I say this all the time but it’s worth repeating – the most sustainable things are what you already have. There is a big misconception that you need to buy sustainable things in order to be sustainable, whether that be plastic-free food storage for your kitchen or sustainably made clothing. It’s exciting to see the sustainable fashion industry growing, and I love talking about sustainable brands creating change in the industry, but new sustainably made clothing is still not accessible for every consumer. So here are some of the ways you can be part of the sustainable fashion movement without buying new sustainably made clothes.

Wear what you already have.

The most sustainable clothing is what’s already in your closet. Be a proud outfit repeater and wear the clothes in your closet a lot. Get creative with how you style your clothes, too, to get the maximum amount of use out of them. Depending on how you style it, a dress can look like a dress, a skirt, and a top! Play around with layering and accessories to make a repeated outfit look like a completely different look.

Take care of your clothes so they last as long as possible.

It’s important to take care of your clothing so it lasts as long as possible, even if it was designed to fall apart after only a few wears (*cough, cough* planned obsolescence). Delicate materials like silk should be hand washed and air dried. Synthetics, denim, and sweaters should also be hang dried because the heat and tumbling from a drier can break down the fibers of the material and make them wear out faster. To keep the shoulders of your sweaters from stretching, store them folded instead of on a hanger. And when your clothes get a little beat up, mend them. Learn to darn holes and sew buttons back on. A little damage doesn’t ruin a clothing item forever, it just means it needs a little attention.

Try upcycling the clothes you no longer love.

I went down a deep upcycling hole at the beginning of the pandemic in March. I did a ton of sewing projects and shared them on TikTok. Changing a neckline or a hem – with a sewing machine, by hand sewing, or even with a simple pair of scissors – can make a big difference! If you’re looking for a new color try dyeing with turmeric (yellow) or avocado pits (light pink).

Communicate with brands.

Let brands know what you want to see from them. Ask them for specifics about their sustainability goals. Ask them about their supply chain, like how they guarantee their garment workers are safe and are paid a fair wage. Call fast fashion brands out for greenwashing. Ask sustainable brands when they plan on expanding their size range. Be direct. And keep following up. Brands need people like us to hold them accountable. You can communicate with brands in a number of different ways:

• respond to their Instagram stories
• comment on their social media posts
• send emails to customer service or a specific department
• if you’ve bought clothing from a brand recently, leave a review of the product on their website and mention your concerns or what you wish you would see more from them

Get involved with sustainable fashion organizations.

There are organizations on the ground working on legislation and education and they are often looking for donors, volunteers, or supporters. Here are a few organizations creating change in the industry:

• Garment Worker Center (Instagram, website)
• Fashion Revolution (Instagram, website)
• Remake (Instagram, website)
• Clean Clothes Campaign (Instagram, website)
• Fashion For Good (Instagram, website)
• Fashion FWD (Instagram, website)

When you do buy new clothing, shop intentionally.

Sustainable fashion isn’t just about where you buy your clothes, it’s also about how you buy it. You can buy clothing from only the most sustainable brands and still participate in overconsumption and throwaway fashion culture. When you do buy new clothing, consume consciously. Buy clothing that you will wear a lot and will wear season after season. Buy versatile clothing that you’ll be able to wear for a variety of occasions with what’s already in your closet. Invest in quality clothing that will last you a longer time whenever possible. Check out this reels for questions you can ask yourself before buying new clothing to be a more conscious consumer.

READY TO KICK START YOUR SUSTAINABLE FASHION JOURNEY?