Creating a sustainable wardrobe is a great option for people who want to reduce their impact on the environment along with their fashion waste. Building a sustainable wardrobe is something that everyone can do, it just requires some mindfulness when you shop and maybe some basic sewing skills. 

One of the first things you should do when creating a sustainable wardrobe is going through what you have already. By doing this you can figure out what you want to keep, what you want to donate, and what you might be able to make into something new. Keep things that you wear often, enjoy wearing, and obviously staple pieces in your wardrobe. The things that you don’t want anymore you should donate to a thrift store like goodwill, or if you think you could upcycle them, then do that!

If you decide to upcycle some of your clothes it can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. It could be making an old pair of jeans into a pair of shorts, cropping a shirt, or completely taking it apart and making something new. This is a great way to have clothes that you can enjoy without having to buy anything. 

Another key aspect of a sustainable wardrobe is fixing the clothes that you have instead of just getting rid of them. If you rip a pair of pants or there’s a hole in a shirt, there are simple things you can do to fix them. Sometimes it could just be sewing a hole closed, or using iron on patches, or if there’s a stain you can’t get out you could embroider over it with a design. Learning how to hem your own pants can also be a good skill to have, that way if you want to change the length of your pants you can do that yourself!

Some of these skills might come in handy especially if a lot of the shopping you do is done at second hand stores. Going to thrift stores instead of big brands and fast fashion companies can be an easy way to reduce your environmental footprint. A big part of a sustainable wardrobe is thinking more about where you are shopping and what you’re buying. If you want to shop at places other than a thrift store look for brands that make high quality clothes that will last a long time, use environmentally friendly materials, and have sustainability focused business practices.

The last main thing to consider is what exactly you will be buying. When you go through your clothes, figure out what you might need, and try to find things that you can wear often and in many different ways. Finding good layering pieces is something to consider, that way you can wear your clothes throughout the changing seasons. On top of this, make sure you take care of the clothes you have to ensure they will last as long as possible. 

If you keep these things in mind you can create your own sustainable wardrobe that will last a long time!