As the year comes to a close, it is good to contemplate our clothing decisions, no matter how small. Interest in sustainable clothing and an eco-friendly wardrobe has grown in recent years. People are now aware that clothes and other garments are being thrown away every day by bundles. It’s becoming a concern as they end up in landfills, contributing to pollution.
People tend to create a New Year’s resolution to prepare for the coming year. Although it is quite a known fact that resolutions are pretty challenging to follow, you might want to think about going for a sustainable wardrobe as your resolution.
It may not seem like it, but how we treat our clothes affects the community and the environment. From the detergents we use to the new outfit we are buying for New Year’s Eve celebrations, our fashion decisions contribute to the continuous decline of environmental health.
Fast Fashion and the Environment
At the turn of the decade, a new fashion trend emerged. Aptly called “fast fashion,” this trend aims to produce more and more clothes that reflect the latest trends. Fast fashion is fast in every sense: fast production, fast delivery, and fast changes. Recent reports show how fast fashion is among the most significant contributors to worldwide pollution, often leaving trash on landfills and using synthetic materials that make recycling hard.
Fast fashion has proven to be harmful to the environment. Textiles and clothes, in general, are a common sight in landfills. Big fast fashion brands don’t recycle clothes when clothes go out of style. Instead, they throw them away even though these clothes are in good condition. Since most of these clothes are made with synthetic fiber, it will take decades to break down, causing a massive landfill dump. As people become more conscious of the harmful effects of fast fashion, having an ethical wardrobe takes center stage.
Having a sustainable wardrobe is probably one of the best things you can do for the environment. As a new year comes, here are 10 New Year’s resolutions that you can follow to have a thoroughly ethical wardrobe.
- Say No to Impulse Buying – For some people, shopping is therapeutic. People tend to buy clothes mindlessly when stressed. At the first sign of stress or emotional distress, stop and think about doing something relaxing instead. You can develop proactive hobbies or meditate to manage stress better.
- Don’t Buy New Clothes – Instead of shopping at big brands, consider buying a new set of clothes from thrift stores. Thrift stores are a great place for affordable sustainable clothing. Not only can you get clothing for half the price, but you can also give a new life to these old clothes.
- Upcycle Your Clothing – With the advent of Pinterest and other websites that offer upcycling ideas, it is now easy to design your old clothes into something new. Get creative with ethical clothing by designing them with patches, embroidery, or turning your old pants into shorts – the sky’s the limit!
- Resell or Donate Old Clothes – If you have clothes that no longer fit, you can always make some cash by reselling them. You can also donate them at your local thrift stores or organizations that collect clothing for the financially challenged. You don’t just help save the environment; you also provide support to those in need in your community.
- Organize a Fashion Swap – Start the swap between you and your friends. Pool your old clothes together and get the clothes you like from their pile and vice versa. You can schedule these swaps and turn them into regular fashion swap parties for more fun.
- Buy Long-Term Clothing – People tend to buy clothes for a specific event only, and they’re never worn again. For an eco-friendly wardrobe, purchase clothes that you can use for multiple occasions.
- Always Check the Label – To start owning sustainable clothing, buy 100% natural fabric clothing like cotton, hemp, and silk. Clothes made from natural fibers are biodegradable and can be easily recycled. Check the label before purchasing to get an idea regarding the materials used in a shirt or a blouse.
- Wash “Dirty” Clothes – We have this idea that once clothes touch our bodies, it is already dirty despite being worn for only 30 minutes or less. Start the new year right by re-wearing your clothes a couple of times until you feel that they’re ready for washing. Limiting the number of times you wash your clothes also helps minimize water consumption.
- Rent Clothing – If you’ve been invited to special occasions, you don’t need to worry about last-minute shopping. Instead, you can always rent dresses and suits to reduce your surplus clothing. Rentals are not limited to Halloween costumes. Some businesses offer dress suits and gowns for rent, so you don’t have to spend on something you’ll likely wear once.
- Handwash Clothes – Nowadays, we are comfortable knowing that we can send our laundry to the dry cleaners and call it a day. But if you want to have a more sustainable lifestyle or an ethical wardrobe, cutting back on visiting the dry cleaners is a good idea. Handwashing can feel like a lot of work, but it’s a handy skill, and it’s less destructive to clothing.
Advantages of Thrift Store Shopping
Now that we have listed down the resolutions, the best way to start ticking items off that list is to visit a thrift store. Thrift stores contain goods that encourage affordable ethical clothing. Here are some other reasons why you should frequent your local thrift store.
- Diverse Styles – You can find absolutely anything in thrift stores – luxury bags, vintage accessories, designer clothes, book series, you name it. Most of these items come in different brands and designs. Shopping in thrift stores encourages you to experiment with your style and unleash your creativity.
- Reduce Waste – Shopping at thrift stores minimizes the energy that goes into producing and manufacturing clothes. It also minimizes the dumping of unsold clothing and textiles in landfills. Shopping at thrift stores controls waste in general, and it is a healthy alternative to mindless shopping.
- Helps the Community – Local organizations organize thrift stores to fund activities that will benefit the community, especially for the underprivileged. Shopping in thrift stores gives these organizations funding and resources to fully function – each purchase goes a long way!
Haven House Thrift Store Is Your Go-To Place for Affordable Sustainable Clothing
If you have made up your mind to assemble a sustainable wardrobe as your New Year’s resolution, and are looking for a thrift store in Destin, FL, Haven House Thrift Store can help you shift to ethical clothing while lending a hand to the community.
Haven House Thrift Store is supporting Haven House Recovery Center. This institution helps men addicted to drugs and alcohol gain back their lives by undergoing a 12-step rehabilitation program. All proceeds go to the recovery center and its vision to help these men rejoin the community.
Visit us for your new year’s shopping, or consult our online platforms to view our catalog and get affordable ethical clothing. Shop with us now!
