What you wear makes a statement about who you are. You show your personality as well as what you love.
If being eco-friendly is one of your priorities, you can show off your love for the environment in many ways through your clothing and accessories.
Here are three easy ways to be more eco-clothing-friendly that you can start right away:
Don't Throw Away Old Clothing
When you're ready to declutter and get rid of some of the clothing in your wardrobe, don't throw it away.
If the clothes are still in good condition and don't have any stains, donate it to a local thrift store or church. They will make those items available at a low price or free to the community.
Also ask if family members or friends could use some of the clothing. If you want to try and recoup a bit of money from your old clothing, hold a yard sale or sell the items at a consignment shop.
There are also lots of local Facebook groups that specialize in trading or donating used clothing, so look around online and see what you can find.
If the clothing is not in good condition or has stains, recycle it. The cloth can be used as rags, in craft projects, or cut down to serve as children's clothing. Some communities have kiosks where you can recycle natural fabrics like cotton, denim, or silk.
Use What You Already Have
The 80/20 rule probably applies to your wardrobe (as well as the rest of your life.) That means you wear 20% of your wardrobe about 80% of the time.
If this is true, you need to start using what you already have before purchasing new items. Start pulling items out of the back of the closet or the bottom drawer and wearing them.
A great way to get this started for those who are always on the hunt for new clothes is to kick off with a shopping fast. Only buy what you need like food, cleaning products, and other necessities. No clothes shopping or shopping for anything except the necessities.
You can set a goal for yourself, or see how far you can get along without buying any new clothes. Once you realize how easy it can be, how much you’re saving, and how conscientious you’re being, you won’t want to go back.
If you don't like what you have in the back of the closet, or it is stained or in disrepair, recycle it.
Stick with the Basics
When it's time to add new items to your wardrobe, keep to the basics. Add items to your wardrobe that you know you will wear multiple times. Only buy as much as you need at one time.
That great sale might save you money, but adding more than you need to your wardrobe is not an eco-friendly practice. Also, don't buy items that you will wear only once or twice. It's a waste of money and space.
If possible, shop at thrift and consignment stores. That way you can reuse clothing without purchasing clothing made from brand new raw materials.
These tips will help you manage your wardrobe in an eco-friendly way. Do you have any other ideas on how to be eco-friendly with your wardrobe?