Implementing Sustainability Into Your Closet
Implementing Sustainability Into Your Closet
By: Bella Duncan
From TikTok trends to Instagram influencers to those specially targeted ads, there is always something new to add to your cart. Anything you want is quite literally available at the click of a button. We are in the largest wave of fast fashion consumption seen to date, with online shopping and social media partially to blame. The trend cycle is gone; what you see today will not be in style tomorrow. Fashion is losing its integrity, and everyone is suffering from it.
11.3 million tons of textile waste ended up in landfills in 2018, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Trends now die out quickly and hard; all the extra surplus in the product is thrown away. Major retailers like Zara, H&M, and Urban Outfitters overproduce trendy clothing that is poorly made and, in some cases, only remains in style for a short period. . The next big trend comes along, and every clothing company is scrambling to put out their “own version.” The small-time span that businesses have to work with leads to poor craftsmanship, low wages, and excess waste. Minorities, women, and children are exploited as large companies continue to profit at the expense of these individuals and the environment.
A majority of people, myself included, are constantly shopping. In the past several years, shopping has changed from a once a month or every few months occurrence to a daily or weekly occurrence. The switch from shopping in-person to online has been a major contributor to a rise in consumerism. It is simply too easy to browse through your favorite store all day. These “perks” have allowed for a justification of constant consumption, diminishing the longevity of trends.
Without intentional change made in one’s consumption habits, this issue will only continue to get worse. Over the past year, I have made three changes to try to engage in more sustainable shopping practices: research, resale, and re-wear.
Shop for timeless pieces you can wear forever.
Research has been the most important part of this journey. Before you blindly decide to purchase something from a website, research it. A good resource to check first is the Fair Trade America website which shows different brands that are certified in using ethical practices. Attaching a sense of reality to the process that goes into making an article of clothing is crucial. When you look at your clothes, be mindful that someone has worked hard to provide this for you, and that person deserves fair compensation and proper working conditions. It is easy to ignore the fact that many of the workers making these items are mistreated. In order to grasp this reality myself, I have researched different brands and watched documentaries that showcase this treatment.
Classic is just as cool as it is chic.
Resale is a crucial part of keeping clothes out of the landfill. If you look through your closet and are haunted by trends of seasons past, sell them or donate them to local thrift stores - someone else may just love it. Shopping for new sustainable items can bear a hefty price tag, and it can be difficult for many people to participate in this. Donating and reselling is crucial for allowing people in all financial situations to engage in more ethical consumerism. On the same note, turn to thrift stores or resale websites like Poshmark and Depop for your next outfit purchase instead of immediately searching for something new.
Invest in quality pieces.
My third tip is to re-wear your clothes. Forget about Kate calling Lizzie McGuire an outfit repeater; it is always in style to be ethical! Curating a closet full of items that you can wear for years to come is an important skill to acquire. The next time you are about to checkout on Shein with ten bathing suits in your cart, think about if you will even want to wear them the following summer- or better yet if they’d last until then. Instead, spend that money on one or two bathing suits from sustainable brands like Vitamin A or Madewell that are made with good quality and without fleeting trends in mind. Build a wardrobe of basics; denim, leather goods, and simple cotton or linen pieces will never go out of style. The personal touch is still important, though! Refer to the second change, resale, when you want to find a new spunky purse or dress. Buying second-hand almost guarantees that you will never be wearing the same thing as everyone else in the room.
Build your wardrobe with pieces that will never go out of style.
Every article of clothing you put into your closet should have purpose or personality, a simple rule of thumb with valuable results. Remember to research, resell, and re-wear the pieces you choose. A change in consumption habits is crucial to the future of fashion, be a part of the change.
For more shopping tips and lifestyle updates, keep reading UM Square Magazine and follow us on Instagram here!
Images belong to their respective owners.