Inspired by the insightful Adelaide Fashion Week Event with Yolanda on sustainability and circularity, I’ve decided to dedicate this week’s ‘Style Trend Tuesday’ post to this crucial and timely topic!
This excerpt is from one of my former fortnightly Fashion & Style columns for the Weekender Herald. For more insights, head over to my blog – link below. I’ve also included a few additional styling and clothing tips to help you make even more eco-friendly choices!
In the fight for a cleaner and healthier environment, there are some everyday things we can all do collectively which will have a positive and significant impact.
1. Choose organic or a natural fiber such as organic cotton, linen, hemp or ramie. Organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo are all biodegradable; this means they have the ability to decompose naturally via living organisms. Organic fabrics contain no micro-plastics or chemicals and there are no pesticides used in the production of natural fabrics (70 million oil barrels are used each year to produce polyester)
2. Moving forward, aim to buy fewer clothes and invest in high-quality, long-lasting pieces whenever possible. If you’re skilled, consider making or mending your own garments, as many of my fabulous clients do. Repairing or altering clothes is a great option too – after all, around 70 million trees are cut down each year to produce clothing.
3. Wear clothing made from lyocell/Tencel rather than viscose, rayon and modal (30% of clothing made of viscose and rayon comes from endangered and ancient forests)
4. Buy clothes with fibers that are friendly to the soil (93% of the worlds soil degradation is caused by overgrazing 35%, deforestation 30% and agriculture 28%)
5. Love, enjoy and wear your clothes over and over, and particularly if they’re a ‘Fast Fashion’ item (400% more carbon admissions are produced if we wear a garment 5 verses 50 times)
6. Check out successful and well-known sustainable brands like Bassike, Kowtow, Intimo, and Good Krama. And of course, buying locally as it’s one of the best ways to shop sustainably – definitely check out the following Adelaide labels, Thread Harvest, Slowclothes, and Good Studios.
7. If you’re a fan of leather bags like I am, opt for your favorite neutral shades – think black, brown, burgundy, rust, navy, grey, taupe, olive, or white/off-white. Neutrals are incredibly versatile, pairing effortlessly with both other neutrals and colours. Not only will you be investing in a high-quality, long-lasting bag, but it will also complement your entire wardrobe for years to come. The same can be done with your shoe collection.
8. Have your colour analysis done with me if you haven’t already. Having the correct colours (particularly the correct undertone) throughout your wardrobe will allow you to mix & match more effortlessly giving you more options to mix & match. This way your clothes will stay with you for longer & out of landfill.
9. Upcycle and refashion your wardrobe, I can help you do this too! It can be as simple as turning a dress or tunic into a top, as I’ve done and ended up loving it more than the original piece. If you’re not the DIY type, take your item to a talented seamstress who can upcycle or refashion it for you. The possibilities are endless – you could transform a garment into a bag, cushion, placemats, or even a wall hanging. One of my favorite bags is a textured clutch made from a 70’s curtain, and I’m still obsessed with it after owning it for several years!
10. And of course don’t forget to explore op shops and pre-loved stores & markets, which have become huge in recent years. Even when paying less, it’s important to shop wisely to get great mileage from your finds and keep them out of landfill.
11. Before buying more clothes, shop your own wardrobe first! You can create exciting capsule collections with what you already own, giving you dozens of new outfits you’ll love. Book a wardrobe session with me, and let’s build your perfect capsule together!
