We have all reached peak ‘stuff’. Our wardrobes all contain clothes, mostly synthetic and mass produced in factories that do not pay a fair wage, that will likely, unfortunately, end up in landfill.

The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world and although the industry has a long way to go, there are steps that we can all take to be more sustainable. In short, this does not have to be the story for our wardrobes.

Here are some tips we can all take to make better choices.

The most sustainable clothes you can wear are the ones in your wardrobe right now

With the average garment being worn only 7 times in its life, a great first step is to re-engage with the clothes in your wardrobe. We only wear 20% of our wardrobes 80% of the time, so giving existing garments a new lease of life and donating, swapping or recycling anything you no longer want to keep all serves to increase the lifespan of your wardrobe. A great way to try things that are out of your regular rotation is to turn all your hangers the same way, and once you have worn something turn it the other way around to encourage yourself to pick up something new next time. 

Buy second hand

There are (literally) mountains of amazing clothes out there already. It doesn't make sense to put even more pressure on the planet when there are so many gems out there waiting to be found. Second hand fashion is often the best way to find a unique bargain and inject personality into your style. We can't discard the resources and the hours of work that went into making old clothes, just for the sake of some more new stuff.

Stay informed

If you can’t find what you need second hand, do research so you can buy from and support brands that are making a conscious effort to be sustainable. Look up brands on Good On You - Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Brand Ratings to check their impact on the planet, people and animals. 

When you clear out your wardrobe, be mindful of past purchases you might regret

Clothes discarded are a lesson in what not to buy in the future. We all have those impulse purchases that, looking back, we were not sure why we bought. Looking at the clothes we no longer want to keep can help us know what not to buy in the future. 

Mend your clothes

Or if you aren't feeling crafty, bring them to a local tailor.

Think ‘Do I need it?’

It's easy to see a garment and think I want it but take some time to consider if you need it. Do you have something similar already? Can you find a similar item second hand? Can you borrow it from someone else? It's also good to think ‘What else could I spend that money on?’ Seeing family or friends? Taking an art class? Yoga membership? 

Challenge yourself

Set yourself a target. Maybe you want to see if you can go a whole year without buying anything new. How about the ‘#5WEARS5DAYS challenge where you pick one item and create 5 different looks in one week? You can also take part in online campaigns such as Oxfam’s Second Hand September or #ReuseMonth in October to share creative ways to wear garments and extend their life (as well as expand your wardrobe possibilities).

Change your point of view

Unsubscribe from fast fashion mailing lists and curate your social media space to follow brands, companies and individuals dedicated to making fashion more sustainable. Fashion was never meant to be fast, so taking yourself out of the continuous loop can help reset and see clothes as something that take time and care to make and should be treated as something to enjoy for more than a few wears! 

Swap & Borrow

Use a platform like Nuw and give yourself access to a whole new exciting wardrobe. You can also share your own items for the Nuw community to enjoy too. Every time we borrow or swap clothes, we reduce 25% of resources that would have gone into the production of a new item!  Share your borrowed or swapped items from Nuw with the #NuwStories tag. 

Sustainability is a journey, so find the things that work for you and your wardrobe.