The fast fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world to date. Over 92 million tonnes of textile waste is produced every year, which all ends up in landfills. To put this into perspective, a truck full of clothes is taken to a landfill every single second. Despite the contributions made by more and more brands such as Zara and H&M switching to organic cotton alternatives - textile dyeing continues to be the second largest polluter of clean water globally, with commonly used polyester shedding microfibres with every wash.
If you’d like to help reduce your impact on the environment, and transform your wardrobe so that it is more sustainably focused, then the following blog provides some helpful tips on the best ways for you to do this.
Top 9 Tips for an eco-friendlier wardrobe:
1. Look after your clothes so they last longer:
Although it may sound obvious, it is so important. If you look after your clothes properly, then you will have to replace them less often. From caring for your cashmere properly, to washing your denim inside out, there are loads of ways you can go the extra mile to ensure your clothes stay at their best for longer.
Have you tried washing clothes on a lower temperature? Why not invest in a steamer as an alternative to ironing? The hot steam diminishes smells, kills bacteria, and eradicates all signs that the garment has been worn. It is also recommended to use a fabric shaver, as it’s super for de-bobbling and prolonging the life of your knitted garments.
2. Go for quality over quantity
Buying better quality, more sustainable pieces are probably going to cost you more money than buying the cheaper high-street product alternative. Yes, it may cost more, but because of this you are likely to have it for much longer, and will likely be wanting to wear it much more often – feeling great in it every time you do.
Instead of spending your savings on a dress for somebody else’s wedding, or on a pair of shoes that’ll only see the light of day on special occasions, why not spend your ‘investment’ on the things you’ll wear everyday? Instead of thinking ‘’I would never spend that much on a hoodie’’, consider that you will only need to buy one hoodie for the foreseeable – and make sure that that is the case. After a few years of doing this, you will have a completely stocked high-quality, fully sustainable wardrobe to be proud of.
3. Learn how to repair clothing yourself (or find a good tailor)
If an item of your clothing rips, or a heel breaks, there’s no need to throw it straight in the bin. Think twice before using it as an excuse to buy something new, and repair your clothes and accessories either yourself or by paying a professional. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about giving your favourite items more life, not to mention super sustainable and much better for your pocket.
If you can’t be bothered to learn the ins-and-outs of sewing and how to create a Paris Fashion Week garment from scratch, then why not try the easy route of finding a great tailor you can rely on. There’s an alterations app called ‘Sojo’, which can connect you to local seamster and tailoring businesses – delivering your items to be altered and repaired by bicycle!
4. Donate your unwanted clothes
Have you got clothes left hanging in your wardrobe gathering dust? Breathe new life into your garments by donating them to a good cause. This in turn will help others to be more sustainable, as they can invest in your old pieces, rather than buying something new. A great method for knowing which items to keep, and which to not is to have a one-in, one-out policy, whereby every time you buy something knew, you’ll give one away.
5. Invest in trans-seasonal clothes
Why shell out on an entire summer wardrobe every year if you live in cold and rainy England? One of the best things to do to increase the sustainability of your wardrobe is to only buy items that you know you are going to be able to wear all year round. Jeans, T-shirts, joggers, hoodies, and timeless coats all work together to make for a much more eco-friendly wardrobe.
6. Organise Your Wardrobe
When it comes to making your wardrobe more eco-friendly, one of the simplest things you can do is to organise it. No matter how you choose to sort your clothes, either by item of clothing, colour, or season, you’ll be shocked at what you might find! There’ll be items that you may not have seen or put on for years, or things you thought had got lost in the wash or when flying over the Bermuda triangle.
Why not try organisation methods like ‘Marie Kondo’s folding technique’? It allows you to see the entire contents of your wardrobe, so that you don’t forget about anything and can find new combinations when it comes to styling your outfits.
7. Swap Clothes
Do you have friends with wavey style? Have you ever thought about exchanging clothes with them? Not only will this assist cleaning out your own closet, giving the clothes you no longer wear a new life. At the same time, both you and your buds get new items to wear without having to spend any money. There are social media groups out there that you can join to do this to. Who says we can’t all work together to reduce the wastage polluting our environment.
8. Choose clothes made from sustainable materials
If you are feeling the urge to splurge on new clothes, then make sure you choose fabrics that are environmentally friendly. These are fabrics created from natural, recycled, and eco-friendly materials. Materials to indulge in include organic cotton, wool, linen, lyocell, and other natural fibres. Avoid items that contain microfibres, as when they’re washed, they cause serious pollution to our oceans. All of Aliøn’s garments are made with GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) organic cotton, so you can be sure that you’re getting an honest and fully sustainable product.
9. Buy second hand clothes and vintage clothes
Vintage clothing is a super edition to a stylish outfit. What better way to find unique, one-of-a-kind items at reasonable prices? Buying used or vintage clothing is a highly effective way of limiting the harmful environmental impact of clothing production, as it helps to bring new life to pre-loved pieces – keeping them in circulation as opposed to going to waste. Some things never go out of fashion, so get thrifting!
‘Building a More Sustainable Wardrobe with Aliøn Streetwear’
Aliøn is highly aware of the need for sustainability within the fashion industry - which is why we have based our entire business model around it.
All of our products are made with 100% organic cotton, with temperature regulating properties so that they can be worn all-year-round. Whenever we produce an item, we ensure they are made to a luxuriously high standard, and built to last a lifetime. Our dedication to sustainability is in every detail, right the way down to our packaging, as we use fully recyclable cardboard to ship our items out to space with.