Everything you Need to Know About Sustainable Fashion

Sustainable fashion is a creative outlet that allows for self-expression and eco-consciousness. But you don’t have to break the bank or wear ratty old clothes to be more sustainable. There is a way to make fashion sustainable for any body, every style, and every price point when it comes to environmentally friendly fashion.

There are many ways to create a more sustainable wardrobe. Below we have outlined the five best ways to choose sustainably for your closet.

1. Buy from Sustainable Brands:

You are mainly looking for three things when you buy from sustainable brands:

• Environmental consciousness

• Ethics

• Slowness

Buying investment pieces from sustainable brands and cutting down on fast fashion is a great way to cut your impact.

Shopping from sustainable brands will also help you be more mindful of the way you spend your money. Instead of buying 5 tops that will last one season before they fall apart, why don’t you get one top that is made with quality materials, is ethically sourced, and will last? Check out this blog post on our favourite sustainable clothing brands!

2. DIY your Closet

Every try tie-dye or upcycling? These are great ways to give the current clothes in your wardrobe a new life. Check out this blog post from Green Matters to find out how to tie-dye with fruit, vegetable, and plant scraps! This is such a fun and sustainable way to add new value to existing clothes!

3. Buy Second Hand

Whether shopping at vintage shops or charity shops, second-hand shopping is a great way to recycle great pieces. Often times the items that make it into these shops are made from great materials which is why they are still around. Look for pieces that are 100% cotton, wool, or silk to maximize the lifetime of your vintage finds.

4. Swap or Borrow

Another great option when it comes to sustainable fashion is swapping or borrowing clothes. In recent years our society has seen a trend in fun swapping events and clothes borrowing apps. Bring clothes you don't get much wear out of and trade them for treasures in other people's closets! It's a great way to create a more circular economy and limit the amount of newness we consume. If you can't get to a swap shop event, why not trade clothes with friends and add some newness into each other's closets!

Sign up for our next Swap Shop Event Here!

5. Rent

Finally, rent your clothes! There are tons of great services out there, like Rent the Runway and Nuuly and even some here in Ireland. Whether it be for a formal event or an everyday piece, renting is a great way to make more sustainable fashion choices.

Borrower Boutique is a fashion rental service based in Dublin. They are all about increasing the lifespan of garments while providing sustainable alternatives to fast fashion. In a world where trends are changing faster than ever, we want to help reduce the overconsumption of garments. Not only is it a great sustainable option, but it's very cost-effective when searching for more high-end quality pieces.

Thanks for reading!! We are TCD Sustainable living society, here to unite and elicit positive change in the world. Together we can learn a thing or two about environmentally friendly living and strive to make an impact with smart sustainable choices. If you enjoy what you read or have suggestions on topics you’d like to discuss next, leave us a comment! If you haven’t joined already, sign up to the Sustainable Living Society HERE. We look forward to creating a community of like-minded eco-warriors together! We hope you enjoyed this blog post or learned something new! If you did, why not sign up for our newsletter where we update you every week on the latest in Sustainable Living!!