Climate change has always been a hot topic in the mass media, but in recent years with the temperatures being almost 70 degrees Fahrenheit in November, we all understand that it’s time to change something in our lifestyle. Fashion is one of the most polluting industries, so it’s not surprising that one of the first things that people are looking to improve is their clothing. If you’re looking forward to helping the environment while also putting together a more long-lasting wardrobe, here are a few of our favourite sustainable fashion advice to help you achieve your goals.

Reduce what you already own

In order to create a functional and eco-friendly wardrobe you need to start by reducing the size of your already existing closet. The easiest way to do this is by emptying your whole wardrobe and going through each piece of clothing and deciding whether to keep it or not. However, you can also make this a much more thoughtful activity, for example by asking yourself the right questions: when was the last time I wore this piece? Is it made of a sustainable fabric that I want to keep in my closet? Would I buy it again right now? Is it something that I can see myself wearing in 5 years? Marie Kondo’s cleaning method is also a great way of dealing with a hoarded closet. Don’t throw away the clothes that you want to get rid of, instead select what can be donated and recycled; this way you’ll make room for new things in your closet while also helping the environment as well as those in need.

Invest in sustainable fabrics

After you’re done cleaning your wardrobe, it’s time to decide what new sustainable clothing you need. Natural fabrics such as cotton, silk, and wool are the best options to consider. Not only do they look and feel great, but they are also biodegradable and even compostable. For example, a T-shirt made of cotton can take only 5 months to decompose while the same T-shirt made of polyester can take up to 200 years to break down. We suggest not only investing in ecological, high-quality fabrics, but in functional and versatile clothing as well, a great example being the Irish cardigan. A knit wool cardigan made of 100 per cent wool as these we found online, be it merino or lambswool, makes a fashionable addition to your outfits while also being practical; it can be worn almost all year round, whether on cold winter days or chilly summer evenings, and it can last for up to a decade.

Learn to take care of your clothes

Although reducing the number of your clothes and purchasing only those made of high-quality, sustainable fabrics can indeed help the situation, learning how to take care of them in an eco-friendly way is crucial. The vast majority of the clothes that you own probably don’t need to be washed at high temperatures, so cleaning them with cold or warm water might help not only your wardrobe but also the planet as well as your water and electricity bills. Hand-washing, although inconvenient at the first glance, can also help greatly, plus there are some garments like the Irish cardigan that we’ve mentioned before that can only be cleaned like that. Switching to a sustainable laundry detergent and reducing the use of the tumble dryer are also considered proper ways of taking care of your clothes in an eco-friendly way.