One question that keeps coming up in our attempt to combat our planet’s climate change problem is clothing and how to develop a stable wardrobe. It’s possible that discussing clothes is more fascinating than discussing, say, gas or air conditioning, but it’s also because the textile industry is a major polluter! It’s clear to see that the lifespan of apparel has a far bigger effect than we actually ever expected once we remember where our clothing starts from, how it’s made, and how it will finally decompose (or not).Thankfully, the clothing industry to take notice, and new sustainable fashion trends are rapidly catching on, even among major brands including H&M and Adidas. However, as in other sectors, market demand plays a significant role. Here are my suggestions for making a more environmentally friendly wardrobe. I’d love to hear about the improvements you’re making to reduce the carbon footprint of your clothes!
Visit a thrift store or dress boutique. Pay a visit to yard sales. Make arrangements for clothing exchanges with friends or local groups (neighbors, yoga studios, mothers’ groups, etc.). Launch a Facebook swapping group with your colleagues. Do you have children? There’s a good chance you know someone who can help you out with children’s clothing. My friend was telling me how she only invested about $100 on her daughter’s clothes because she gets all of their hand-me-downs from a friend.
Fabric selection is another method of making your wardrobe more sustainable. To begin, keep in mind that synthetic fabrics (polyester, acrylic, spandex, and so on) are made from pesticides and/or plastics. These materials are safer in certain respects than natural fibres, but they pollute the environment with microplastics and are not biodegradable. They will finally be thrown away and will not decompose in a landfill. While some clothing manufacturers are now using recycled materials, which is a positive thing, these fabrics continue to contribute to the microplastic epidemic. If you prefer synthetic fabrics, follow the instructions below to wash them.
Choose materials that are less damaging to the climate. Natural fabrics, however, have an ecological impact, ranging from degradation (rayon) to pesticide use (cotton) and methane pollution (methane emissions) (wool). Although there are no perfect natural fibers, some are superior to others. Everlane jeans, which are both inexpensive and high-quality, are a good option for jeans. Everlane denim is made in a clean factory that recycles a large portion of the waste produced during the manufacturing process. Stop synthetic blends in knits because they appear to look old and pill easily. Cashmere is a timeless classic, but its increasing popularity has had a negative impact on the world. If you do decide to buy it, look for Grade A cashmere and keep in mind that, contrary to common opinion, softness is not an indication of quality. Instead, seek out cashmere that appears to be thick and durable. It will become softer with time. Even, alpaca is warm and comfortable, so it’s better for the climate than cashmere.
