Building a Sustainable Wardrobe

A key focus of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. A key aspect of any of our lives is our wardrobe. Our wardrobe can impact how people view us and even treat us. In some regards, wardrobes are organic things that the items in them have lives and can outlive their usefulness by the owner. The following contributed post is entitled, Building a Sustainable Wardrobe.

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We are a terrifyingly, throw-away society. We buy cheap clothes knowing that we’ll probably only wear them a few times before we throw them away. We replace our phones and other tech every few years, and we’d never dream of sowing up a hole in a sock. We’d just buy a new pair; they are only cheap, after all.

But, we’re also becoming more aware of the damage that we are doing to the environment with our poor habits. We’re trying to use less plastic and more reusables. We’re researching environmentally-friendly changes that we could make at home, and we’re repairing things instead of replacing them.

But what about our wardrobes? If you are the kind of person that has a closet bursting with clothes that you have hardly worn, or you buy a new outfit for every event that you attend, it might be time to start thinking about some changes.

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Learn More

To start, learn more about modal fibre properties and other sustainable materials. Research your favorite brands to find out more about the materials that they use and their policies. You might find that they have sustainable ranges already. Learn more about sustainable fashion in general, so that you know what you are looking for.

Don’t Replace for the Sake of Sustainability

If you’ve got a wardrobe filled with fast fashion, you might think that the best thing to do is throw it all out and replace things with more sustainable, long-lasting options. But, this kind of goes against everything that we’re trying to do.

Don’t start replacing things for the sake of sustainability; that’s just creating more waste. Wear your clothes until they can no longer be worn, and then replace them with a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable alternative. If you don’t want something anymore, and it still has life to give, donate it to a charity shop or give it away, instead of binning it.

Spend a Little More

Often with clothes, we get what we pay for. Fast fashion is cheap, but it doesn’t last and has often been produced under poor conditions. Spend a little more of higher-quality clothes, and they’ll last a long longer, perhaps even saving you money long-term. Buy what you can afford, even if it means buying a lot less.

Check Working Conditions as Well as Materials

When it comes to buying sustainable fashion, you shouldn’t just be looking for the use of recycled or otherwise sustainable materials, like bamboo cotton. You should also be considering where and how your clothing has been produced, and the working conditions on the production lines. Many brands now publish this information, and it’s easier to find than it used to be.

Shop More Mindfully

Often a key to sustainable living, whether we are talking about fashion or any other areas of life, is being more mindful.

Think before you buy. Do you need it? Will it last? Will you get a lot of wear from it?

Buy Second-Hand

Another option is buying second-hand. Even if the materials aren’t sustainable, giving new life to a product stops more being created, and prevents clothing from ending up in the bin. Buying from charity shops also gives you a chance to donate.

Author: anwaryusef

Anwar Y. Dunbar is a Regulatory Scientist. Being a naturally curious person, he is also a student of all things. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan and his Bachelor’s Degree in General Biology from Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU). Prior to starting the Big Words Blog Site, Anwar published and contributed to numerous research articles in competitive scientific journals reporting on his research from graduate school and postdoctoral years. After falling in love with writing, he contributed to the now defunct Examiner.com, and the Edvocate where he regularly wrote about: Education-related stories/topics, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Financial Literacy; as well as conducted interviews with notable individuals such as actor and author Hill Harper. Having many influences, one of his most notable heroes is author, intellectual and speaker, Malcolm Gladwell, author of books including Outliers and David and Goliath. Anwar has his hands in many, many activities. In addition to writing, Anwar actively mentors youth, works to spread awareness of STEM careers, serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the David M. Brown Arlington Planetarium, serves as Treasurer for the JCSU Washington, DC Alumni Chapter, and is active in the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Ministry at the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He also tutors in the subjects of biology, chemistry and physics. Along with his multi-talented older brother Amahl Dunbar (designer of the Big Words logos, inventor and a plethora of other things), Anwar is a “Fanboy” and really enjoys Science-Fiction and Superhero movies including but not restricted to Captain America Civil War, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Prometheus. He is a proud native of Buffalo, NY.

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