Your most sustainable wardrobe is already out there. Let's keep clothes (all textiles really) in circulation to avoid producing more emissions on the road to #netzero
It's no new fashion Feb for Mid Green Family, where we are looking at the impact of what we wear on our carbon footprint. We're making changes for the better on our road to netzero. Last post we talked about fixing and altering what we own to avoid 'needing' to buy something new. Sometimes we all want that new happy buzz we get from an outfit that looks just right in a colour that makes us shine. So how do we get our thrills and opt out of the consumerism that drives 10% of our global greenhouse emissions?
We get something new to us but not new to the system. There are a lot more options nowadays then hand-me-downs and the local charity shop. Think curated vintage shops, consignment stores, on-line secondhand resellers, subscription services or clothing for hire. Think pre-loved markets, local clothes swap fairs, your local Buy Nothing group and just trading with friends and family.
Let's recap shall we on the impact of just one pair of jeans:
"it takes 3,781 litres of water to make one pair of jeans. The process equates to around 33.4 kilogrammes of carbon equivalent emitted, like driving 111 kilometres or watching 246 hours of TV on a big screen". [Un Environment Programme]
Jeans are a perfect item to thrift or pick up secondhand, as good quality jeans last a long time (up to 200 years in landfill😳). They are designed to be a low wash item and often feel and fit better after some wear.
Goes around, comes around: when clothes make their way home to you
If I get even a whiff of one of my sisters doing a closet clean out, I am there picking through the cast offs, a seagull on hot chips. Many of my favourite items were in fact my sisters' rejects. Just last month I happened to visit while the clothing rejects sat piled in the hall. "Are these going to charity?" I ask innocently before diving in for some good finds.
I started a new job this month, so I was chasing the new clothes feeling for the occasion. Hilariously, the work-ey items I rummaged from the cast-offs used to belong to me! Sis had taken them from my rejected items only a few years earlier. Bodies and taste shift constantly but it doesn't mean they don't shift back! A grey knit dress and two pairs of work trousers were still in good nick and ready to make their way home to me along with a few new items including this cool mesh T-shirt.
Some new finds from old clothes.
School.
I chose clothing as the theme for February because its the start of the school year (and the new job). Double whammy temptations to be getting out and buying new clothes. Instead, I got trawling on the school's secondhand uniforms page on Facebook. Most schools with uniforms have these and they are an absolute treasure trove especially as kids tend to grow a size a year. I managed to kit out both kids with secondhand buys with only a small trip to the uniform shop for some new socks and one sports T-shirt.
Across two growing kids this involved a bit of driving and some facebooking but was totally worth it, not only for the carbon footprint but the hip pocket! Boys uniform shorts - $42 each, secondhand - 3 for $20! Meanwhile we traded in our old clothes on the same forum making it an almost cost neutral exercise. Some of the young fellas clothes were not re-sellable. If you have an energetic primary school aged child and you get multiple years without the knees going in tracksuit pants, you're doing well. Stay tuned for our recycling and maintenance post later this month on what to do with damaged textiles.
Ways to get re-using
Here's some ideas on getting a new to you wardrobe:
Charity / Op shops and vintage shops - every city has them, and a quick search on the internet will direct you to the ones renowned for good finds in your city. In Scarborough we have a great cluster of charity stores within walking distance, making a quick peruse easy. Vintage shops tend to have more eclectic and curated pieces and can provide unique items better than the department stores. In Perth I love a squiz in the window at Lucy in Disguise and Bluebird Vintage in Wembley is full of interesting collectables as well as clothes.
On-line secondhand resellers are popping up following the popularity of similar stores overseas like ThredUp in the UK. In Australia these are stores like Swap Up, The Closet and Mutual Muse.
Consignment stores tend to offer luxury brands or high-end pre-used clothes still in great condition. If you also happen to own luxury or high-end brands, the store will sell them for you and pay you around a 50% commission from the sale, to do the hard work for you. Many consignment stores in Perth also now show their clothes on-line or on social media meaning you can still get that online hit if that's a thing for you. Try Re-run Consignment, Dee Black or the Secret Closet.
Clothing for hire Special occasions tend to be the worst offenders for driving low-use or excess purchasing. Next time you have a ball, wedding or special event, try hiring instead. Online stores like All the Dresses allow you to view and hire dresses (and other clothing items) from 23 different rental stores, all in one place. They're accessible all states too. Other options include Style Theory, Dress Hire, and Her Wardrobe. It depends on the site and the designer level of the dress, whether its cocktail or evening gown, but expect to rent in the $99 range for a cocktail dress and up to $200-$300 for designer or evening wear. There are also rental sites that allow you to lend your own clothes (if you have designer threads, alas, this is not my area of concern) such as the Volte and Designerex.
Subscription services If you regularly like new clothes, a subscription service could be a more environmentally friendly option. Be warned!! Many subscription services are just that - buying on subscription and will send you new clothes every month. Noooooo! You want to find those that hire on subscription, allowing you to pick and borrow generally 3 new items a month for a monthly fee, then providing a pre-paid post satchel to send back and repeat. It can set you back around $170/month for a service like this from Glam Corner (Sydney).
Clothes swaps and local markets For us working families, the day-to-day clothes are what we need to find. Trawl facebook and events near me on the internet to find local pre-loved and pop-up markets (quite common in Freo), organize a clothes swap party or brunch with friends or work colleagues.
Your local Buy Nothing group if you haven't joined your local Buy Nothing group, you are missing out. It's on facebook (yes, I know some of you are not social media-ers, but this is definitely one good reason to be on the platform), search for Buy Nothing then add in your nearest cross street and your postcode. The administrator will give you access to a private group in your area who are willing to swap or give away items for free. We have gifted many of the kids' old clothes on these sites and it's a great way to reduce consumerism, do good in your local area or find something to borrow if you only need it short-term. Expect to hear more about how we use our Buy Nothing group in later posts.
A note on Buy Nothing etiquette:
When gifting (what it's called when you have an item to give away), follow these simple steps:
Wash first (you can iron, many do, obviously I am one who doesn't)
Lay it out in rows so the lengths - and any stains or damage - is fully visible
In the description say what it is, i.e. "4 x pairs of boys shorts, size 6"
Describe the condition from barely worn through to good, fair, damaged / stained (and describe the size / extent of the damage or stain if any).
DM the person you wish to gift to.
Don't want to chat? It's very ok practice to DM your address and leave it in a dry and accessible place at your door for neighbours to collect.
When you've decided who to gift to, be clear in the comments, edit the post as 'gifted' and if necessary explain why, i.e. "I'm gifting to Hannah and her twin boys, good luck with the new wardrobe!"
When receiving, follow these simple steps:
Explain why you'd be a great gift-receiver, "I have twin boys about to turn 6 and we would love the extra wardrobe!"
Be clear about when you will pick up the gift and keep it within 72hrs as a good rule of thumb.
If you receive large items, make sure you are able to carry it home / are the one to bring lifting and carrying help.
Say thank you and reciprocate with your own items to gift!
Your most sustainable wardrobe is already out there. Try one of these great sustainable ways to get a clothing item that's new to you (or the kids) but not new in to the system. Let's keep clothes in circulation longer to avoid producing more emissions on the road to #netzero
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