Fashion is a perpetual renewal. Every season, we want to fall for that trendy little dress or that umpteenth pair of shoes, while our closets are literally overflowing. What if we came back to a little common sense? To help you, here are 5 reflexes to dress more eco-responsibly at your fingertips.
1 – Do a closet detox
"I have nothing to wear!" How many times do we repeat this phrase? And yet... nothing could be further from the truth! So before considering any new purchase, first take a look around your wardrobe. And do a nice detox.
The idea? Empty everything, as Marie Kondo, a specialist in tidying and personal development, recommends, and only re-store the clothes that you will actually wear. No more pants that are too small and that you keep when you have found your wasp waist, or that worn-out jacket that you keep "just in case". What to do with the clothes you no longer want? Give them to someone you know, drop them off in a Relais container or, for the most beautiful pieces, sell them. Once this healthy sorting is done, you will undoubtedly (re)discover forgotten pieces. Then, all you have to do is complete what you are (really) missing.
2 – Buy less, but better
To avoid making purchasing mistakes, build a wardrobe of basics that are adapted to your lifestyle and body shape. Don't forget that your body can change. That's why it's important to have a wardrobe that fits! Choose good quality pieces to avoid buying (another) white t-shirt in a few months. Also learn to read labels and buy "consciously". A Made in China shirt at a rock-bottom price is socially and ecologically suspect. The fashion industry is one of the most polluting, that's why it's important to try not to buy just anything and thus, unwittingly, endorse this system.
3 - Choose clean labels
If you want to go further, you can buy clothes that meet certain environmental and social criteria thanks to recognized labels such as Gots, European Ecolabel, Fairtrade, etc. Today's ethical fashion has nothing to do with yesterday's ethical fashion. There are lots of trendy brands, well cut, well thought out and created with beautiful materials.
4 – Wear second hand
Garage sales, specialized platforms ( Vinted , Vestiaire Collectif , etc.), vintage stores , a piece of clothing can have several lives. Of course, it takes a little longer to find "the" piece you've been looking for for a while, but in the end, what satisfaction! We treat ourselves while respecting the planet and saving money! It's all good. Recently, there have also been Instagram accounts specializing in thrift stores ( Odael_vintage , gigette-vintage , mafriperie-preloved ). The advantage? Instagrammers (fashionistas at heart) create very inspiring looks. Another option for special occasions: rent a dress that will cause a sensation ( Une robe un soir , Les cachottières ) without having to buy it and only wear it once.
5 - Encourage upcycling
After recycling, upcycling ! This green economy trend consists of valuing (by reusing differently) used products. In fashion, this gives rise to responsible capsule collections, made from fabric or leather scraps for example. Nothing is thrown away, everything is transformed!
- For example, we like Resap-Paris
- Or even The Recoverables
In the same way, by following the hashtags #upcycling or #upcyclingclothes on Instagram, we can get lots of ideas for new lives for our clothes (a man's shirt transformed into a skirt, etc.) when we know how to use a sewing machine.
Are you also getting into upcycling like Marguerite?
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