing attention as it seemed from the chapter in my textbook, then the leaders of the world would have already begun to seek solutions and implement them. While we are aware of solutions, unfortunately, the response from governments and companies alike has been lackluster in response to the problem with the urgency it requires.
Although consumers are not entirely at fault for pollution and global warming, oil and gas companies hold major weight in the continued degradation of this world. We bear the burden of its consequences. So when profit supersedes life in the hands of major corporations, it is up to individuals and communities to make the necessary changes to have a fighting chance of a habitable world in the future.
Being more Eco-friendly in your fashion consumption is easier than most people believe and as another Earth Day has come and gone, I want to highlight three ways that everyone can have a more sustainable, and enriching, wardrobe.
1. Shopping Second-Hand
Although thrifting has risen in popularity recently, it has been overshadowed by the now pervasive grip that fast fashion has on consumers. Brands like Shein, Fashion Nova, and Zara specialize in selling low-cost and low-quality products that are manufactured overseas, typically through the use of forced labor or dangerous and inhumane working conditions. These brands capitalize on the rapidly changing trend cycles and promise their customer base the ability to stay on trend without investing too much money into their wardrobe. Although it does provide low-income consumers the chance to join in on fashion trends that were typically reserved for people with the money to constantly change their wardrobes seasonally, it has severe downsides.
Due to its cheap quality and speedy construction from high demand and rushed manufacturing, the clothes bought from fast fashion retailers rarely last its wearers longer than a couple months of consistent use. Since poor quality materials are used by companies to make profits off low prices, it is almost impossible to wear the clothes long-term, resulting in approximately 92 million tonnes of textile waste produced every year, and 11.3 million tonnes of those clothes end up in the United States landfill.
A mountain of unsold clothing from fast-fashion retailers is piling up in the Chilean desert
Intact clothes are not kept, as they are the result of a constantly shifting fashion trend. Consumers end up buying hundreds of dollars worth of low-quality clothes to fit in and throw them away the moment they are no longer on the seasonal fashion wheel.
Luckily, buying second-hand is more accessible than ever. Every city has thrift stores that you can visit, with great quality vintage clothing that has stood the test of time and will stay in your wardrobe for years. My favorite place to shop second-hand is eBay, with individual sellers looking to empty a closet or find a new home for a bereaved loved one’s belongings, it is a great place to find low-cost vintage pieces that you won’t find anywhere else. For those looking for more upscale items, estate sales, and vintage shops are the way to go.
2. Clothing Modification
No one wants to part with clothing that they have fond memories with but it’s hard to hold on to things you know you won’t wear anymore and are just taking up space in your closet. This is where clothing modification comes in to give beloved pieces a whole new life.
Sewing, dyeing, cutting, pinning, reworking, and so much more! The number of alterations you can make to your clothing is almost limitless, although it does require an investment of time and effort, it pays off to revitalize your clothing through hard work. It not only enriches your life with a new hobby and skill, but it also fosters creativity as you learn to experiment with articles of clothing and give them a new flare of life.
Credits: OK Soup Studio | Instagram
In my own experience, challenging myself to create something new out of old clothes has expanded my fashion taste and given me the ability to appreciate the clothes I have. Knowing that my apparel is not only a labor of love, but a vision that I once had, gives me a sense of fulfillment and pride every time I wear it.
Sewing machines and supplies are easily found and although newer machines can cost a pretty penny, I recommend doing research online on a model that you believe will fit your sewing skill level, like on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist. There are hundreds of thousands of people looking to sell exactly what you need at a reasonable price, and if not you can always try to bargain or barter instead!
3. Mindfulness Practices
In my personal life, I have found that the most unsatisfying and fleeting purchases came out of a need to join in on a popular trend or because I was unsure about my style and felt the need to emulate what I saw people wearing online. I would go into my closet, and although it was filled with clothes, I couldn’t find anything I wanted to wear, something that represented me. When purchasing more and more did nothing to fill the void, I decided to go through my entire closet and pick out the things that brought me joy. Through this I got to know myself and my style deeper by asking questions; why do I like this? Does it bring me joy? How many different ways can I style this? Does the fabric feel good on my skin? and does the color brighten my complexion? When I was honest with myself, I not only was able to better understand my style, but I was also able to identify clothes that I wear and cherish more easily.
Another mindfulness practice that can combat personal overconsumption is donating one item for every item you purchase. Most of us have clothing tucked in the back of our closets collecting dust and mothballs, burrowing deeper and deeper with every new shopping trip. When you go out shopping knowing that for every item you get, one must go, it forces you to think more critically about what it is you are buying and be more realistic about what you would actually wear rather than simply what catches your eye in a store.
Finally, I am a major proponent of wearing the same outfit a million times. In our day and age, people feel strange wearing something more than once out of fear of being teased or seen as lacking in one way or another, I would contend that this tactic was created by Big Fashion to make you feel as though must have something new to wear or you’re plain and boring.
Take a stand against the corporations seeking to exploit you by wearing your favorite shirt as much as you want, wear the same jeans three times a week, and use those Converse you got in high school until the soles wear out. Clothing is meant to be re-worn and loved, and having limited options forces you to get creative with your styling choices, so wear it all again!
Strike Out,
Monica Ayesa Rodriguez
Editor: Priscilla Fernandez
Sources:
https://earth.org/statistics-about-fast-fashion-waste/
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/environmental-costs-fast-fashion
