How to Curate a Sustainable Wardrobe
Developing a sustainable wardrobe helps you simplify your closet & feel good about what you wear!
Working toward a sustainable wardrobe is probably something you’re either passionate about or don’t understand. Some people are probably even asking, “What on earth is a sustainable wardrobe and why should I care?” Part of the murkiness is the open-ended nature which the word “sustainable” has been taking on recently. The word “sustainability” could bring up a myriad of points - good for the environment, good for your financial longevity, good for the livelihoods of others, even good for your long-term health. In fact, it’s pretty interesting to look back on the shifting perspective of what a sustainable wardrobe meant to me through the years. (Of course it will keep evolving, as well.) But I think each perspective has its place and merit, and ultimately where I am now is a culmination of all ideas and practices I’ve held. That being said, I think it’s good to go through each method, one by one, to represent all options.
1. Shop at Thrift Stores
Originally, I loved thrift store shopping and felt that was the end-all-be-all of sustainable fashion. Of course, at the time, there weren’t as many options as there are now. Here are some perks I found in this method:
1. Good for your wallet - Unless your shopping in the arts district of downtown, thrifting is a great way to get in some budget-friendly purchases.
2. Good for your mind - One thing I’ve always loved about thrift shopping is that it takes time. This could be a drawback if you’re in a pinch and trying to quickly find something to wear to that get-together this weekend. Otherwise, I find it soothing. Taking a morning or afternoon to sift through the endless clothing and shoe racks gives me time to slow down and be intentional. The endless options give the mind an extra bonus - the opportunity to practice decision making and self-discipline to really think about what you want. For someone like me, who notoriously has a tough time making decisions, this is great practice.
3. Better for the environment - In reusing clothing, you’re reducing the impact of the production process on the environment. Less waste, less energy, less pollution - you get it.
4. Better for others - By shifting purchases from major retailers to thrift stores, I was making a choice not to support unfair business practices that exploit workers in other countries.
One draw back I noticed with thrifting, especially when I didn’t practice the self-discipline I mentioned in point 2, is I found myself keeping the clothes for a short time, only to recycle it back into the thrift world 6 months to a year later. This totally works from an environmental perspective (the material isn’t being wasted but being sent out for someone else to use), but from a financial perspective I noticed it wasn’t totally adding up. Which led me to my next method.
2. Buy Clothes to Last
About the time my perspective started to shift from thrifting, I worked in a coffee roastery. Despite the glam that tends to surround the specialty coffee industry these days, a roastery is still a warehouse, and I spent much of my time getting grubby and working with machinery and pallet jacks. I loved it, but I also noticed the second-hand finds were getting sent out much faster than before. That’s when I started buying work wear, meant to last. But I still wanted to find options good for the environment and produced in ethical ways. Thankfully, the fashion industry also started making some changes around this time as awareness to these issues became more mainstream (the power of intentional purchasing! - am I right?). I decided that, though I might be spending more money per item, I’d buy less often. Here’s what I love about this option:
1. Good for you wallet (in the long-term) - Even though you might be spending more up front, the idea here is that you buy less. Buy something you need and love, made well, keep it longer, and you buy less.
2. Good for you mind - Yep, turns out this option shares another perk with thrifting. This one is all about self-discipline. As I mentioned, when you’re spending more money per item, you want to buy less often. This means you need to take time with each purchase to make sure it’s really something you need and something you’ll want to keep for a long time. Plus, when you decide to do your research on where you shop, you learn to be more intentional in your decisions.
3. Good for the environment (if you choose it) - These days it’s easy to find options that are made well and use business practices that are friendly to the environment - whether they use recycled materials, implement ways to reduce carbon emissions, or even use eco-friendly shipping materials.
4. Good for others (again, if you choose it) - Similar to the environment option, there are (thankfully) lots of retailers now who have certified Fair Trade options or direct relationships with overseas factories. It just takes a little research and digging into the companies from which you shop. As I said in point 2, this is a great way to amp up intentionality.
I definitely keep this practice going when I make new purchases, even since I left my job at the coffee roastery. And as much as I loved working in coffee, I realized my life was full of stress. I since started making lots of changes to my environment to try to regain some balance in my well-being, which brought me on to my final perspective in maintaining a sustainable wardrobe.
3. Wear Natural Materials
As I mentioned, after leaving my job in coffee I began to really make an effort to live a healthier life. The more research I did, the more I realized I was surrounded by toxic products. It was terrifying! And a bit overwhelming, to be honest. Especially knowing I have the MTFHR SNP genetic mutation (which means my body possibly has a harder time eliminating toxins). I’ve slowly been scouring my home for alternatives (knowing, as you should too, it’s a long process). I realized an easy option for me would be to start thinking about incorporating clothes made from natural fibers, like cotton, linen and wool, and without toxic dyes. Think about it - our skin is our largest organ, right? And especially when we sweat, our warm body is emitting heat to the fabric while our pores are opening. Yuck. I’ll admit, this option can go way deep, and I consistently have to remind myself that even little changes will add up in the long run. So if you decide to dig in on this one, I recommend being patient with yourself and taking your time. Here’s what I’ve come to love about this option:
1. Incorporate Any Of the Other Tips (& Learn to Budget) - When you begin digging deep into making new purchases for sustainability in your wardrobe, the price tag can really start to climb. If you find something pricey you really want to add to your closet, learn to save up for it. Give yourself a realistic spending budget that lets you continue saving and paying off debt, and stick to it! It’ll feel that much better when you make the purchase. Or, if you don’t want to make a big purchase, guess what - you can totally find cotton or wool at a thrift store! Just be sure to check the tags.
2. Best for Your Body - I talked about this already, and I really believe it! Maybe it’s placebo, but when I wear cotton I just feel better. It’s comfortable and gives me peace of mind.
3. Great for the Environment - When you buy natural materials, it breaks down better. Plus, without the toxic dyes, it won’t corrupt the world with hazardous chemicals. As a Christian, I believe God created Adam as a steward of the earth, and I believe we are stilled called to do that! In my heart, when I make choices to care for God’s creation, I’m showing Him honor and reverence.
4. Good for Others - I’ll piggy-back this one off point 3. The less I buy things that use man-made chemicals from a lab, the less that stuff gets put into the world.
So there it is - my evolving journey of a sustainable wardrobe. The great thing is any of these can make a difference for you in the long run. Hopefully it’s been helpful! Feel free to send me an email or let me know on Instagram ways you choose to bring sustainability into your wardrobe or tips that work for you!
Looking for more tips & recipes on living a more natural lifestyle? Check out other posts here!
