11 Sustainable Fashion Tips

Making a sustainable closet and implementing sustainable fashion tips is a response to the global debate over the practices of the fashion industry. 

Fast fashion companies profit from customers' persistent need for the newest, trendiest clothing. This further encourages the use of dangerous and unethical industrial methods.

Some of us have succumbed to the never-ending sales that happen monthly, all the 9.9 or 10.10 sales on social media platforms, and purchase more things than we could ever need. 

However, sustainable fashion shows the importance of taking a step back to reflect on our decisions and way of thinking when it comes to fashion. 

That is why independent, ethical brands like Kualesa and Nysakapas among the hundreds of thousands of brands out there are incorporating sustainability into their practices to lessen environmental harm.

This article will show you the simplest ways you can start incorporating sustainability and still remain fashionable. 

 

11 Sustainable Fashion Tips

1. Be Conscious About Your Brand Choices
2. Upcycle Your Products or Materials
3. Your Mindset and Relationship to Fashion
4. Fashion Lifespan
5. Mend Your Existing Clothes
6. Quality Not Quantity
7. Say No to Fast Fashion
8. Study The Label
9. Choose Clothes That Can Be Worn Year Round
10. Practice #30WearCampaign
11. Spread The Word

Sustainable Fashion Meaning

Textiles used in a sustainable fashion are created, assembled, and sold in a way that recognizes and takes into account their socioeconomic and environmental effects. 

Ideally, this is carried out over the whole life cycle of a garment, from design to disposal. Every decision a responsible designer makes, from the textiles they choose to how they treat the people who build their products, has an impact.

 

11 Sustainable Fashion Tips: Choosing a sustainable wardrobe

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Reyes Pinterest

1. Be Conscious About Your Brand Choices

One of the first and foremost simple sustainable fashion tips is to study the brand you are buying from. 

Find a few companies you enjoy by doing some research, and then go from there. You will eventually have an expanded and vast choice of brands thanks to your research, giving you a wide range of labels to pick from.

When determining whether a brand is sustainable, a common rule to follow is that if it's challenging to learn about its objective, there's a good probability they aren't as environmentally conscientious as they seem.

In terms of fashion, transparency refers to whether or not brands choose to disclose the locations, sustainable fashion materials, product workflow, and personnel involved in the production of their goods.

Always keep these things in mind when looking at a brand's website or policy, and select the one that truly discloses information about their factories and the path taken by their products.

Since you are aware of the product's origins, the people who manufactured them, and the real manufacturing process, this will ultimately be advantageous for both you and the environment. You can select a company that you believe is making a difference in this way and thank them for your purchase.

Take Muni for example. This is a company that learned that true sustainability involves not only using sustainable resources but also appreciating handcrafted techniques and paying respect to those who engage in them, such as farmers, tailors, and artisans.

Photo Credit: Munimalism

They produce tees, bags, and casual wear. Only natural dyes, that are made out of plant extracts are used to color these items.

Photo Credit: Munimalism

On their TRUST label, you will find that the company uses cotton from Indonesia and the dye used in their fabrics originates from gallnuts from India. If there is one thing you do not have to worry about Muni, it’s their transparency. 

 

2. Upcycle Your Products Or Materials

The environmental advantages of upcycling are massive. In addition to lowering the amount of waste and materials that are disposed of in landfills annually, it also lessens the need for manufacturing using new or raw materials, which reduces pollution (both  air and water), and glasshouse gas emissions.

If you have been wondering how does sustainable fashion help the environment, upcycling is one of the ways.

Upcycling is the practice of repurposing waste materials or products to produce something that is more valuable or of greater quality than the original. By utilizing items like lightly used fabric to make new clothing and items, upcycling lowers the amount of cloth and textile waste.

Indosole is a B-corp-certified company that reuses indestructible tires to make the soles of some of the toughest shoes available after looking at the large tire waste produced throughout the globe. 

Waste tires can be found in waterways, unauthorized dumps, and yards. In tropical regions, tires can serve as mosquito breeding grounds, which often leads to harmful diseases. 

The founders found a way to upcycle these tires into comfortable and stylish footwear that can be worn every day!

 

Photo Credit: unsplash

3. Your Mindset and Relationship to Fashion

One of the ways to change our mindset toward fashion is by choosing vintage pieces or renting out particular items for specific occasions because it is a terrific way to achieve that impression of newness without having to buy brand-new items.

Yes, the excitement of buying new clothes is an enjoyable experience. However, if we are being honest with ourselves, we do not need new clothes every time there is an occasion.

Perhaps you could start by organizing what you already have in your closet. When styling garments, "mixing and matching" is simple if your closet is neatly arranged so that you can see everything you have. As a result, you are less likely to purchase brand-new goods.

 

Photo Credit: Jessica Doll pinterest

4. Fashion Lifespan

Although it seems obvious, it is extremely crucial. If you purchase better-quality clothing, it will probably last longer and you'll probably treat it better because it cost more, but this is true of all the items hanging in your closet. 

If you take good care of them, you won't need to replace things as frequently. Go the additional mile to ensure your clothing lasts longer.

Every piece in your cupboard should be cared for, not simply your new pair of jeans or the most costly outfit.

This will ensure that your clothes stay longer and continue to appear as fresh as the day you got them, therefore saving you money.

 

Photo Credit: unsplash

5. Mend Your Existing Clothes

Another suggestion for creating an excellent, long-lasting wardrobe is to fix our garments. We can increase their lifespan by repairing the clothes instead of replacing them.

It is more environmentally friendly to buy fewer garments and keep them for longer than to constantly buy new ones. We can start by following the care instructions as that can extend the life of our clothing.

Repairing other clothing that has tears, holes, broken zippers or buttons, and obvious stains is also one of the easiest sustainable fashion tips to implement. By doing this, we're making an effort to prolong the life of our clothes rather than throwing them aside.

So put this commonly used sustainable fashion quote into practice - Repair not replace.

 

Photo Credit: Ozero Swimwear

6. Quality Not Quantity

Hold your horses on fast fashion. Focusing on high-quality pieces rather than jumping on the quick fashion bandwagon each time something new pops up is one of the best sustainable fashion tips you could ever implement

The key is to plan ahead and this tip is one of the best slow fashion tips.

It will probably cost you more money to purchase items of higher quality and sustainability than it will to purchase a low-grade, high-street item that doesn't meet your needs.

However, the key is to alter your perspective. Yes, it is expensive, but you'll probably keep it longer and buy fewer things overall, throughout the year. 

Your carbon footprint will be significantly reduced if you purchase a small number of high-quality things annually rather than many cheap, less environmentally friendly ones.

Since we’re talking about quality, Ozero and Terrae are a couple to look out for. 

Ozero is a premium and sustainable swimwear company that explores high-quality, functional materials for swimwear that takes into consideration it’s environmental impact.

Photo Credit: Econyl

ECONYL®, a recycled nylon fiber created from salvaged plastic waste material like fishing lines and commercial plastic is used in the creation of Ozero Swimwear items.

Another brand to pay attention to is XUE_S, a designer company focused on the underlying problem to change the fashion business. They implement the zero waste approach when creating their garments, centered around leftover fabrics.

 

Photo Credit: Refinery29 pinterest

7. Say No To Fast Fashion

Have you calculated how much money you spend on impulsive purchases? When we spend RM20 on a t-shirt here and RM10 on a pair of shorts that we got from the morning market, we have no idea how much money we are actually spending.

Here’s one of the sustainable fashion facts that you might find interesting - the fashion industry is unfortunately the third-highest polluting industry across the globe. Why contribute to it?

 

Photo Credit: Hendrik Morkel

8. Study The Label

If you are not sure of the sustainability of a label, study the living life out of it. 

Do not be afraid to voice out or ask questions about the way their product is being manufactured. Knowing where something comes from and how it gets to its complete version, is a fantastic place to start. 

Examine the label. If a product contains a name you can't pronounce, it probably contains petrochemicals. To analyze further, check their website. On a brand's website, it is typically fairly evident if sustainability is a major focus or just a trend-following afterthought.

Major brands such as HnM like to join any one of the next best sustainable fashion trends but how sustainable are they?

Unlike HnM, the team at 1 People has meticulously crafted their denim collection while keeping sustainability in mind.

Photo Credit: 1 People

Along with placing a strong emphasis on certifications, the team regularly conducts in-depth audits of all vendors to verify that they provide fair and happy working conditions and that their sustainability policies meet the standards of their company.

They also implement the sustainability score of products which is essentially their way of calculating the extent of sustainability of a product. You can read more about it here.

 

Photo Credit: Sunday Bedding

9. Choose Clothes That Can Be Worn Year Around

Everybody has a wardrobe essential that they wear all year long. This is a simple method for dressing sustainably. 

You may avoid having stuff gather dust in the back of your cupboard by purchasing clothing that can be worn throughout the year.

Spending money on clothing that will function in any temperature can make you feel good if you know you'll wear it frequently. Shopping is a feel-good activity, so you should feel justified in spending money on items you know you will use.

What is the item that you can wear all year round? Loungewear. Day or night, it does not matter because there simply isn’t a fixed season or weather to put on loungewear.

If you study the label of brands like Sunday Bedding, you will find that the loungewear from them is made from leftover bedding to avoid any wastage.

They are constantly trying to improve the way they practice sustainability and are Climate Neutral Certified.

 

 

Photo Credit: Cariki

10. Practice #30 Wear Campaign

The #30 wear campaign is a campaign dedicated to wearing a piece of clothing at least 30 times.

Wearing a new piece of clothing at least 30 times is a commitment. It makes you stop and consider if you'll truly wear something 30 times before checking out the items in your cart. You don't buy the item if the response is not a strong yes.

The 30 Wear challenge is a sustainable fashion guide that was developed for those who want to make a change in their fashion habits without neglecting the fundamentals of being sustainably fashionable.

It enables you to make a new purchase guilt-free. After all, the majority of us won't actually quit purchasing.

 

Photo Credit: Zerrin

11. Spread The Word

Spreading the word is undoubtedly one of the best sustainable fashion tips you can practice. 

Inform your loved ones of the necessity for more environmentally friendly clothing.

Show them a few of the brands you like and a few more that might catch their attention, and then emphasize the additional advantage of how it's good for the environment. Attend some sustainable fashion events in your area to show your support.

It will cause some people to think, and you might even persuade some of them to consider moving towards a more sustainable future.

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How Can You Be Sustainable In Fashion?

• Monitor how you spend your money

• Repair your clothes

• Donate your clothes

Monitor How You Spend Your Money

Reduce the splurges that incur. Spend your money on the items you wear every day rather than using your funds to buy the trending pair of shoes you will only wear for a short period. 

Instead, make the decision that you will only buy clothes that you will wear for the foreseeable future. You will have great quality, environmentally friendly clothing to be proud of all year long.

Repair Your Clothes

Do not toss a piece of clothing away just because it rips or the zipper is broken. Find out ways how to fix your clothing and shoes, or even simpler, get a tailor or a cobbler to do it for you.

Before using it as a justification to whip your credit card out, take a moment to stop and think. Finding a fantastic tailor you can rely on instead of tossing things out when they start to look worn out will help you live a more sustainable fashion lifestyle.

Donate Your Clothes

Instead of letting your clothes collect dust in your closet, donate your unwanted clothing to a worthy charity. This will encourage others to invest in your older pieces rather than purchasing brand-new ones, which will assist the environment.

 

How Can Fashion Be Sustainable And Ethical?

• Use Sustainable Materials

• Protect Biodiversity

• Maintain Fair Working Conditions

Use Sustainable Materials

Practicing the use of sustainable materials is one of the best approaches for fashion companies to lessen their impact on the planet.

Sustainable materials would be those made from natural resources that can be replenished and which do not harm the environment when used or discarded. The less of an influence a substance has on land use, water consumption, carbon pollution, and destruction of habitats, the more environmentally friendly it is.

Protect Biodiversity

In addition to offering the fashion industry a variety of supplies, biodiversity also aids in preventing climate change. When creating their products, fashion companies should take the conservation of biodiversity into account.

Clothing companies should always look into the origins of their materials and should urge their vendors to do the same in order to ensure that their distribution channels support biodiversity.

Maintain Fair Working Conditions

Due to their heavy reliance on low-cost, outsourcing labour, one of the main issues in the fashion business is how workers are treated.

There are companies out there that have succeeded in enhancing the labour environment in their supply networks, however, the majority haven't done so sufficiently. There is still more that can be done to guarantee that employees are paid fairly, are employed in secure conditions, and are given the fundamental rights. 

Conclusion

The advantages of practicing sustainable fashion tips are enormous, from lowering operational expenses to enhancing the impact you leave on our planet. 

Consumers and brands are working together to alter laws in order to protect the lovely and diverse world we have inherited, and if the fashion business does not take ownership of its environmental and social damage, we will not get far. The eco-friendly clothing line wants to ensure that future generations can live comfortably.