As you may have seen, here at The Modern Day Girlfriend, we covered spring cleaning your closet. In this piece, we talked about strategies you can use to get the most out of the items in your closet. It’s easy to get lost in your clothing, but after you’ve organized everything, it’s clear why being mindful of your purchases is so important. To help you get the most out of your clothing, a new contributor to The Modern Day Girlfriend wanted to encourage you to consider replacing your fast-fashion items with ethically made, high quality, sustainable textiles.
Check out her suggestions below!
Quick Guide: 4 Steps To Achieve A Sustainable Wardrobe
1.Keep:
Save your staples- We all have those special pieces of clothing that feel good, bring us back in time, and are forever fabulous. However, it’s easy to get caught up in nostalgia and end up hoarding. You know what you like and should have an idea what may come back into style or when the garment will be worn again. Although it can be difficult, use that to gauge if you should store them. Limiting the number of sentimental staples you keep in your closet to 10-20 garments at one time, also known as a capsule wardrobe, will help provide extra space. When storing textiles long-term, it’s important to thoroughly wash, bag, and organize them, in clearly labeled plastic bins or totes for safe keeping.
Upcycle your unwearable favorites- Sometimes our sentimental staples are so loved, they become damaged beyond repair. Conveniently, textiles are perfect for crafts and decor projects. Beyond the traditional memory quilts and pillow cases of yesteryear, old clothing can be used throughout the home as an artistic element that can be added to decor throughout the home. The only limit is your imagination.
2.Donate Locally:
Give to youth and teens in need- Supporting the foster children and teens in your area with fashionable, durable, and seasonally transitional outfits is a great way to give gently used and new clothing a second chance. Helping individuals look good, builds confidence and allows them to express their individuality. When donating, make sure the clothes are freshly laundered, and in new, or gently used condition without rips or stains, and are made from durable fabrics. If you’re looking for extra closet space, donation centers are always collecting bulky seasonal coats and boots! However, if you know of any local foster organization in your area that collect clothing for your community, contact them directly and ask how they accept donations. In fact, May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, so I encourage you to get involved in any way possible by donating, volunteering, or becoming a foster parent!
3.Sell:
New and gently used textiles are still worth money. Beyond a sustainable alternative to throwing clothes away, selling them gives them a second life while earning you money. However, it’s important to avoid fast-fashion textiles, and instead use your earnings to purchase high quality, sustainable clothing alternatives.
Yardsale- As the seasons change and you acquire new clothing, set aside the pieces in great condition, price them fairly, and host a yard sale or visit a swapmeet.
Consignment shop- You can bring new and gently used clothing to a consignment shop, where the store will sell you items in their storefront. Traditionally, once the item has been sold, they pay you a percentage of their earnings.
Online- Among the easiest ways to sell used clothing is online. Ebay and other online platforms like Poshmark, allow you to put your items in front of thousands of viewers instead of just hundreds like a consignment shop. You can even post your used clothing on social media, chances are you know someone who would love to own it!
4.Replace:
Invest in Sustainable Brands- Supporting and shopping with ethical and environmentally-friendly companies ensures continuous investment in sustainable technology. For example, the apparel manufacturer, Pact organic, reinvest profits into their organic farming methods, efficient production technology, labor wages, and sustainability certifications.
Research Certified-Sustainable Alternatives: Organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, and responsibly-harvested wool are very common, and when backed by a certificate of authenticity (found on the tag), you know you’re getting a product that’s been made responsibly and with the environment in mind. Beyond ensuring quality, you’re also backing a brand that stands for a cause.
Back Local Fibersheds- A global movement to regionally grow, source, and produce manufactured textiles, a fibershed refers to the geographic region from which all the necessary materials have been sourced in order to locally produce an article of clothing. This comes to practice in California where Fibershed, a non-profit organization, promotes regional farming and eventual textile production across the United States. Not only do locally manufactured textiles offer a new way to support the community, but the final products are also grown and sewn with the environment in mind!
Yes, seasonal cleaning and organizing can seem time-consuming, if done correctly, you can help people in need, recycle your unusable textiles, and make money off of your new and slightly worn clothing. From home decor to the clothes on our backs, high-quality textiles demand care, but this ensures the longevity and reduces overall waste. So get cleaning, start sorting, and make a difference, one article of clothing at a time.
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