With the start of the New Year, many of us are writing down our goals and planning to start fresh. Let's make 2017 the year to be more environmentally conscious, both for the Earth's sake and also your wallet's.
Did you know that the apparel industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, making it the second largest industrial polluter where the oil industry places first? In fact, this industry uses 70 million barrels of oil per year to make the world’s polyester fiber, which takes more than 200 years to decompose. To further put this number into perspective, more than 150 billion garments are produced annually and the average American throws away about 70 pounds of clothing each year.* If these stats are scaring you as much as they scared me when I first heard about them, then keep reading to learn about the steps I take to maintain a sustainable close and keep my dollars out of the apparel industry as much as possible!
1. Fix It
When I want to purchase new clothing items, let’s say, a new pair of jeans, it’s usually because the jeans I do own are no longer functioning the way I want them to. Sometimes there’s a rip in them, other times they are too big, or maybe I am just bored with how they look. If this sounds familiar to you, then I would advise you to try fixing your clothes first before buying new items. Just grab some scissors and a needle and thread and get creative! In the past, I’ve looked up how to tailor different types of clothes to better fit my shape and transformed items into something new. I’ve even taken clothes that have cool prints, but no longer fit, and cut them out into small squares to use as patches on jeans. The options are endless! By fixing your clothes, you stop yourself from buying new clothes and are also making a statement against America’s “throw away” culture!
2. Repurpose it
If you find that the clothes that no longer work for you are unsalvageable, consider repurposing them! This can take many forms from donating unwanted clothes to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or your local homeless shelter to transforming clothes into other functional items. For example, you can turn an old t-shirt into a cleaning rag, a tote bag, or even a quilt! If you have clothing items that are still in good condition or are brand items, you can also sell them to consignment stores such as Plato’s Closet in Charlottesville for profit.
3. Buy Less
This one seems like a no-brainer, but it’s one that we often overlook. Before going to the mall or doing some online shopping, take a good look into your closet and sift through everything you own. It’s always helpful to have a good understanding of what clothes you do own so that you can stop yourself from buying things that are similar to what you already own! If you can’t resist buying another pair of jeans, consider donating an older pair of pants to ensure that you are maintaining a modest closet size. Another good exercise is to do bi-annual close cleanouts, which is one of my favorite things to do! Simply look through your closet and repurpose and/or donate the items that you haven’t worn in the past 6 months.
4. Buy used
One of my all-time favorite ways to shop for clothes is to go thrifting! Not only is buying used clothes saving them from being thrown into the dump, it is also a great way to find unique clothing pieces that no one else has. Let’s face it, trends always repeat themselves, so consider trying to find what’s “on-trend” at your local thrift, consignment, or vintage store! I also personally love supporting my local Goodwill and Salvation Army because of their community-based programs, which provide job training and employment placement services to people who have barriers preventing them from otherwise obtaining a job. It’s always a good thing to be mindful of where your dollar goes because a purchase from Goodwill is a vote for their mission while a purchase from a fast-fashion retailer is a vote for mass production at the cost of the environment.