It’s kinda sad when people address sustainable fashion as a “mere trend” which has taken over all social media. It may have become a viral term but we are not conscious enough about how deeply it can influence our lifestyle, economy, and environment. When it comes to sustainability in the fashion industry, there are two perspectives: that of brands and that of consumers. Both of them can play an efficient role for a better and “greener” future.

Creating a conscious closet is all about mindset. Even if there is no such thing as a 100% sustainable fashion, what matters is to know about what you stand for and how you can improve not just as a consumer but as a person in general. For starters, stop complaining about the things you can’t control and focus all your energy on what you can do such as becoming more aware of the ethical brands in your area and all the alternatives on how to incorporate sustainability in your daily life.

Support sustainable brands.

Not everyone can afford to shop from sustainable brands since their clothing tends to be on the more expensive side, especially when it comes to students. Even though you may not be able to shop exclusively from ethical brands, you can still save some money once in a while and invest on your favorite sustainable pieces or if you are unable to do so, you can spread the word to someone who can. Remember, doing something is better than nothing.

TIP: An alternative, cheap, sustainable way of shopping is to buy clothes from thrift shops or second-hand clothing stores.

Invest in high-quality basic pieces.

Basics are the structure of your wardrobe. No matter how your style will evolve, you will always find yourself gravitating towards those pieces. So before you start adding statement pieces to your wardrobe, you have to build your basic wardrobe which will include all your must-have pieces that never go in and out of style. Investing in high-quality basic pieces is the ideal way to start building your conscious closet since you won’t need to re-purchase them for a long time.

The meaning of finding your personal style.

The secret to achieve your ideal wardrobe is not hidden in the amount of clothing you own but in the realization of your personal style. If you feel like you have nothing to wear in the morning even though your wardrobe is overflowing with clothes, you need to re-evaluate your choices and try to discover your sense of style rather than rushing to shop new clothes that will end up sitting in your wardrobe after a while.
Blog Post: “How to find your personal style”

Incorporate minimalism into your life.

Minimalism is certainly not a lifestyle everyone can follow but instead of completely rejecting it, try to adjust your life to it as much as possible. With constantly being exposed to an enormous amount of options to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by them and purchase something from pure excitement. We need to put an end to overconsumption and become more aware of our purchases. Here are some easy ways to reduce the amount of clothing you shop:
◆ Set a certain budget you can spend on clothes or a certain amount of clothing you are allowed to purchase during the year.
◆ Create a wishlist before going shopping. Think carefully what items you want to add to your wardrobe and which ones it’s time to replace with new ones.
◆ Keep track of your purchases so as to reflect on them at the end of the year. Keep in mind that there is always a place for improvement.

Eco-friendly ways to get rid of your old clothes.

◆ Donate or sell your old clothes that are in good condition but don’t fit you or don’t represent your current sense of style anymore.
◆ Re-use your old sweatpants and comfy clothes at home or as your pajamas instead of buying brand new ones.
◆ Recycle your well-worn or damaged clothes so as to reduce the amount of clothing discarded to landfills.
◆ DIY some of your old clothes, you can recreate fun trends with them such as tie-dye or modify them so as to match your current ideal style. Creativity and an open mind is the key here.

Fashion is a form of art.

As much as I understand the importance of protecting the environment, at the same time, I can’t deny that fashion is a way of expressing yourself. Fashion is a form of art, creativity, and freedom to many. Just like you can’t ask an artist to stop painting, you can’t narrow down other forms of art. Most of the things we do have a negative impact on the environment, so you need to find the most suitable way for you to contribute to a “greener” future. So, always be kind to others without trying to force your beliefs and personal choices or taking away their right to be themselves. At the end of the day, we aren’t perfect beings, none of us, we all have our selfish side.

Thanks for reading. Let me know your thoughts in the comments down below. Sorry for the late upload. See ya on Monday with a new blog post so stay tuned. xoxo ♡

Lots of love, Vaso