CLOTHING LIST A-Z (see end of post)
I have a ways to go in the eco-conscious clothing cycle, but I thought I’d offer some basic thoughts here:
WHY REDUCE?
–Crops like cotton can be hugely wasteful. Between the water waste and pesticides, simple items like t-shirts are a big source of environmental damage and waste.
–The production, transportation, and maintenance (washing/storage tubs/etc) of clothes contributes to their environmental impact.
–In one year, up to 18 million tons of textiles end up in landfills!
Step 1-REDUCE
–Before buying clothes, ask yourself if you really need them. Are you wearing and appreciating what you already have? Do you already have enough of this certain type of clothing?
–Choose wisely. Choose clothes that are well-made, quality clothes, preferably ones that are made from conscious companies and sustainable materials. These clothes may cost more initially, but will last longer and are better for our planet.
–Buy clothes that you’ll be able to enjoy for many years and make it a point to take pride in your clothing lasting. I’m always surprised by how many people choose to comment in a negative way about their own outfits or others’ if they’ve had them too long. This needs to start shifting, and I think people who are “influencers” can help this along.
–Speaking of which, buy clothing in classic styles that won’t be out of style anytime soon.
–Say “no” to free clothes that you won’t enjoy. People have a tendency to get caught up in the moment of an event and the idea of “free,” but then usually quickly forget about these clothes. It’s difficult for thrift stores to find customers for many of these event shirts. Hopefully, as more people decline these free items that are causing environmental damage, events will start shifting away from these.
–Buy gently-used to keep the cycle going and to reduce the need for new clothing items. There are SOOOoo many options for buying great gently-used clothing, whether it’s local thrift shops or online. These are often great deals and unique finds! (Just be sure your online purchases are staying eco-conscious too, between packaging, transportation, and the notes sellers sometimes like to include.)
Step 2- REUSE
When your time is done with an article of clothing, whether because you’re downsizing or the size doesn’t fit you or it’s worn out, you have a lot of options…
–IF the clothing item is still usable–and remember everyone has different standards on this–consider passing it along for someone else to enjoy. This would be offering clothes to friends or family, putting it out at a sale, selling online, offering on Freecycle, having a clothing swap, or donating to a cause or thrift shop.
–IF the clothing item is a sentimental item for you, consider upcycling/repurposing it so you can continue enjoying it, instead of stuffing it in a box. There are GREAT ideas online, and I’ve been collecting some on my Pinterest page. Some that come to mind at the moment are–turning the item(s) into a pillow, a blanket, wall art, a stuffed animal, a shopping bag, a new/different item of clothing, etc.
–IF the clothing item has a flaw, but may still have life left in it, consider if it can be repaired. Can you fix the zipper? Can you naturally dye the stained clothing into a new color? Can you turn the item into a new/different clothing item? Can you sew it to fit a different member of the family? Can you soak it in vinegar if it has developed a smell? Can you add a new piece of elastic or a new button? etc.
–IF the clothing is no longer in wearable condition and can’t be repaired (excessive staining or tears), consider some of the upcycling/repurposing options mentioned above or others. My favorite projects for usable pieces are making– fabric gift bags of all sizes, headbands and scrunchies, bean bags, doll clothes, bunting, decorations, and sewing projects with the kids.
–IF the clothing is no longer in wearable condition, etc. also consider salvaging pieces like buttons, zippers, laces, etc. If you sew, these are great to have around! If you don’t, you should learn! ha. Or offer them up to friends or on Freecycle or put them out in a bundle at a yard sale. I also love saving and using back pockets from shorts and pants. They’re already made and great for making seat back storage for cars or fun activities in kid busy books.
–IF the clothing is no longer in wearable condition, etc. and especially if you’ve been crafting/sewing with fabric, save your scraps! Even if you don’t have scraps, you can make them by cutting your unwearable fabric into small pieces. (A great project while watching a movie) Save and use these as stuffing for new projects!
Step 3-RECYCLE
Once all the steps above have been explored…
–There are lots of places to recycle textiles. Many towns offer large bins which say that they donate or recycle clothing. My understanding is they use what’s usable and then reuse the rest as textile scraps. You can search to see if your area has these bins. I was happily surprised to find these in small towns where I’ve lived, although I have yet to find one in our current area. I can’t bear to throw away so much fabric, so I’m making everything into my own scraps after I’ve done all I can with them, and I’ll use it as stuffing for animals, pillows, etc.
I shudder to think how many textiles are thrown into the trash each year. I can’t even bear to look at a statistic for this post. But hopefully, we as a collective are starting to make more conscious choices from the start by reducing, then reusing, and then, when we have to, recycling. We can and will make a difference!
CLOTHING LIST A-Z
(These posts in progress. Mostly just links to Pinterest pages about these items.)
Baby and Kid Clothes
Jeans
Shoes and Other Footwear
Socks
T-shirts/Jersey Fabrics
Undergarments