Blog post for an eco-friendly clothing company
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably ended up here after reading articles, seeing Instagram ads, and watching YouTube videos on how to be more environmentally conscious. There is an overwhelming amount of information on the internet, oftentimes fear-based and contradictory – do you need to throw out your wardrobe and buy all recycled material clothing? Only buy locally sourced and created goods? Never buy clothes again?
The good news is that if you’re doing this research, you’re already well on your way to being more eco-friendly. Many never stop to think about the environmental impacts that their weekly fast-fashion shopping sprees have. If you’re willing to take some easy steps to be more sustainable with your clothing choices, you’ve already taken a huge step to being more environmentally friendly.
Here are some easy things you can do to make your wardrobe more environmentally conscious:
1. Don’t purchase from fast-fashion companies
One of the easiest, and arguably best things that you can do to make your wardrobe more environmentally friendly is to not purchase from fast-fashion companies. Did you know that nearly 77 lbs. of textile waste is generated per person per year in the US? Most of which ends up in landfills and the ocean, where the clothing can release toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic. A lot of these pieces end up in landfills and the ocean because they’re cheaply made and are of poor quality.
The saying “we vote with our dollars” holds true – if consumers keep supporting companies with no regulations on the toxins used to make the clothing, the ethical conditions of the workers, the quality of materials, and the harmful emissions from the factories that produce them, then they will continue to mass-produce cheap, toxic clothing.
Finding unique pieces in a thrift store isn’t just sustainable - it’s more fun!
2. Purchase second hand
Shopping in thrift stores can be a fun way to purchase new clothes - usually at a cheaper cost - that’s more environmentally conscious. You can shop and find unique pieces that someone else discarded but that are perfect for you, and didn’t end up in a landfill. It’s a much more sustainable way to purchase clothing.
You can continue the cycle by taking some of your old clothing that’s in good condition to the thrift store if you’re looking to get rid of some items. Or, you could look a little closer to home…
3. Give away hand-me-downs
If you have items that you’ve outgrown or that aren’t your style anymore, you don’t have to hold onto them in the name of the environment. Try giving them to one of your friends or family members that may love getting a piece of clothing that’s new to them and is their style!
You could even arrange a little swap between friends, where everyone brings items that they’d like to get rid of, and you can “shop” each other’s discard piles for free items to add to your collection!
Making informed decisions with your clothing purchases can go a long way.
4. Purchase from ethical brands
The saying I mentioned earlier, “we vote with our dollars” holds true not only for where we don’t spend our money, but for the brands that we support as well. The next time you need a new piece to add to your closet, try looking at brands that are eco-friendly, sustainable, ethically made, and of high quality.
One such brand that I would personally recommend is Small Love Clothing. This brand offers an array of basic pieces for the whole family, from T-shirts and jeans to rain jackets and socks. Their items are not only quality and environmentally conscious, but they’re beautiful pieces that you’ll want in your collection for years to come.
If you’d like to check out Small Love Clothing’s latest summer collection, click here.
5. Make do with what you have
Arguably the most sustainable thing you can do to make your wardrobe more environmentally conscious is to use what you already have. You don’t need to throw everything out and buy from a local seamstress to be more eco-friendly. Taking excellent care of your pieces, and repairing them when needed, is sustainable living.
I hope these tips have helped you get some ideas for how to make your wardrobe more environmentally friendly. If you’re in need of a couple of summer pieces before your wardrobe is complete, consider investing in the quality and beautiful pieces that Small Love Clothing has to offer.
A small portion of each purchase goes to their efforts to fight for stricter laws around clothing production in favor of more ethical and eco-friendly guidelines.