Staying Sustainable In Fashion Habits

Support Sustainability in Fashion

In support of our planet and Earth Day this year, we are taking some time to talk about sustainability in fashion. Sustainability in fashion has become a huge topic of conversation in the past few years. There are many ways of practicing sustainable methods for shopping or maintaining your closet. Shopping second hand is a great way to be eco-friendly and sustainable in your fashion habits. Shopping second hand allows for clothing to gain a second, third, or fourth life of use. As they saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Not only is it fun to peruse through the variety and large amounts of options at consignment and thrift stores, but it is gratifying to know that you are contributing to a healthier planet. 

If you are not into second hand shopping, you have the option of buying from sustainable brands. Many fashion brands have dedicated their mission to using recycled materials or repurposed items to create amazing products. Some of our favorite designer brands who support sustainable fashion are Stella McCartney, Reformation, Mara Hoffman, Eileen Fischer. Of course there are many sustainable and eco-friendly clothing brands that make boutique and handmade items. Staying within the realm of sustainability, we recommend looking in your local area for any shops that produce eco-friendly products. 

Its All In The Details:

Buying items made from cotton, wool, silk, or other natural fibers is a sure way of knowing that your clothing is healthy for you and for our planet. Items made from synthetic fibers are not sustainable for the fashion and ecological systems. The more you wash clothing made from synthetic fibers, the more you add micro-plastics into our water systems that lead into the oceans and eventually into the food we eat. Limiting synthetic fibers in our clothing helps our water and food systems. Remember to always check the material tags on clothing to know exactly what you are buying. Buying natural fiber made clothing second hand is an even better way to reduce your fashion carbon footprint and help spread sustainability in fashion.

Raid Your Own Closet:

Reduce, Reuse, Reuse, Reuse…:

Reuse your clothing until it is really dirty. Wearing under shirts can help reduce the amount of water you use while washing your clothes. Reusing clothing is a great sustainable fashion practice that does not require you to buy new clothing. Layering clothing, especially during the cooler months is a great way to keep clothing fresh and reduce the amount of times needed to wash your clothes.

If All Else Fails:

If you do decide to get rid of items, remember to not throw clothing away in the trash. You can send your clothing to a fabric recycling company or donate to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army. Goodwill and Salvation Army will send unusable fabric items to textile recycling plants. These recycling facilities reuse the fabrics to create insulation, materials for clothing, and many other things. A great place to send these items to in New York City is GrowNYC, an organization dedicated to improving New York City’s quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations. https://www.grownyc.org/clothing