The Empress Of Dress

Why We Should Have Sustainable Wardrobes

Our fashion landscape is, unfortunately, not sustainable. Terms, such as fast fashion, are immediately recognisable to many as high streets become overloaded with abundant, cheaply-made, and, ultimately, disposable outfits. This sizable production is causing significant environmental impact, from both the farming practices that create such garments to the landfill capacity to which many eventually contribute to.

Thankfully, alongside a refreshing wake of sustainability, many are beginning to question their carbon footprints and personal contributions to a greener lifestyle. And, while the responsibility does not entirely rest upon the shoulders of the consumer, this shifting conscientiousness is helping to make a huge difference to our climate impact. Interestingly, it is also changing our wardrobes.

Here are the best tips to help you begin reconsidering your environmental impact via your wardrobe.

No Waste

Clothing gets torn and damaged. It can also be outgrown. However, simply because it no longer serves its original purpose, it doesn’t need to be thrown away. In fact, upcycling old clothes is a great way to reduce your clothing waste and also to save money and express your creativity. Any clothing that you might have can be considered and turned into basic fabric, all of which can be used to create other garments, whether becoming an entirely new piece or simply contributing a patch to another design.

If you simply cannot transform an old item of clothing into something new, then be sure to dispose of it responsibly, at a recycling centre or local charity shop. Doing so will ensure that it has a much better chance of being reused instead of heading straight for the bin.

Better Quality

Many of the clothing items available online are made with low-cost materials. This method of manufacturing means they are less robust and will fall apart much more readily, contributing to the concept of fast fashion, since these items must be replaced regularly. While spending more money on clothing can feel daunting or illogical, by doing so, you are more likely to be purchasing higher quality clothing items. Such items are given more consideration during production, with stronger materials and better designs, ensuring they do not perish in the same way. These well-made items will go much further and, by comparison, even save you money.

Be Individual

Mass production of clothing means a lack of originality. Designs are copy and pasted all across the high street, leading to a lack of inspiration and customers who must fit themselves into prescribed styles instead of creating their own unique expression. If a certain type of clothing isn’t considered in fashion, a customer will be hardpressed to be able to find or buy it.

Happy Creators

Factory-produced clothing, while often being unsustainable and involving poor standards of employment, also fails to support new creators. There is an abundance of brilliant designers, those who work sustainably and with unique styles, that are creating new items of unusual clothing every day and by purchasing from them, a person not only supports a creator’s business but also sends a message to the world that calls for a more diverse culture of clothing.

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