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Conscious fashion means respecting the planet and the people and animals involved in the making of your clothing. When you care about the social, economic, and environmental impact of fashion, you ask questions like where your clothes come from? Who made them? What resources went into the growing and production? You can feel confident and authentic in your clothing without compromising sustainability. Check out these seven tips to become a fashion minimalist.
Create a capsule wardrobe
Constantly keeping up with the latest fashion trends creates a lot of waste, buying trendy items season after season. According to the Huffington Post, the fashion industry today has an astounding 52 micro-seasons per year! You can be stylish and sustainable at the same time with a capsule wardrobe, a collection of clothing items you can wear time after time that never go out of style. Style icon Tan France recommends stocking your wardrobe with a few relatively classic, versatile pieces, so you can create look after look with just a few items in an article he wrote for MasterClass.
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Mend wear and tear
Over time, your clothing will naturally experience wear and tear. But a little rip in fabric doesn’t mean you need to throw it out altogether. Cut back on waste by mending clothing. A basic sewing kit has a range of thread colors for small tears. Or bring clothing to a seamstress to handle more difficult repairs.
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Host a clothing swap
The old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” If you have old clothing that you don’t wear anymore, host a clothing swap with your friends! Ask everyone to bring a bag of clothing, jewelry, shoes, and belts they no longer want. Lay out everything and let everyone browse and take what they like. Then donate the remaining items. You’ll reduce fashion waste and encourage your friends to become fashion minimalists too!
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Shop second-hand
Second-hand shopping lowers the impact of fast fashion by reusing things that have already been produced, diverting clothing from landfills. You can find great deals on all kinds of pre-owned clothing at vintage, thrift, and consignment stores. It’s a win-win: Save money and the planet!
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Support sustainable and ethical brands
When you do buy new, opt for sustainable brands that support good working conditions, provide their workers a livable wage, and use eco-friendly, low impact materials. Some clothing is even made from plastic bottles!
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Buy clothing made from recycled materials
Many fashion designers and brands are jumping on board the sustainable bandwagon by producing clothing made from recycled materials, like UK-brand Women of Change, which creates clothing made of 100 percent recycled materials. According to Fashion Revolution, their team manages the full production process, transforming discarded fishing nets, post-consumer plastic bottles, worn-out tires, post-industrial cotton, and used coffee grinds into outerwear, swimsuits, sneakers, and accessories.
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Stay educated and raise awareness
As awareness grows of the social and environmental impacts of clothing production, more and more consumers are embracing sustainable fashion. Do your part by living by example, supporting ethical, eco-friendly clothing brands, and staying informed to understand how your choices impact sustainability. Like, share, and follow activists and organizations who share your passion for sustainability, like these influencers listed on The Good Trade. Educate yourself and others on how to get involved in ethical and sustainable fashion.
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