Making Your Wardrobe and Lifestyle More Sustainable

There is no denying fast fashion is harmful to the environment. The culture of cheap, throwaway clothing results in not only the excess usage of water (over 1.3 trillion liters) and is responsible for over 10% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions each year. But the unwanted clothing is then sent to landfill where it can take up to 40 years to decompose depending on the material.

How can you become more sustainable when it comes to your fashion choices?

How often will you wear it?

This is the most important thing to ask yourself before you purchase any new clothing. If you are going to wear it less than 30 times, then is it going to be a sustainable purchase? The less frequent you end up wearing a piece of clothing, the more likely it will be to end up going to landfill. 

Buy organic

Organic clothing is made with fewer chemicals and is better for you and the environment. Most clothing items will be labeled as organic so you can be confident about your purchases. Organic cotton only takes around five months to decompose, too, should it become ruined and unwearable.

If you are ever unsure of the origins of a label's pieces, question their processes and their ethics and make sure they simply aren't just paying lip service and are following the practices they claim to be.

Think longevity

Buying clothing or even accessories that will last you a long time can be expensive. The better quality something is, naturally, the longer it will last you, and you will pay for this. However, the more you wear or use something, the more sustainable it becomes, and the fewer chances you will simply throw it away.

Even better is to look for pre-loved items that still have plenty of life left in them, thus maintaining their sustainable credentials. This could be a high-end fashion that lends itself to multiple styles and fashion trends over the years, tailored outfits or shoes that fit well. Accessorize with carefully picked items that you can be confident will last you longer than a few months and will compliment your style for years to come, such as finding the cheapest Richard Mille models to adorn your wrist.

As Vivienne Westwood said, "Buy less, choose well, make it last."

Be informed

The more you know about a topic, the better choices you can make. Find out as much as you can about how you can create a more sustainable wardrobe by looking at how different brands make not only their clothing, accessories, and shoes but also their ethics too. Ask yourself if this is enough for you to feel confident wearing their pieces. Learn how you can make more sustainable fashion decisions at home with regards to looking after your clothing as well as travel, appliances, and cleaning products. We are always learning, and the more informed you are about the choices you make, the more confident you can be that you are making the right decisions to help you live more sustainably.

Next up, Meet Fresh Hoods: The Sustainable Hoodie Brand Reviving Street Art Through Fashion