Sustainable is in, there’s no doubt about it. We all want to be more respectful of the environment, fraternize with the workers who make our clothes and generate less textile waste. Well, so far so good. But here’s the hard part… How do we do it? Changes aren’t easy. In fact, many friends have confessed that they want but can’t, it’s even hard for us.
Let’s face it: the temptation of entering a Zara, Mango or Blanco without taking that latest trend T-shirt for 3 euros is too powerful. But rest assured, we don’t have to be radical, it’s not about throwing away all the fast fashion we have and never ever buying clothes again in our lives. The important thing is to take a first step and act consciously.
Latitude, a super cool fashion brand with 100% sustainable DNA, offers us some guidelines to gradually transform our old closet into something better:
Analyze your closet
Open your closet, separate what you need from what you have and only keep what fits your style. The criteria for moving into steps 1 and 2 are: broken, stained, doesn’t fit or I haven’t worn it in the last two seasons.
Classify your clothes
You probably have clothes that have already surpassed their useful life, if so, think about fixing it, donating it or recycling it based on its state.
Organize a Swap Party
With your most valuable clothes or the ones in very good condition you can organize a swap party. It’s the most sustainable way of getting rid of what you don’t want or of getting new clothes without spending money.
Less is more
If you’re going shopping, first think about what you need for your life’s activities and plan it on paper. Ask yourself the following question: Are my clothing and footwear needs covered?
Don’t be controlled
We live in a society in which it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stop and think when shopping, the most compulsive decisions are the easiest to control. Define a budget and invest first in what you need; it’ll be better to sleep on it, at least for a night, before making a purchase.
Choose responsibly
Try to buy clothes of the best quality that you can afford, that won’t harm your health, or your planet, or the people who make them and if you can, that are basic and timeless. Take the time to look for sustainable brands based on your needs and budget.
Read the labels
Be aware of where the thing you’re going to buy was made and that in addition to the PVP, each garment has a cost for the planet and may also have a higher cost for the workers who produce and sell it.
Reuse
The most sustainable garment is the one that already exists, so try to recover yours or exchange it for pieces that fit you with relatives or friends, visit thrift or vintage stores, we all want to have clothes that are beautiful both inside and out!
Use sustainable detergents
Take care of your clothes and forget softeners. Conventional detergents contain substances that are harmful to people’s health and to the planet, which day by day, is running out of resources.
Be part of the change
We are what we consume. Every consumption act counts, what you buy matters. Every time you shop you’re choosing and supporting an economic and social system, with your money and work.
Is it as difficult as you thought? You just need to start. As Eduardo Galeano says "a lot of small people, in small places, are doing small things that can change the world". Do you dare?
Source: Luxiders Mag