As a fashion-minded Londoner, you’re likely already aware of the benefits of cultivating a sustainable wardrobe. After all, the way we dress often speaks volumes about our values and beliefs, and when it comes to the environment, choosing sustainable pieces can help reduce your carbon footprint while also directly supporting ethical fashion practices. But while building an eco-friendly closet might sound like a daunting task, it can be both interesting and useful to take on such a challenge with the right guidance.
If you’re looking for a good place to start, research is your friend. Browse reputable brands and designers that focus on using eco-friendly materials like hemp, linen, and organic cotton, as well as upcycled or vintage garments. Consider fair trade labels and other social entrepreneurship initiatives. Educate yourself about Common Objective’s vetted factories and manufacturers associated with good standards of working conditions and environmental accountability. With this information in hand, you can begin to shop with a more discerning eye, confidently investing in garments that better reflect your personal ethos.
Assessing Your Wardrobe
Tackling the task of switching to a sustainable wardrobe can be both daunting and exciting. The first step is to take a critical look at your current clothes collection. Sifting through the items will allow you to unearth your gems as well as determine items for donation or repurposing. While assessing, it’s important to consider the pieces that you wear often and still enjoy. Keeping these basics in mind will determine the kinds of items to add in the future or replace from sustainable sources. Questions like “What pieces can I keep?”, “What could be reused?”, and “What should be donated?” can act as lighthouses while parting with your current belongings.
To ensure items are ethically produced, keeping a list of sources you trust can be handy. The list of resources can expand over time and should be a collection of brands and stores you’ve researched and verified their commitment to sustainability and ethical production practices. Consider launching into the world of upcycling and repurposing, a popular option in the sustainable fashion world. This can be a great alternative to buying new items, while exercising your creativity and giving one-of-a-kind pieces new life.
Asking yourself the “why” questions can also be beneficial when transitioning to a sustainable wardrobe. Why am I investing in an item? Does it align with my style and still make fashion sense? Is it made from responsibly produced materials? Asking yourself these questions can prepare us to make more conscious decisions in the future and make sure the pieces we’re investing in are pieces we’ll treasure for years to come.
Sustainable Shopping
When it comes to building a sustainable wardrobe, savvy shoppers are turning towards ethical and environmentally-conscious brands that prioritize sustainability in their production practices. Shopping from certifications such as Fairtrade, GOTS, and Oeko-Tex can ensure that products are produced in a responsible and safe way. Shopping ethically and responsibly can have an immense impact on both the environment and global communities, and helps to promote sustainable living for all.
When shopping sustainably, it is important to do your research. Ensuring a company’s sustainability practices align with your own values is critical, and researching production and sourcing processes is essential. Some questions shoppers should consider include: which certifications does the brand carry? What is their commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainability of ingredients? Does the brand prioritize fair labor practices? Taking the time to research and understand a company’s values can help shoppers be more intentional in their purchases.
Incorporating sustainable clothing into the wardrobe can often be difficult, but these five tips can help shoppers adopt more sustainable shopping habits:
- Prioritize shopping secondhand – stores such as thredUP and Depop can provide unique, gently worn items at a fraction of the price.
- Invest in quality pieces – opt for quality pieces made with natural fabrics, rather than cheap, trend-driven fast fashion.
- Support locally-owned boutiques – small businesses often work more closely with local makers and prioritize sustainable production practices.
- Support small labels and brands – small brands offer customers greater transparency and often prioritize ethical practices and sustainability goals.
- Refuse to purchase fur, leather, or any animal-based fabrics – animals are not meant to be treated as fashion items, and there are numerous luxurious and cruelty-free alternatives.
Ultimately, shopping sustainably is not about rules, but about finding a balance between making conscious choices for ourselves and for the world. Taking the time to research, read labels, and recognize our own needs can go a long way in helping us shop sustainably and responsibly.
Eco-Friendly Care and Maintenance
Eco-consciousness should not cease once you’ve selected and acquired your wardrobe. Caring for your clothes in an eco-friendly way is just as important to maintaining a sustainable wardrobe. This means washing clothes only when necessary, using environmentally-friendly detergents, drying clothes by air instead of the dryer, and learning to mend and repair items of clothing instead of disposing of them.
Using Eco-Friendly Detergents
Using a certified green soap is an effective way to maintain a sustainable wardrobe. Regular detergents contain chemicals that can cause damage to fabrics, leading to clothes needing to be disposed of sooner. Eco-friendly detergents contain biodegradable cleaners and non-toxic additives that are gentle on fabrics, better for the environment, and can even result in lower energy and water bills from reduced wash cycle times.
Repair and Mend Clothing
Knowing how to mend and repair clothing is a good skill to have, not only to create a sustainable wardrobe but also to save money. Common clothing repairs include fixing a broken zipper, darning a hole, or reattaching a button. You can also add a new feature to clothing to give an item an updated look, like hemming up a dress or adding a decorative patch. Repairing or adding to your wardrobe gives a piece of clothing a longer lifespan, reducing the need for frequent and wasteful buying.
Creating a sustainable wardrobe in London is more than just a noble endeavor – it’s a necessary step towards a more equitable, sustainable future. By investing in ethical and eco-friendly fashion practices, we can ensure that fashion production is more transparent and environmentally-friendly than ever before. By shopping from certified slow-fashion brands or upcycling our existing clothing, we can join a growing community of fashion-lovers who are determined to challenge the wasteful habits of fashion industry and create a healthier, more responsible world for the future.
As passionate sustainers, we can make a difference by leading the charge to create a more conscious and conscientious fashion industry. We can educate and inform others about the benefits of sustainable fashion, so as to create an environment of knowledge and change. And, by empowering ourselves to shop responsibly, we can ensure that London’s fashion future is always eco-friendly and ethically sound. Ultimately, this kind of action is the only way to ensure a bright and sustainable tomorrow.
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