The fast fashion cycle is simple: new collections in the latest trends, colours, and styles hit stores and give the fashionistas at least one hyped haul-reel and OOTD post before the FOMO can kick in. Soon, the clothes get replaced by another item, also at throwaway prices, and rinse and repeat! The fast fashion industry has made the cycle addictive by implying that getting off this treadmill is a fashion disaster, giving it a sense of urgency so that there is no time to take pause and question its actual need.
Cheap clothes are ‘cheap’ for you because someone else is paying the price for them.
In one of our previous stories, we spoke about how behind the Shein…umm sheen… of the glittering world of fast fashion, lurk problems of human exploitation and an extremely high carbon footprint. It is estimated that fashion accounts for around 10% of the greenhouse gas emissions related to human activity– from sourcing the materials to producing the garments and delivering them to consumers.
But the lure of impulse shopping or retail therapy is so high, that there’s an ever-increasing demand for fulfilling it, which makes the carbon footprint worse. In 2018, it was estimated that the textile industry alone was contributing 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent to the atmosphere each year. That’s the equivalent of using 2,778,253,682 barrels of oil!
Fast fashion’s water usage is quite staggering too. Your one pair of jeans which is retailed at an enticing 50% slashed price, uses about 3,781 litres of water. But that’s not all. By 2030, the fashion industry is estimated to use 35% more land than it already does.
And yet, most of us end up opening our wardrobes and sighing that we have nothing to wear.
Add to all this the poor labour conditions at the factories where the bulk of fast fashion clothing is manufactured, and you know why all of us must sit up and give our wardrobes some careful thought.
Build A Clean, Green Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of versatile and timeless pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits. It is essentially a wardrobe based on things you love and need. It helps with decision fatigue, prioritises timeless durability that is not subject to changing trends and seasons and does not add to the clutter.
The goal of a capsule wardrobe is simple: to maximise the lifecycle of your wardrobe and minimize your clothing expenses and waste.
The goal of a capsule wardrobe is simple: to maximise the lifecycle of your wardrobe and minimize your clothing expenses and waste.
Building a sustainable capsule wardrobe involves the simple principle of Buy What You Need, Love What You Have!
Here are a few steps to help you start building a sustainable capsule wardrobe:
- Start with a clear vision: Decide on your style and what type of pieces you need to create the looks you want to wear. Consider factors such as your lifestyle, the climate you live in, and your budget.
- Invest in quality pieces: Look for pieces that are well-made from long-lasting and sustainable fabrics like cotton, linen, wool, Tencel, and bamboo. Choose items that are well-constructed and designed to last, rather than cheap fast fashion pieces that are likely to fall apart quickly.
- Choose neutral colors: Building a capsule wardrobe is easier when you stick to neutral colors such as black, white, navy, brown and beige. These colors are versatile and can be mixed and matched with other pieces in your wardrobe.
- Think versatility: Choose pieces that can be dressed up or down and that can be worn in a variety of different ways. For example, it is a good idea to invest in a blazer that can be worn over a dress for a formal occasion, or over a t-shirt for a casual look. Or an elegant crop top that can work as well with a pair of jeans as it can as a sari blouse.
- Buy less, buy better: Rather than buying many inexpensive pieces that will not last beyond a few washes, focus on buying fewer but high-quality pieces that you love and that will last for many years.
With these steps, you can start creating a sustainable capsule wardrobe that is both stylish and environmentally friendly.
Maintain Your Capsule Wardrobe
But, wait! Before you jump into buying new items for your capsule wardrobe, revisit your closet. The most sustainable item is the one already in your wardrobe!
Take stock of what you already have and consider segregating the items in your wardrobe into three piles:
- Keep: Find new ways to mix and match what you already have. Your all-year basics are classics that can be worn across seasons. Get creative, and find new ways of layering them. and try unusual combinations. Think pattern over pattern, uncommon colour combinations, colour blocking, and layering. Another fun trick is to wear clothes in batches. Pack a few clothes and keep them away. Bring them back after a year and suddenly they will feel like new.
- Mend: If it’s just a hole, a tear, or a broken zip, it can easily be repaired/ covered up. There are plenty of articles and videos online to help you sew, stitch and mend old clothes. But if you can’t do it yourself, find a neighborhood tailor who can. Don’t let one small rip make a huge addition to the landfill.
- Pass: If you have not worn it in a year, chances are that you no longer need it. Sell it to second-hand stores like Bombay Closet Cleanse or Relove, and get some cash along with a clean conscience! Or swap with your friends and renew your wardrobe without burning a hole in your pocket.
Keep Your Capsule Wardrobe Versatile
Now that you have sorted out what you have and figured out what you need, here are a few suggestions of brands that can help you create a sustainable wardrobe.
- The Casual Day Look
For the perfect casual day look, all you need is a pair of jeans that can be worn for many years and some tees. Indie brands like Oziss, Creatures of Habit, and Northmist make vibrant and organic tee shirts in various styles.
Sustainable brands like Nicobar, Korra, and Doodlage offer great options in denim, joggers, and trousers. Remember to always have a simple, elegant white shirt that never goes out of style. If you need a new one, try swapping it with your friends buying it from sustainable brands like Urth Label and Saltpetre.
Source: Saltpetre
- The Day-To-Night Look
The easiest way for a day-to-night look is to buy high-quality pieces that are multi-tasking and pan-occasional. If patterns are your thing, this is where you can go crazy. But make sure these patterns are timeless and that they don’t go out of style in a few months. A chic trick is to buy a solid-coloured dress and style it with a blazer. During work hours, you can sport the formal blazer look. And once the night sets in, you can drop the blazer, and you are all set for the evening!
The Summer House, Renge, Ura Maku, and Okhai are some brands that can help you make a statement while being responsible. Just accessorise your look guilt-free with sustainable accessories from Button Masala, Malai, Sole Stories and Real State, and you won’t miss shopping from fast fashion brands anymore. But remember to not over-buy and clutter your wardrobe.
- Activewear
Brands like Satva, One Less and Acao make activewear in organic, non-GMO cotton using no chemicals (including harmful dyes), and have accountability and transparency at their very core.
Pro-movement and pro-planet, some homegrown labels will help you stay fit and calm without any eco-anxiety. Just read the care label carefully and you will not have to buy more pieces than what you need.
Source: One Less
- Intimate Wear
The innerwear industry has come of age in India recently. Several brands like Wear Equal, Tailor and Circus, and Inner Sense are making shopping for innerwear – still considered taboo by many – mainstream and encouraging conversations around body positivity, sustainability, and inclusivity.
Source: Tailor & Circus
For more choices, browse brands on sustainable e-marketplaces. Bid goodbye to the mass e-stores, because Ikkivi, Nete, Amala Earth, and Brown Living are ethical marketplaces that will help you with a planet-positive shopping experience. They host an array of certified sustainable brands that you can curate for your sustainable wardrobe, guilt-free.
But don’t get carried away, because a capsule wardrobe is called so for a reason!
Less Is More Is Sustainable Is Chic
Start with organising your wardrobe, tweak your shopping habits, shop for versatility, check the care label and care accordingly, and finally repair, reuse, and recycle.
Always remember that the key to a sustainable capsule wardrobe is buying less, but buying high-quality timeless pieces, and repurposing what you already have. A good place to know what’s sustainable is to start by looking at the label. A sustainable brand’s website will also be transparent and make its sustainability practices very clear.
You can read our story on ten sustainability certificates to educate yourself further and save yourself from falling prey to greenwashing. Dig into your wardrobe before you buy new. Get creative, not consumerist.
If you have to jump onto a trend, choose the one that’s here to stay- circular economy!
Wear It Till It Wears Out
A great way to build a sustainable and ethical wardrobe is to use, love, and wear all of it. Wearing your wardrobe sounds simple. But if you dig into your cupboard, you are sure to find a forgotten tee and a dress you don’t even remember buying. We end up over-buying because of glittering sales, attractive deals, and must-have trends, but in reality, only 20% of our wardrobe is worn regularly
The trick behind shopping less is also extending the life of clothes you already own. And how does one do that?
- See clothes as an investment. Fast fashion clothes often fall apart, fade or stretch in less than 4-5 wears. They are designed for just one season and intended to encourage you to shop for the latest style or fad. Don’t fall into the trap. If you consider clothes as an investment, even if that means spending a little extra on quality clothing, the planet, and your future self will thank you later.
- Wash your clothes less. We aren’t referring to socks, underwear, or regular-use sportswear, but heavier items such as sweaters, denim, jackets, and trousers need washing much less regularly than you might think. Don’t trust us? Levi’s CEO Chip Bergh is known to have confessed not washing his jeans for over 10 years!
- Care for your clothes so they last longer. The problem with cheap, disposable clothing is that you know you’ll get bored of them fast, so you care for them less. Take care of every item in your wardrobe so that you can keep them looking vibrant like the day they were bought. This will ensure they last longer, ultimately saving you money. Tip: Read the label of your garment for how to best care for them. When in doubt, wash on a lower, more gentle cycle, or handwash and sun-dry.
Benefits of A Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe
The benefits of taking a minimalistic approach to fashion are many!
- Environmental impact: By choosing to invest in high-quality, sustainable pieces that are made from environmentally-friendly materials and produced using ethical manufacturing processes, you help to reduce your environmental footprint.
- Economic benefits: Buying clothing that lasts longer is more cost-effective in the long run, as you don’t have to keep replacing cheaper, fast fashion items that wear out quickly.
- Personal style: Choosing and mixing up pieces that are versatile, timeless, and well-constructed helps you reflect your unique sense of style while reducing the environmental impact of your fashion choices.
- Minimalism: By focusing on a small number of versatile, high-quality pieces, you simplify your life and reduce clutter, both in your closet and in your home. And this means often means less stress and eco-anxiety too!
Having a sustainable capsule wardrobe is not just good for the environment, it also offers lifestyle benefits besides being better for your well-being. By making conscious and ethical choices about the clothes you wear, you contribute to creating a more sustainable future for yourself and the planet!
Be A Conscious Shopper Starting Today!
Take the first step and unsubscribe from all newsletters from fashion brands. Delete those innumerable apps that push notifications designed to lure you. Don’t let the sales get to you. Before you buy anything, ask yourself: Do I need this? Save up for quality garments and don’t let influencer haul videos define your style. Shop with conscious intent, be creative, and have fun that does not cost the planet.
