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Sustainable clothes hanging on wooden hangers.

How to get the most out of your clothes

Nowadays being environmentally friendly plays an increasingly important role in all aspects of our everyday lives. This also deals with our approach to fashion. Even making small changes in your everyday life can make a significant contribution to being more environmentally friendly, especially if you start to focus more on the principles of sustainability. In this guide we will show you the link between fashion consciousness and environmental friendliness. We have also put together some helpful tips and advice on various topics related to sustainable fashion consumption.

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Using clothes in a sustainable way: a man looking at jackets in a second-hand shop.

Slow fashion tips for a more sustainable approach to fashion consumption

Slow fashion is a future orientated concept for the fashion industry. You don't have to limit yourself to just a couple of items of clothing to have a minimalist wardrobe so that you can be more environmentally friendly. Instead, the principle of slow fashion is all about promoting a responsible approach to clothing. This means that clothes need to be much more appreciated and they should be well looked after so that you can wear them for longer. Being aware of your fashion consumption and taking the time to appreciate the clothes you already have will help to reduce the number of natural resources being used, thus this will have a positive impact on the environment.

You can use the tips below as a guide if you would like to adopt a more sustainable approach to clothing:

  • Pay attention to the materials used: ideally, the fibres used are produced in an environmentally friendly way and they are made out of renewable raw materials.

  • Have a look through your wardrobe before buying something new for a specific occasion. Try completing your outfit with a few quirky accessories to create a brand new look. It is a good idea to borrow clothes especially eveningwear if you need them for a special occasion.

  • Don't throw old clothes in the bin: you don't have to throw away old clothes you no longer wear. Instead, you can give them to friends, sell them at a flea market or to a second-hand shop or donate them to charity. Clothes should only be thrown away as a last resort such as if they are irreparable and you cannot recycle or upcycle them into something useful.

  • If you have an item of clothing that has holes or a tear in it you should try and repair it. If it doesn't work you could upcycle your old clothes and reuse the material.

How to build a capsule wardrobe: a woman looking through her clothes in her wardrobe.

How to put together the perfect capsule wardrobe

More and more people are consciously trying to reduce their consumption and buy fashion that is timeless and they can wear time and time again. You can build your own capsule wardrobe if you would like to reduce your clothes consumption, but still be fashionable. In this article we will show you how to put together a capsule wardrobe and also explain how you can always look stylish with only a couple of outfits.

How to put together the perfect capsule wardrobe
Tip

Lots of people are not a fan of the fast paced throwaway culture and they prefer a slower and more sustainable approach so that they can get more out of the things they love. The "slow" from the term slow fashion not only stands for "slow", but it is also used as an acronym to represent the various principles of being sustainable: sustainable, local (regionally grown/manufactured), organic (organically grown) and whole (no further manufacturing needed).

Upcycling ideas for clothes: a woman is using old clothes to sew something new.

Tips and upcycling ideas for old clothes

By repairing and looking after your clothes you can help them to last longer, which will help to save you money and valuable resources at the same time. In this article we will show you how you can repair and get the most out of your favourite clothes despite any small holes or tears. We will also give you some inspiration on how to give your clothes you no longer want to wear a new life with some creative upcycling ideas.

Tips and upcycling ideas for old clothes
Eco-friendly ways to wash clothes: a woman choosing a wash programme on her washing machine.

Tips on how to wash your clothes in an eco-friendly way

Washing your clothes correctly will help them to look great for longer and this will also help to reduce the number of natural resources being used in everyday life. The eco-balance of your clothing can certainly be improved through washing your clothes in an environmentally friendly way. In this article we will give you some important information on how to choose an environmentally friendly laundry detergent and also give you some tips on how you can save electricity and water through washing and drying in an environmentally friendly way.

Tips on how to wash your clothes in an eco-friendly way
A sustainable approach to buying new clothes: a clothes rack in a second-hand shop.

Tips and advice on buying second-hand clothes

For lots of people that are really into fashion second-hand shopping is not just a fantastic solution for a sustainable approach to clothing, but it is also a veritable treasure hunt. In this article we will explain how buying second-hand clothes can help to save resources. We will also give you some helpful tips on what you be aware of when buying second-hand clothes.

Tips and advice on buying second-hand clothes
Tip

If you would like to be more sustainable you should first use up the non-sustainable products you have already bought or continue to use them until the end of their lifecycle. You should continue to wear the clothes you already have even if they don't quite meet your new minimalist or slow fashion standards.

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References:

https://www.attiremedia.com/tips-tricks/slow-fashion-on-a-budget

(Last accessed on 22.06.2023)

https://www.earthday.org/toolkit-how-to-shop-for-your-clothes/#:~:text=Buy%20clothing%20made%20with%20natural,%2C%20nylon%2C%20spandex%20and%20acrylic.

(Last accessed on 22.06.2023)

https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/fashion-tips-how-to-make-your-sustainable-clothes-more-sustainable/2022092665338

(Last accessed on 22.06.2023)

https://www.hausvoneden.com/lifestyle/slow-fashion-20-tips-to-easily-implement-the-trend/

(Last accessed on 22.06.2023)

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