World Environment Day: 4 tips for sustainable clothing
On June 5th it is World Environment Day: a day held every year with the aim of raising people's awareness of the environment. A theme central to World Environment Day is sustainability. In the past, sustainable clothing was still taken for granted and you could wear one pair of jeans for many years. Nowadays, trends change constantly, causing people to want new items again and again. To meet that demand, a great deal of clothing is produced, preferably as quickly and cheaply as possible. This, of course, comes at the expense of our environment. It is no wonder that many people find sustainability increasingly important. However, it can be quite a challenge to buy fashionable and sustainable clothing. That is why, especially for World Environment Day, we have put together 4 tips for sustainable clothing. Read on quickly!
Choose timeless items
Instead of blindly following the latest trends, it is wise to think carefully about which items you want to buy before purchasing them. It is much more sustainable to choose timeless items that last for several seasons. Examples of this are plain shirts in neutral colours such as white or light blue. Also look at the quality of the items: the higher the quality of the fabrics and the sewing, the longer you will have the garment. And yes, the longer it lasts, the less negative impact on the environment! Do you still want to follow the latest fashion? Then combine timeless items with statement pieces and accessories.
Go for natural materials
Synthetic materials such as fleece and polyester are not sustainable: they are made from petroleum, a fossil resource. Moreover, washing these materials releases microplastics, which are harmful to the environment. More sustainable choices are natural materials such as cotton, linen and bamboo. These materials are, unlike synthetic materials, renewable and biodegradable. However, these materials are still processed to make clothing, and the production of natural materials involves a lot of water. Buying 100% sustainable clothing is therefore very difficult, but natural material remains in any case a more sustainable choice than synthetic material.
Repair instead of throwing away
Is an item broken? Instead of throwing the garment away, repairing it is much more sustainable. A pair of jeans with a hole in it can, if you are a bit creative, still be worn for another round. For example, by sewing patches on yourself. Sustainable and also exclusive, because no one else wears the same garment as you. Are you a little less creative? Then you can of course also take your broken clothes to the tailor. Having something repaired costs much less than buying new, and a repaired garment can then last for years again!
Give away or sell clothing
This tip connects to the previous one: Do you no longer wear a garment? Don’t just throw it away, because maybe you can make someone else happy with it! Sell garments you have grown tired of online, give them away or organise a clothing swap with friends. Items you no longer wear can also be put in a clothing container. They are then reused or recycled into, for example, insulation material or new yarn. This way you help the environment and get rid of your old things: win-win!
