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How to have a sustainable wardrobe on a budget?

This article is for anyone who wants to upgrade their wardrobe in a sustainable and affordable way. Nowadays, sustainable fashion has become an essential part of an eco-conscious shopper's life. 
The article is written by Delicia Joseph Darwin, a writer in France, inspired by the leaders of sustainable fashion. She has written several articles for the Indian newspaper The Hindu and for the French web magazine Trustmag. Coming from a journalistic and literary background, nature and poetry influence her writing process.

Are you an environmentally conscious buyer? Has the awareness of the environmental impact of the fashion industry made you want to shop and dress more sustainably?

You are not the only one ! More and more buyers prefer sustainable fashion and want to shop responsibly. In this context of increasing sustainability, these fashion products can sometimes seem expensive and influence your purchasing choices. Luckily, it's possible to make your closet more eco-friendly by spending less!

Here are some helpful tips!

The increase in the number of eco-responsible buyers

People are well aware of the social and environmental aspects of the fashion industry, including working conditions and water consumption. A survey of European buyer trends conducted by Fashion Revolution shows that 80% of shoppers choose brands that have sustainability certifications. Other studies from industrialized countries in Europe and Asia show an increase in consumers favoring sustainable brands.

Consumers want brands to be more transparent about their sustainable practices. These positive changes have encouraged brands belonging to the Kering group, such as Gucci and Stella McCartney, to increase the share of their renewable raw materials.

Your good choices can therefore bring about changes in the fashion industry.

Does sustainable fashion seem expensive?

Sustainable brands, unlike Fast Fashion, try to use eco-friendly raw materials which are usually expensive. Slow Fashion places importance on the durability and quality of clothes, which explains why their production costs are higher than those of Fast Fashion.

Slow Fashion uses certified materials that are tested for durability. This certification process is expensive and takes into account the ethical and fair production of materials.

Have you ever thought about why Fast Fashion seems cheap despite being overproduced? Simply becauseit neglects the minimum wage of its workers and uses working conditions similar to those in sweatshops. Furthermore, the environmental and social impact of Fast Fashion will cost us more than products from sustainable brands.

On the other hand, Slow Fashion ensures sufficient remuneration for farmers and workers. Their high prices help provide a safe and healthy environment for the people who make them. So, you may wonder if it's possible to be eco-conscious while staying on a budget.

Yes it's possible. Here are 7 tips to improve your wardrobe in a sustainable way without breaking your budget!

1. Prioritize quality over quantity

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Fast Fashion relies on overproduction and overconsumption that neglects the use of quality materials. Its disposable nature contributes to textile waste in landfills. The life of an item of clothing is drastically reduced, causing you to buy more and more outfits at low prices.

So how do you make responsible and eco-conscious purchases? If you like sustainable fashion, you can choose clothes that are durable and hard-wearing. Simply look at the composition of the fabric and the “Made in” label and follow the washing and drying instructions for your clothes. 

So invest in durable clothing and above all, it is the quality that counts more than the quantity!

2. Buy second-hand clothes

Did you know thatby extending the life of a garment by 9 months, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 20-30% ? If you buy second-hand and vintage clothing, you can therefore minimize CO2 emissions.

Moreover, second-hand clothes are an affordable fashion alternative because they exclude production costs. Studies show that student-shoppers consider second-hand clothes to be more affordable than new clothes. Another advantage of buying second-hand clothes is that you can reduce the waste of clothes and fabrics. You can shop at thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, and other websites.

By wearing second-hand and vintage clothes, you can give a modern identity to the past!

3. Rent clothes

Are you looking for clothes to wear for an interview, a party or any other special occasion? Instead of buying clothes that look expensive but are “affordable”, made with cheaper materials and that you will probably only wear once, you can opt for clothing rental. Rental makes it possible to get out of the overconsumption model of Fast Fashion.

You won't feel like you're repeating your clothes and your style can be unique for every occasion. In addition, you can also wear quality materials.

4. Upcycle and repair your clothes

Do you have old damaged clothes? Here is a sustainable solution to prolong their life, try to upcycle and repair them. Collect fabrics from your old clothes and visit your local tailors to customize them into new outfits. Discover the mobile app Fix That Shirt which connects you with talented local tailors who can help you extend the life of your current wardrobe instead of buying new ones.

And if you are a creative person who loves DIY, then try these to fix and upcycle your wardrobe by yourself. Pinterest is your best friend when it comes to ideas and inspiration.

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5. Organize barter parties

Each year, one person throws an average of 31,5 kg of clothes. Do you have any clothes you no longer wear? Instead of throwing them away, you can organize barter evenings with your friends or family to exchange your clothes. It's a fun and profitable event that promotes sustainability. You can give new life to the clothes of your loved ones! Discover nuw, a mobile app that helps you swap clothes online

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6. Support sustainable local businesses

When it comes to the sustainability of fashion brands, you can never be certain that they are actually sustainable or thatit's just greenwashing. It is possible to discover the truth by shopping locally. Transparency is a strength of local brands. It is possible to meet the people who made your clothes and know exactly how, when and where your clothes come from.

These products are not from mass production, they are much more authentic and make you stand out from others. While creating a beautiful, sustainable fashion wardrobe, you are helping to grow your local economy by supporting small businesses.

7. Personalize your fashion

Does social media influence our fashion choices? Yes, buying outfits just because a celebrity is wearing them has become the norm. This phenomenon not only kills all originality in style, but also fuels Fast Fashion to an incredible extent. For example, brands of Fast Fashion like Fashion Nova have chosen the Kardashians as ambassadors. This has led to an increase in their sale, despite the negative impacts on the environment.

In May 2019, Fashion Nova collaborated with singer Cardi B and earned 1 million on the first day alone. These Fast Fashion brands take advantage of influencers' fanbases.

Therefore, it is necessary to think before buying what celebrities are promoting. Majority of these fashion trends you see on Instagram and TikTok are temporary and disposable. Instead of buying lots of trendy clothes, you can customize your own style wardrobe.

Shop for clothes that help you express yourself rather than stocking up on fancy outfits made popular by your favorite celebrities.

Experiment with your current clothes, combine them!

 

In short, ethical and fair manufacturing of sustainable brands can seem expensive. However, it is still possible to be eco-friendly and fashionable with alternative methods that allow you to save your money and in turn help protect the planet.

Rising consumer desire to buy sustainable fashion will drive brands to make it more affordable and accessible. Public awareness may force fast fashion brands to abandon their unethical production methods.

Do you think sustainable fashion will soon become more affordable?

Share your ideas with us!

Bibliography

  • Brooks, Andrew, et al. “Fashion, Sustainability, and the Anthropocene.” Utopian Studies, vol. 28, no. 3, 2017, p. 482–504. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.5325/utopianstudies.28.3.0482.
  • World Economic Forum, Sep 25, 2019, 4 ways to make your wardrobe more sustainable | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
  • Kathryn Reiley & Marilyn DeLong, “A Consumer Vision for Sustainable Fashion Practice”, Fashion Practice, 3:1, 2011, p.63-83.
  • Harris, Fiona & Roby, H. & Dibb, Sally, “Sustainable clothing: Challenges, barriers and interventions for encouraging more sustainable consumer behaviour. International Journal of Consumer Studies”, 2015, p.40, n/an/a. 10.1111/ijcs.12257.
  • Bianchi, Constanza & Gonzalez, Matias, “Exploring sustainable fashion consumption among eco-conscious women in Chile”, The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, vol.31, 2021, p.1-18, 10.1080/09593969.2021.1903529 .

Buy second-hand clothes

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