{"id":233,"date":"2020-08-21T20:54:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T20:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enlightenment-demo.onedesigns.com\/blog\/?p=233"},"modified":"2020-10-07T01:42:09","modified_gmt":"2020-10-07T01:42:09","slug":"six-simple-ways-to-fill-your-wardrobe-with-sustainable-clothing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enlightenment-demo.onedesigns.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/21\/six-simple-ways-to-fill-your-wardrobe-with-sustainable-clothing\/","title":{"rendered":"Six simple ways to fill your wardrobe with sustainable clothing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The environmental impact of fashion waste is overwhelming. Every year the UK alone sends 350,000 tonnes of clothing to landfill<\/a>. And as the majority of garments are made from oil-based materials like polyester<\/a> \u2013 22.67 billion tonnes of polyester clothing is produced every year worldwide \u2013 they aren\u2019t going anywhere fast. Oil doesn\u2019t decompose, and if burned the material will release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. There are also problems associated with trimmings such as buttons, zips, studs and interfacing or lining. When buried with other waste in landfill, the combination of metal components, moisture and heat causes gases such as methane<\/a> to be emitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to this, and other elements of the fast fashion crisis<\/a>, the industry is changing. Some brands have introduced recycling schemes<\/a> to address what happens to their products post-purchase. And the UK\u2019s Environmental Audit Committee recently recommended a penny charge<\/a> on each garment sold to fund more and better clothing collection and recycling schemes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

But while the push for a more sustainable fashion market is in its early days, we as individuals can still make easy choices right now to have a more environmentally-friendly style. Here are six simple ways to create a wardrobe filled with more sustainable clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reeducate yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t bury your head in the sand. Buying cheaply-made fast fashion can only mean that prices have been driven down hard. The smallest cost paid will be to the factory worker who stitched your clothes<\/a>. Seek out your favourite stores\u2019 websites for their corporate social responsibility statements. This explains what are they doing for sustainability, and will help you decide whether it is a business you want to support. If their aims are unclear, take action \u2013 write to the head office and ask for change. It might be that you\u2019re adding another voice to a group of concerns, or it could help them see something that they have missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy for longevity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019re a firm follower of the latest trends, you can still implement this advice. When looking at new pieces, be confident in your own style and ask yourself whether you will want to wear the piece again in six months\u2019 time. If you believe it will last for quite some time in your fashion forward wardrobe then go ahead and buy it. Similarly, consider whether you can mix it with things you already have \u2013 there\u2019s no use buying a new top if you don\u2019t think it will go with anything else you own already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restyle your wardrobe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You might feel like you have nothing to wear but a fresh look at what you already own can help you see things in a new light. Try asking friends how they\u2019d pair your garments in different ways, or use magazines and social media for inspiration. You don\u2019t have to buy exactly the same outfit as you see modelled elsewhere. Figure out what you like best from that style \u2013 perhaps it\u2019s the combination of colour or prints \u2013 and see how you can imitate it using what you own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repair any damage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to be a professional tailor to fix any damage to clothes. An unattached seam or button that has fallen off can be easily sorted out. If you don\u2019t know where to start, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials for beginners which will tell you exactly what you need to do. It\u2019s not expensive to buy a needle and thread either. If it\u2019s something more complicated, find a seamstress or ask someone you know for help. The cost likely won\u2019t be as great as it would be if you were to throw the piece away and buy a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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