6 Rules for Earth Friendly Fashion

My capsule wardrobe has been such a joy to create. I have clothes for every occasion and season; everything matches and mixes - BUT what gives me the most joy is that over half of the collection is second hand and 30% of the pieces I’ve had for over 10 years.

Sustainable fashion is a passion of mine.  Discarded clothing is extremely damaging to the earth. A dress made out of manmade materials is estimated to take 200 years to decompose according to Fashion Revolution  Most of the clothing we throw away or put in clothing collection bins ends up in landfills - I was so disappointed to find that one out, but clothing is so cheap in America most people opt for new over used. One trash truck worth of clothing is burned every second.

Living beautifully extends to dressing beautifully and thoughtfully. To guide myself toward sustainability and earth friendly fashion, I created a list of standards to direct my clothing choices toward conservation.

1. Whenever possible buy natural materials.  They are better for the environment and decompose quickly and easily.  Nylons, athletic clothing, and sports clothing perform better when synthetic - so buy them, but only what you will use and wear out.
2. Use resale ability as criteria when deciding to buy something. If all your clothes have resale value, you can release them and use sites like Fashionphile, Tradesy, the RealReal, and Ebay to give them a second life.
3. Repair and mend clothing.  Instead of throwing something out ask your dry cleaner or tailor if it can be repaired first.  Most items can be.  For shoes, I go to Rego Brothers in Morristown. They are fantastic at reviving shoes and extending their life.
4. Shop the second hand market first when possible. Something pre-loved is earth friendly recycling.
5. One in and one out once your capsule wardrobe is established.  This helps you to invest in quality over quantity.
6. Avoid fast fashion.  I love Zara - this is true.  And I still shop there, but I am meticulous about what I purchase.  It needs to be something that I will totally wear out myself. Also, it is super important to resist the urge to overbuy at shops where the clothes are so reasonably priced.

As you use these guidelines, see how your clothing becomes more useable and you will save money as a bonus!

xoxo,
Julia​