It’s easier than you think. Building sustainable habits doesn’t have to happen all at once and we’re here to get you started. Here are Tiller’s 5 Tips To Living A More Sustainable Lifestyle.
1.) Back to The Basics
When putting together your wardrobe, do your best to lock down the staples. By piecing together a strong staple wardrobe, you will not only cut down on the number of pieces you need to get dressed everyday, but you’ll also be able to get ready quicker and with less hassle. All basics can be styled and dressed up with accessories so your outfits will never be bland! Investing in high quality, timeless styles rather than cheap, trendy fast fashion items will cut down the money you’re spending on clothing in the long run and will allow you to build a wardrobe that stands the test of time.
2.) Do Your Research
Dig deeper into the products that you’re buying. It’s easy to believe labels at face value, especially if they use greenwashing terminology, but knowing more about the brand, the materials used, the production process and the mission of the company will allow you to make more informed decisions. From clothing to cleaning products to food, there is a better way to buy and with a little bit of research you can ensure you’re doing good for both people and the planet.
3.) Think Twice
Do you really need it? Thinking twice before buying will save you time and money. Before shopping for new clothes, take inventory of what you already own to make sure that you’re not wasting money duplicating that piece or buying something you have no use for. That money could be put toward new unique and useful pieces that broaden your collection. But if you are going to shop, see the next tip for how to shop smarter.
4.) Shop The 3 S’s: Small, Sustainable or Secondhand
By keeping these three things in mind when shopping, you’ll be able to consciously contribute to the positive efforts of shifting the norms within the apparel industry.
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Supporting Small Businesses often comes in the form of closer knit supply chains, ethical treatment of employees and supporting individual people with a mission rather than a corporation with goals to fill already deep pockets.
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Choosing Sustainable Brands is a simple way to play an active role in reducing your personal footprint. Sustainable brands do the research for you and typically pride themselves on presenting high quality products that serve both people and the planet in one way or another. Whether it’s sourcing repurposed materials, using natural fibers, creating small batches or simply delivering high quality products that are made responsibly, supporting brands with a sustainable mission helps to normalize positive initiatives within fashion which are the first steps to reducing the overall negative impact of the industry in the long run.
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Shopping Secondhand can help to reduce waste and the necessity to create new raw materials using copious amounts of natural resources. By shopping vintage, thrifted or resale stores/websites, you’re giving new life to products and allowing for less demand to create brand new items. Another huge benefit to shopping secondhand is finding unique pieces from seasons (or generations!) past that can fill your wardrobe or your home with a sense of individuality (and you’ll probably save a bunch of money doing it).
5.) Upcycle, Donate, Resell
There are so many ways to keep clothing out of landfills, yet we find that textiles are one of the most polluting things in the world. While the majority of textile waste comes from large clothing brands and manufacturers themselves, a sizable portion of it comes from consumers. A few easy and simple ways to do your part is to either Upcycle, Donate or Resell your items.
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Upcycling can come in many forms. Whether it’s altering, repairing or getting creative with clothes that are no longer worn, turning old ratty t-shirts into rags for cleaning or sending your textiles to an upcycling program that can repurpose fabrics into new clothing to reduce raw materials in clothing production, upcycling is a great way to ensure that your textiles are living the longest life they possibly can.
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Reselling clothing and household goods has become easier than ever through various online selling platforms and secondhand marketplaces. By selling your used clothing, you’re reducing the demand to produce clothing using new raw materials, cutting down on wasted resources in clothing production. This is a great way to make an extra buck as well as find high quality, unique pieces for yourself at a much lower price than retail.
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Donating is something that many people are aware of in terms of decluttering, but it is also a way to extend the life of your garments by keeping them intact and in the clothing market. This is a simple way to give your clothes a second life and keep them out of landfills.
Sustainable living doesn’t come overnight, but small steps in the right direction are leagues better than being stagnant. Do you have your own tips to add to this list?
Comment below to share your thoughts!
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by Kathleen Sheppard | May 13, 2020