Living a sustainable life as a single person is certainly more manageable than for those of us that have a family at home. Here are seven sustainable fashion tips that will certainly help get you started (in style) with a more eco-friendly future for the whole family.
What is sustainable fashion?
Eco fashion is more than just asking how your clothing is manufactured and its impact on the environment and the worker’s social welfare, it also questions consumerism pressures. Using sustainable textiles in eco couture is one thing, repairing and recycled clothing is also essential.
What can we do?
1: Old shirts: Use old shirts for cleaning or dust rags, or get crafty and create beeswax food wraps for a stylish and eco way for the kids’ lunchboxes.
Not only does this stop unwanted clothes and bedlinen from going to landfill, but it also cuts down on the single-use plastic of food and cling film. And is a winner for schools trying to go more eco with nude package days and encouraging fresh foods over pre-packed.
2: School Uniforms: Repair instead of replace when it comes to holes in knees or at elbows. Opting for second-hand uniforms is a great way to keep your local community more sustainable. If there isn’t a school uniform shop then speak with the school and start one.
3: Swap Shop: Instead of giving clothes to charity shops, or throwing them away, sign-up for a swap shop and refresh your family’s wardrobe. Again, if there is not a swap shop happening in your local community – be the game changer and start one! You can find out more about how to start a swap-shop on instead Trashion Magazine and follow them for more tips on @hashtagtrashion
4: Old clothes: Hand down old clothes to younger children, or cut the fabric up for creating something entirely new – such as a patchwork quilt or bag. Old soft fabrics can be used as an alternative to polystyrene balls to stuff a beanbag. If holes in socks are too far gone, then have fun with the kids creating puppet characters.
One of the biggest culprits for landfill is baby clothing because parents often buy so much stuff that is very quickly grown out of and they also opt for convenience. If you do have lots of leftover baby clothes that don’t have a new home to go to, instead of sending them to the trash, or to charity, get creative and make book bags or even framed wall art.
5: Homemade: Get more creative and make garments or accessories from scratch for the ultimate sustainable fashion. Or upcycle older pieces that need refreshing. Be inspired by modern trends so your clothes are still moving with the times.
Get the children involved – they could even make some clothes for their favourite teddy or doll. Sewing is an important skill to have. And before throwing unwanted clothes out consider customising with lace or sequins or cool patches. It could even be a thoughtful mothers day gift idea.
6: Multi-Use: Consider your consumer choices – if your garment has multiple purposes then you are more likely to wear it regularly, for example jackets with inner layers that can be worn over various seasons. Or multi-way dresses that can be layered and styled in various ways.
7: Slow Down: The bargains in high-street stores or online retailers encourage us to buy more for less. But it is a matter of quality over quantity in order to shift towards a more sustainable future.
Buy from independent designers or buy vintage or second-hand, whatever you need to do in order to slow down. Brands such as Patagonia make garments from plastic bottles and support the environment – so you know you are making a difference whilst still looking good. It is possible to create a sustainable wardrobe for your children by buying quality clothes built to last, made with sustainable fashion techniques.
Remember we need to make some shifts to ensure a better future for our kids, and there is no easier way than green fashion.
