As part of the ‘Nature Needs Heroes’ Tour I had the pleasure of teaching a fun, educational and hands-on workshop in New York: Upcycle Your Closet.
During my workshop, attendees got the opportunity to customize pieces with curated patches and pins. We partnered with M+J Trimmings to bring my vision to life and I couldn’t have been happier!
Before the hands-on portion of the workshop, I shared a little bit about my background, career history and 5 tips to make any closet sustainable all the while keeping it chic! These 5 tips, perfect for anyone regardless of where they are on their ethical fashion journey, are simple and can be applied immediately.
As you continue to do your part to make the world a better place, I’m sharing these tips because I know they will help you take another step toward a more conscious and chic lifestyle!
5 Chic Sustainable Closet Tips
- Shop your closet, first!
This may not be the most glamorous advice but it is the soundest. Most of us don’t need to buy anymore clothes because we can’t even wear all of the apparel we currently have. So whenever you feel the need to buy something new, take inventory of what you already own and awaken your inner stylist. Yes, be creative and restyle the pieces in your closet to suit different occasions like a date night, a casual day with friends, running errands, going to the office, etc. Many pieces can be dressed up and dressed down so expand your mind. If you need inspiration, there are a lot of styling videos on Instagram that can help you rethink your closet.
2. Buy & sell preloved pieces like a boss!
I love thrift and vintage shopping so needless to say that this is one of my favorite tips. Shopping secondhand is a great way to save the planet all the while curating a one-of-a-kind closet and making money. Yes, you read that correctly, you can not only buy secondhand pieces, you can also sell yours online or at physical thrift stores like Beacon’s Closet. It’s a win-win situation.
Giving preloved pieces a new chance at life should be a no-brainer but it takes skill. Don’t know where to start? I wrote an article all about it for The Good Trade.
3. Invest in sustainable fashion!
If you must buy something new opt for a sustainable fashion brand. Years ago this would be easier said than done but there are so many options today. Thank heavens!
4. Think outside the plastic bag!
Did you know that the lifetime of a plastic bag is 12 minutes? I know, crazy! Especially when you consider the fact that a plastic bag once it is discarded will last forever in a landfill. Granted, applying this tip will take planning and foresight but is 100% worth it. So at the beginning of each day think through your itinerary and if you plan on going to a store, pharmacy or takeout restaurant make sure to pack as many reusable tote bags as you will need for the day, and voila!
5. Upcycle… but make it fashion!
If you search upcycling on your favorite search engine you will see that DIY projects can be questionable at best but they can also be OH-SO-CHIC! The key to the latter is having a clear vision of the alteration you desire, the skill to create it or the right tailor or friend (yes, YouTube tutorials count as friends too) to make your vision come to life. You can embellish your favorite pieces, turn bootcut jeans into skinny jeans or have an ill-fitting piece tailored to fit you perfectly to only name a few examples.
There you have it, 5 tips to make your closet more sustainable you can put into practice today. Let’s continue to thrive and create the change we want to see!
