Unless you’ve been living under a rock, there’s no way you haven’t noticed the environmental changes impacting everyday life. Air pollution is at an all-time high, weather conditions have become increasingly severe, disease and illness are out of control, and the earth’s natural resources are depleted. Now more than ever, people are encouraged to make changes to reduce their carbon footprint to save the planet.
If you’re among the group of people committed to doing your part, chances are you’ve adopted sustainable habits like recycling, conserving energy, using green products, and opting for eco-friendly transportation. While it’s a great start, there’s more you could be doing to save the environment. Take fashion, for instance. By making sound decisions about what you wear, you can make a significant difference in the world. The best part is you don’t have to compromise your style. Continue reading to learn how.
Shop Sustainable Brands
Businesses and citizens must work together to help resolve the significant environmental problems arising in current times. As the consumer holds power, spending your money with brands that implement environmentally friendly practices is a great place to start.
When shopping for fashions, stick to sustainable companies that use all-natural materials and environmentally safe methods to create clothes. Whether it’s buying bamboo t-shirts, sustainable bras, or vegan footwear, these choices help reduce your carbon footprint. It also encourages popular fashion brands to do the same. Ultimately, if consumers are interested in sustainable brands, other companies will have no choice but to adapt eco-friendly concepts to accommodate the growing demand.
Recycle Your Wardrobe
Discarded clothes end up in large piles in landfills across the country that ultimately harm the environment. Although it’s tempting to get rid of outdated or ill-fitting things, perhaps there’s another solution. Recycling your wardrobe essentially means finding ways to reuse items you once found fashionable.
You’ll need to put on your creative hat for this suggestion, but it’s worth the time and energy. Any fashion items you haven’t worn in a while, think of ways to repurpose them. With a sewing machine and a few other things, you can transform any article of clothing into a new trendy item in your wardrobe.
You can turn pants and long-sleeved shirts into shorts and short-sleeved shirts. If something is too big, make alterations so that it fits your new figure. Lastly, you can add jewels, glitter, sequins, and other accessories to enhance the look of your attire. If that doesn’t work, you can also recycle your wardrobe by giving things away to family members and friends, so it doesn’t go to waste.
Second-Hand Finds
Instead of heading to a shopping mall or an eCommerce site to purchase new clothes, shoes, and accessories, locate a second-hand store near you. As fashion has a way of recycling itself, you’ll find that there are a lot of affordable yet trendy finds. Purchasing fashion from a thrift shop or yard sale prevents clothes from being discarded and reduces the need for brands to waste energy and resources to produce new items.
Clothing swaps are another way to find second-hand fashions while saving the planet. Gather any clothes, shoes, and accessories you no longer want. Invite a group of friends, family, neighbors, and community residents to do the same and bring their belongings to your home or convenient destination. Then, allow everyone to swap clothing for free.
There’s no denying that the environment, and consequently, the future of humanity, is at risk. Although there’s nothing that any one person can do on their own to turn things around, making small steps towards sustainability can help. If more people start adopting practices like sustainable fashion, it will encourage citizens and major brands worldwide to do the same. If you’re interested in doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint, consider the sustainable fashion tips provided above and make a difference.
