Alongside going fully vegan and making my bathroom more planet-friendly, another change I’ve made this year is creating a more sustainable wardrobe in a way that works for me. It’s not perfect and I can definitely make further progress, but let me share with you these 5 beginner tips to sustainable fashion.

5 easy ways to make your wardrobe more sustainable

Shop second-hand

Thrift shopping in second hand shops is a true passion for some people. You can find real bargains and unique pieces. The only downside is that it can be very time consuming and you’re not sure that you’ll find what you’re looking for.

If you have a specific item in mind, I’d recommend looking on online thrift shops. It’s something I have just started doing but so far I only had great experiences. Just make sure to carefully read the item description and the return policy before purchasing.

The two websites I can personally recommend are:

Thrift Plus. They have a great selection of both designer and high street items. A good portion of what you pay is given to charity and they tell you which one your money is going to. I found a Saint Laurent jumper as well as a JCrew jumper and blazer for £100 altogether. They were in perfect condition. Absolute bargain!

Vestiaire Collective. It is well known for its wide selection of designer bags and clothes. You can add item to your wishlist (I have a few Chloe bags on mine, for when I’m ready to invest) and follow price drops or even make offers to the seller. I needed a Winter coat and I found “the one” on Vestiaire Collective.

Become an outfit repeater

The most sustainable piece of clothing is the one you already have in your wardrobe. Wearing your clothes again and again is cool. If you’re lacking inspiration, there’s plenty of Instagram accounts dedicated to sustainable fashion and showing you endless way to style a single piece of clothing.

Invest in timeless pieces

This one goes hand in hand with the previous point. It is much easier to wear your clothes for a many years if you’re staying away from fast fashion, cheap fabrics and seasonal trends. Quality over quantity.

Another great tips is to avoid having too many duplicates. For instance, you probably don’t need 5 pairs of blue jeans, 3 white shirts… You get it. I like the idea of creating a capsule wardrobe with a selection of timeless staples I can use and reuse.

If you buy new, buy sustainable

Where possible, try to buy from sustainable brands which use recycled fabrics, environment-friendly materials, work with ethical factories and have transparent sustainability practices. The clothes will be more expensive than buying a Primark top but they will last much longer. Sustainable fashion is a long-term investment.

Many high street and sportswear brands are developing sustainable lines. Most of them are rightfully called out and accused of greenwashing. However, some brands are working on becoming more sustainable and supporting them can also help them go even further down this path.

For instance, when I need a new pair of leggings, I’d rather get one from Nike Sustainable range (using recycled fabrics) than from Gymshark.

Giving your clothes a second life

Sell clothes that hold some value, whether it’s on Facebook market place, Depop or Vestiaire Collective.

Donate clothes that are still in good shape and wearable. I recently gave a full bag to my local charity shop. They are always in need.

Recycle clothes that are used or stained instead of throwing them in the bin.

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