Steve Clark

Spending a whole year buying nothing new was the starting point for my personal sustainable living journey, so it should come as no surprise that I’m a bit of a fan! If you’re thinking you might like to dip your toes into the wonderful world of Buying Nothing New, here are some tips to get you started! 1) If the thought of a year Buying Nothing New is making you feel a little trepidatious (I assure you you will find it easier than you think!) then why not  ease in slowly , with a Buy Nothing New week, or month. Or aim to do a day every week, or a week every month and see how it goes. I am a bit of an all or nothing type, so for me it was easier to commit to the whole year, but I guarantee that the very act of Buying Nothing New even for some of the time, will make you reflect more on the ‘normal’ purchases you are making. And you may find that you automatically cut down on what you are buying new without even thinking about it. 2)   Avoid the shops! For example-one of the thin...

Here are some ideas to start decluttering and organizing your home, flat or room. Sometimes, a little organization is all we need to be more productive or, even happier. We feel better if we are surrounded by beautiful things, and things look more beautiful if they are organized! Thus, check these simple ideas in order to start to   declutter your life : “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”— Will Rogers Start decluttering small: Start with an area that is small and that will not interfere with your work or life. Take your time to organize, it is not necessary to do everything in one day, -although I have found that this is usually more productive. I set one day or weekend that will be devoted to the organization, cleaning and decluttering and I do all at once. This way, I won’t have to think twice about stuff I am giving away.   Marie Kondo style is not for everyone: Similar to the first point...

The fashion industry is one of the worst for its negative impact on the environment. It takes roughly 1800 gallons of water to produce a new pair of jeans, and synthetic materials such as polyester can take up to 200 years to decompose in landfill. If you are looking to reduce how many new items of clothing you purchase, here are five questions to ask yourself before buying new clothes. “Do I really need it?” Ask yourself why you are buying the item. Is it because you want it or because you need it? Ask yourself how many other items in your wardrobe are similar. If you already have something similar, Consider whether your emotions are influencing your spending habits – will buying this item really make you feel better? Sleep on it for a week. You haven’t owned it until this point so you can live without it for another seven days. If you still need it in a week’s time, you’re ready to purchase it. “How often will I wear it?” Livia Firth created the #30Wears campaign – an initia...

From watering holes to workouts, it’s well known that relying too heavily on your old faithfuls usually means getting stuck in a rut. Things are no different when it comes to style. It may be easy to overhaul an entire wardrobe with a six-figure salary and a stylist on speed dial, but the question for many of us is how do you go about making changes if your bank account is more lemonade than champagne? Whether you feel the urge to smarten up for the New Year or are just fed up with being asked whose funeral it is every day, here are seven inexpensive ways to look money. Know the Brands That Have Your Back The financial risk of a sartorial reshuffle can be buffered somewhat by knowing the brands that suit you. If you’re already happy with the fit of a T-shirt or a particular trouser’s break, chances are you can return to where you got them from for a successful rerun in a colour, pattern or fabric you wouldn’t normally consider. The high street is well-armed with a breadth of styles, me...

Each kg of clothes donated saves 4 kg of CO2! Help save the Environment By donating unused clothes you contribute to the good health of our planet. Production of new cotton as well as other textile fibers puts a strain on the environment: To produce 1 lb. of clothes -that is 1 pair of trousers – requires on average: 10,000 lb. of water 0.5 lb. of fertilizers 0.4 oz. of pesticides and results in emissions of: 6 lb. of greenhouse gases When you donate clothes for reuse and recycling you contribute to saving more than half of this. In the following I go though the calculations. How much CO2 is saved? There are no calculations available from the US, but recently a detailed analysis, based on an initiative from the Gaia-Movement, was published by the Danish Technological University. Open or download the article: “Environmental benefits from reusing clothes” from the scientific magazine “Int. Journal of Life Cycle Assessment”, 2010. The report calculated the environmental benefits of rec...

Sustainable fashion is a hot topic right now. Not just because the   eco-friendly materials   used are much better for the planet, but because that tends to go hand-in-hand with   better treatment of people making the clothes , too. Not to mention better treatment of animals. But what does sustainable fashion really mean? What Is the Definition of Sustainable Fashion? At its most basic, the word “sustainable” means something can be maintained at its current rate or level. It can be applied to business: Can a company keep going while earning the same amount of money? It can be applied to the way you’re living your life. You’ve probably been admonished at least once by a well-meaning friend about your packed schedule, poor sleeping habits, or workload. “You just can’t keep going like this. It’s not sustainable.”  The same could be said for how we’re treating the planet, and how we make our fashion. We can’t keep going like this. It’s not sustainable.  We’re pullin...

We’ve all been there—walking into a store looking for a   quick and cheap fashion fix . Maybe that $30   pair of sandals   you bought last year just broke and you need a replacement. Or your go-to white cami just ripped and now you’re hunting for a 3 for $10 special so you don’t have to come back to the dreaded mall ever again. Fast fashion, defined as “inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends,” dominates today’s shopping experience. It’s easy to see why: Who doesn’t love low costs and extreme convenience? But did you know that there are some significant hidden costs behind those cheap prices? Let’s dig into the big three. The 3 Hidden Costs of Fast Fashion 1. Time Cost The fact is, the more stuff you have, the more time you spend taking care of it. When you pare down to the essentials and only have to take care of one pair of shoes instead of 15, it opens up a world of possibilities. You can finally sp...

Not having visibility on your wardrobe can prevent you from enjoying and wearing your clothes. This can lead to buying more of the same clothes because you don’t realize what you already have.  Every month, I ask that you participate in one different challenge to enhance your wardrobe and sustainable practices. This month, I will look into how you can declutter your wardrobe to make the most of your clothes. What you need? Your clothes, the Save Your Wardrobe app and 15 minutes per day. So let’s get started to get a decluttered wardrobe. Scroll your wardrobe and find a clothing item you haven’t worn in a while To start off, make sure all of your clothes are in the Save Your Wardrobe app. With your clothes all available on your phone, you should have an overview of the clothes you have and the clothes you wear often.  Think back on the clothes you haven’t worn in some time. I am not saying 1 month, 2 months or 3 months, but 6 whole months. Click on the folder function on t...

Do the words sustainability and climate change stress you out? Studies show that Gen Z is suffering from climate anxiety because they are faced with too much negative information in regards to the climate crisis.  Some young people have been found to cry or even have full-blown panic attacks because of the helplessness they feel. And especially in an industry like fashion, where just buying clothes can seem inherently unsustainable, I am here to change your view on how you can contribute to bettering the world.  But before I get into anything, let’s tackle the world « sustainable », many industry professionals agree, people have different views as to what it means. For some, it might be solely buying secondhand clothing while for others it is to stop buying completely. And both views are more sustainable than the alternative of consuming in an unconscious way, right? So let’s focus on your vision of sustainability and take into account that every little step really d...

If you are looking for a way that your business or organization can give back, organize a donation drive. A donation drive is a great way for your business/organization to support the community and promote your company’s culture.  BUILD A TEAM  The first step to organizing a donation drive is building a team. Who are you going to get involved and who will help you? Donation drives are an excellent way for businesses and organizations to team up and  do charitable acts for the community. You want to create a committee that will help you find a local partner, deliver donations and advertise the event.  FIND A LOCAL PARTNER   Now that you have your team, it is time to choose a local partner who is looking for donations.  Thrift stores are always in search of businesses and organizations that are willing to collect item donations. These local businesses and organizations can help collect donations to help reduce textile waste and make clothing affordable t...