Responsible & ethical dressing
Let's avoid throwing things away!
To quickly address the issue of fast fashion , there's no magic bullet to prevent these kinds of clothes from ending up in a landfill. They were designed for this: you buy them, you wear them, and you throw them away…
As we've already mentioned on our blog, upcycling —or recycling upwards —is a great way to avoid throwing things away. The principle is to reuse materials as they already exist and extend their lifespan. In practical terms, this means making new clothes from old ones! Plus, it doesn't require tons of fossil fuels or chemicals.
An example?
Take an old pair of ripped jeans or an oversized sweater and transform it into shorts or a beanie. Or, repurpose an old t-shirt into a reusable shopping bag. It only requires a little cutting and sewing. Nothing too complicated!
Some brands specialize in upcycling . They collect materials and old clothes, then create new designs from them, sometimes on a case-by-case basis. We love the idea of finding unique pieces for our wardrobe or elsewhere!
The company Terracycle reuses every unused material to decorate its offices
Of course, the “ Do It Yourself ” trend is our friend! A multitude of videos are available on this subject on the Internet, via Blogs and YouTube channels.
Otherwise, donating is a great thing to do and selling at a low price is smart! When clothes are of good quality and can be used by someone else, donating them to an association, to friends, or reselling them in a thrift store , at a clothing swap , or on a website for reselling between individuals , are all good ideas.
Theoretically, if we only bought quality clothes that we truly needed, we shouldn't have much to throw away! Although it's perfectly normal for clothes and fabrics to eventually wear out…
And for items that are too worn, there's always a textile collection container on the corner. The clothes will be sorted and, perhaps, selected for recycling into building insulation. In the worst-case scenario, they'll still be thrown away, but at least you'll have tried.
It is important to keep in mind that we cannot have an absolutely neutral environmental impact, no matter what we do.
But a little effort is better than no effort at all!
The Ideal Factory
Our top tip : if you live in the Paris region, don't miss La Fabrique Idéale, a highly innovative cooperative that aims to guide us towards clothing autonomy. It's a bit like food self-sufficiency, but for your wardrobe!
Since March 2017, you can learn how to maintain your wardrobe (basic or advanced sewing), make your own clothes (design, upcycling), and meet committed designers. Among a thousand other things!
For example, it will be possible to co-create clothing. This means you can come with a project and get advice from professionals who will then create the garment to your measurements. It's an excellent way to give even more artistic freedom to both designers and customers, and to enhance the human experience! We love the concept, and our wardrobe too 😉
In any case, if you love sustainable fashion or want to learn more, you should know that La Fabrique Idéale aims to create a conscious and collaborative community. In short, a place to make friends!
Let's take care of our wardrobe!
As you may or may not know, the use phase of a garment can generate a significant amount of pollution. To reduce your environmental footprint, the first step is to look for eco-labels and find out about the chemical components of laundry detergent ( more information here ).
For the more adventurous, why not try making your own laundry detergent? It's not rocket science; they're often made with very basic products like black soap or Marseille soap. You could also consider using soap nuts .
It's also important to reiterate that some clothes don't need to be washed after every day. The same jeans can be worn for several days before washing, especially if they're left to air dry between wears—you won't feel dirty, we assure you!
To increase the lifespan of clothes and limit greenhouse gas emissions, electric tumble dryers should be avoided. A clothesline is our friend, yes indeed!
Making homemade laundry detergent
Example of a minimalist wardrobe
So, let's get sewing! There's no need to throw away an entire garment for a small tear. For those less inclined to do it themselves, dry cleaners often offer basic sewing services.
And above all, let's opt for a minimalist wardrobe, made up of beautiful, timeless, high-quality pieces that are ethically made, respectful of the environment, and designed using traditional manufacturing methods!
A further step would be to set a maximum number of items of clothing (say, 30). If you buy a new item, you must get rid of another one to avoid exceeding the maximum. This encourages you to think carefully before buying anything.
Our Top Deals:
Some ideas for laundry detergent recipes using Marseille soap on the Kaizen website or on the blog “The Body The Home The Mind ” ; tips for removing stains on consoGlobe ; an introduction to the concept of a “capsule” wardrobe on the “Responsible Dressing” website and minimalist wardrobe ideas on YouTube: there are many, especially if in English, including the “ My Green Closet ” channel.
