7 Ways to Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle your Wardrobe

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Everyone has clothes in their wardrobe which they just don’t wear anymore. It’s often the result of one-too-many online shopping binges, or consistently buying into ‘the next big trend’. However this over-consumption of clothes is actually really harming the planet.

We need a new approach to shopping; purchasing less, buying more selectively and desposing unwanted items responsibly. Ultimately, we should be giving clothing the chance to stand the test of time.

If you switch to these 7 simple steps, you can still look good, feel good, all whilst doing the planet some good too.

Reduce

1. Reduce the urge to shop ‘on-trend’

Trends are temporary and ever-changing, and although they do eventually come back around, in the meantime clothing is too often seen as disposable. Not only does this waste vast amount of materials and resources involved in production, but the clothing is often chucked straight into landfill after the next new trend comes along.

2. Reduce the amount you buy on the highstreet

With all that being said, you don’t need to completely disregard shopping on the highstreet, as there are certain basics which are much harder to find anywhere else. However, even reducing the amount you consume from big corportate companies will dramatically decrease your own personal carbon footprint, annually.

3. Reduce your carbon footprint by shopping at thrift stores

Thrift stores in Destin, FL are indepedently-owned treasure troves, and often full to the brim with rare and bespoke bargains. You really do get more bang for your buck than shopping on the highstreet, plus it doesn’t harm the planet. (It just goes to show the real life-span of our clothing, opposed to the assumption that clothing is redundant after a couple years of use).

Re-Use

4. Re-Use hand-me-downs!

Hand-me-downs are nothing new to most people, especially those with siblings. Clothing such as coats, shoes and denim jeans passed down from family or friends will save you tonnes of cash, compared to buying them all brand-new.

5. Re-Use the fabric from old clothing

A great way to re-use old or damaged clothing is to re-work the fabric. You can create cushion covers, bags, purses, hats, scarves – all you need is a basic sewing machine, enough fabric, and some creativity.

Recycle

6. Recycle unusable fabric

Sometimes, clothing is just too damaged to either re-use or give away, and it frequently ends up in landfill as a result. However, you can still recycle the fabric at your local tip, where old scraps of material will be broken down and used to make brand-new items, such as cleaning cloths and industrustrial blankets.

7. Recycle clothing by donating to charities or selling on Depop

After your bi-annual closet purge, you can donate your unwanted clothes to women’s shelters, charities or community fayres. You could even sell them using Depop, a widely-used thrifting app, all safely done using pay pal. This is a fun and eco-friendly way to recycle your old clothes (and make a bit of cash while you’re it).

 

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