How to be more sustainable when clothes shopping

Today there is an increasing focus on sustainability and more people are giving serious thought to how they shop for clothes. Fast fashion has become something many now seek to avoid. If you’ve been thinking about how you can have a more sustainable approach to clothes shopping but don’t know where to start, then this article is for you.

Inform yourself

One of the first steps to take towards being a more responsible clothes buyer is to inform yourself about brands and their approach to issues of sustainability. Thankfully there are many brands who are making statements about their commitment to sustainable practices, fairtrade and responsible sourcing. Spend some time doing a little research and if in doubt, reach out to the brands and ask questions. Social media is a great way to instantly connect with brands and ask the questions that you have.

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30 wears test

The 30 wears test is a good measuring tool to use when purchasing new garments. This saves buying an item that will literally only be worn once. When looking at an item of clothing, consider whether you will wear that item at least 30 times. Many people are surprised by how often they will answer no to that question. If the item is not going to be worn at least 30 times then you might want to think again about purchasing it. For Farah Clothes that you will definitely want to wear again and again, consider a site like https://www.louisboyd.co.uk/clothing/brand/farah.html

Think differently about your shopping habits

Each new item manufactured and shipped creates a significant carbon footprint. Vintage clothing, however, does not. There are a growing number of websites that offer vintage and second hand clothing in excellent condition and at reasonable prices. If you want to make a serious commitment to zero carbon clothes shopping, then you might want to consider the role that vintage clothing has to play in making fashion more sustainable.

Clothes for all seasons

Instead of thinking in terms of buying a summer wardrobe and a completely different winter wardrobe, consider the benefits of trans seasonal clothing. These are items that can easily be worn in all seasons and adapted to suit different temperatures, for example.  There are timeless jackets, jeans, shirts and sweaters that can be layered in colder weather and easily adapted to milder weather too. The purchases you make should be able to see you through the changes in the seasons without needing separate wardrobes for each.

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Clothing care

One of the best ways of being more sustainable with our clothing is something we can all do and that is to make sure our clothes are well looked after and last longer. Buying higher quality garments will mean they last longer as they are generally made from superior fabrics. Always follow care instructions on the label and hang items in wardrobes. A steamer is a good idea to kill off bacteria and act as a gentler alternative to ironing.