How to Green Your Wardrobe

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

The environmental impacts of fast fashion are well reported. From excessive consumption, to garments that fall apart after a few wears, to unsafe factory conditions, to pollution runoff. There’s a lot to take in. So how do you build a green, sustainable wardrobe without breaking the bank?

Thrifting

Need something new? Head to your local thrift shop or one of the many online stores where everyday people can resell their clothes. You’ll not only get a bargain, especially on designer goods, but you’ll also be participating in a more circular economy. You won’t be creating demand for that new item and that existing one won’t be going into landfill. I find thrift shops overwhelming if I don’t know what I’m looking for, but when I knew I needed to buy a long coat I could go in and head straight for that rack. I have a friend that only thifts online. Find a strategy that works for you.

Hire, Don’t Buy

I had two weddings earlier this year. I hired absolutely beautiful dresses for both. It meant I got to wear two stunning dresses that I wouldn’t have been able to afford. One of them was from NZ designer Miss Crabb who recently shut her doors, so I wouldn’t have been able to buy it new, even if I had wanted to. It also meant that I didn’t end up with two more dresses added to my closet of too many beautiful dresses. Rental services are popping up everything and some are branching out into jewellery, bags and more.

Lay It Out

I love this Marie Kondo trick. Get all of your clothes out. All of them. The ones in the other wardrobe. The ones stored away in boxes. The ones you keep above the wardrobe and under the bed. Sort them into categories like pants, dresses, workout gear. And now go through each pile. I thought I had a good grip on how much clothing I owned until I did this. You’ll see exactly how many sweatpants and party dresses you have. To complete the Marie Kondo ritual, anything you’re not keeping, hold it and thank it for being of use to you in the past. Then send it on to its new home with love.

Brand Awareness

Next time you do need to buy something new, put a little bit of effort into researching brands. You can keep it simple by looking for one aspect of sustainability, like living wages in factories or organic cotton. Or go all out and start emailing your favourites. Holding brands to account lets them know that their consumers care about these things and can start moving the needle. Buying a local brand can also help. If you live in a country with good labour and environmental protections, knowing that your clothes are made under those conditions means that they’re more likely to be up to standard. However, each piece of clothing does require a long supply chain, so just because it’s finished in your country doesn’t ensure the rest of the chain is up to scratch.

Final Note

Before you rush to buy a whole new sustainable wardrobe, remember that overconsumption of anything, even sustainable goods, is not going to get us out of this crisis. But small steps like these can help make your wardrobe more green.