How To Incorporate Sustainable Fashion When You’re On A Budget
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Sustainable fashion has become widely popular, with more and more sustainable fashion companies popping up every day. Still, prices can be higher for these stores, despite their growing availability. After all, when you’re using better quality fabric and sourcing ethical labor, the price is bound to be higher than with fast-fashion brands.
However, not all hope is lost for those who want to shop more sustainably without breaking the bank. Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy a closet that’s filled with clothes you feel good about owning. Here are some tips to help you build a closet you feel reflects your values.
Affordable Sustainable Fashion Brands
Believe it or not, there are more affordable sustainable clothing brands out there. A lot of sustainable fashion brands are more expensive because of their smaller batches, fewer drops, higher quality materials, and better labor practices, when compared to fast-fashion brands. However, you can find some great sustainable fashion stores that compare to prices you’d find at fast-fashion stores.
Everlane
Everlane is by no means cheap, but for the quality, sustainability, and variety of options, it’s hard to beat this sustainable choice. Their jeans are the stand-out on the site, an item that is notorious for being unsustainable to make. A ton of water is used in the process, but Everlane cuts down on this waste. Despite these extra efforts, their price stays at a lower price point, with most of their items under $100.
Pact is a great place to buy your basics from. They sell casual, everyday wear and exercise clothes that can be cheaper than some mainstream fast-fashion brands. Most of their items are between $30-$100. Before you buy that pack of Hanes tank tops, check out Pact first!
If you’re looking for well-made, sustainable loungewear, Kotn is the place to shop. Items can range in price, with many items under $100, but some select items can be more expensive. Depending on what you’re looking for, clothing from Kotn can be a great investment that’s only slightly higher than many fast-fashion stores.
Chnge is a streetwear store that has a message tied to every item. These pieces can help you advocate for the change you want to see in the world while looking cool in an oversized tee or hoodie. The best part is that the pieces are at a similar price point to fast-fashion streetwear—sometimes even less—with most pieces under $50.
This brand has clothing that ranges from loungewear all the way to button-up tops and trousers for the board room. There’s something reasonably priced here for everyone, with most items falling under $100. Business wear can get expensive, sustainable or not, but For Days makes dressing up available for a wider variety of budgets.
Sustainable Fashion Curation Tips
Beyond sustainable fashion brands that are more affordable, there are ways you can reduce the environmental impact your fashion choices have, while also staying on a budget. Sustainable fashion isn’t as narrow of a market as you think and you can build a clean wardrobe for less with these tips:
Keep The Clothes You Like
When building a sustainable wardrobe, your mind might instantly tell you to get rid of all of your fast-fashion clothes and start from scratch. However, the most sustainable clothes are the ones you already own! Take a hard look at your closet and keep the clothes that you love and wear regularly. You’ve already bought them, so there’s no use in throwing them out in the name of sustainability.
Reduce Your Closet Size
When we say “reduce the size of your closet,” that doesn’t mean to contradict the last point and throw everything away. Intentionally go through your clothes and see what you genuinely love and what you’re holding onto just to take space up in your closet. You can have a large, sustainable closet, but that can add up quickly and leave you never feeling content with your wardrobe. This creates a vicious cycle of purging clothes only to buy more that you don’t like.
Having a curated capsule closet of clothes you love to wear and that can be mixed and matched can leave you never saying “I have nothing to wear” ever again. Sort through each piece’s value and comb through your closet to leave only the clothing pieces you know you’ll get more use out of.
Make a Shopping List
After you’ve rid your closet of clothing that you no longer love, the first thing you may want to do is run to the mall and buy clothes to fill the gaps left behind. Sorting through your closet and seeing everything you own can inform you of the items you want to buy in the future, but we suggest holding off on buying them for now.
Instead, make a list of the items you want to fill your closet with. If you just got rid of a pair of jeans that didn’t fit, write down your ideal style of jeans you want. When you have the exact items that you need listed out, you’ll be less likely to make random, impulse buys that won’t mesh well with your new closet. Keep an eye out for these items you want and don’t buy a new garment until you identify the perfect item to fill in the gap.
Craft a Color Palette
To avoid buying too many clothes that you’ll regret and never wear, craft a color palette of clothes that match with one another. This way you’ll have more outfit possibilities but not have to buy unnecessary items. This doesn’t mean your sustainable wardrobe has to be all neutrals. Simply stick to a few colors and shades you like and operate within that palette. You’ll triple your closet possibilities and cut down on wasteful spending.
Pay Attention to the Material
Natural materials—like cotton, wool, and linen—tend to be stronger and more durable than synthetic fibers. When building a sustainable wardrobe, pay attention to what materials your clothes are made of and buy accordingly. Taking this extra step will ensure that your clothes stand the test of time and keep their shape after multiple wears. This is also a great way to shop at thrift stores. Looking at the fabric can tell you which pieces of clothing will last even when they’re purchased second-hand.
Visit the Tailor
Don’t let an ill-fitting piece of clothing that you otherwise love sit in the back of your closet untouched. Bring it to a tailor to give it a second life! Weight fluctuations are bound to happen. Conform the clothes to your body, not your body to the clothes. Also, this can widen your shopping experience at the thrift store. You will be able to shop in a wider range of sizes without having to compromise on fit. Aim for larger sizes than your own as those are easier to bring in.
Care for Your Closet
Once you have the closet of your dreams, keep it sustainable by maintaining each of the pieces. Lay out your clothes to dry rather than throwing them in the dryer to extend the wear. Also, bring items you cherish to the dry cleaners every now and again to freshen up their shape and remove any lingering stains. Caring for your closet will help you extend the life of each clothing item, making your wardrobe truly sustainable.
Consider Cost Per Wear
A large aspect of having a sustainable closet is intentionally buying each item. When considering purchasing a new item for your closet, consider the cost per wear. Is this item something you’ll wear every week, like a simple t-shirt? If so, it’s worth it to invest in a high-quality version of this garment even if it’s more expensive. You’ll be able to wear it longer and you’ll get more use out of it.
If an item is a specialty piece, don’t feel the need to spend a ton. However, consider getting this item in black or a neutral color. This will make the garment more wearable to a wider variety of events. We all need a fancy dress or outfit for those special occasions, so make one item work for many events in order to stretch out the cost per wear.
Don’t Let Your Budget Hold You Back
Sustainability isn’t a practice that should be reserved for the wealthy. The point of sustainability is to make the world a better place, and to make that happen, we all have to chip in. Follow these tips, explore affordable brands that are sustainable, and overall, take your sustainability journey one step of the time. You don’t have to become totally eco-friendly overnight and you definitely don’t have to go broke for it.
