What is Sustainable Fashion? Let's learn to create a sustainable wardrobe that makes you eco-friendly and stylish!

It's the changing season, looking at the wardrobe, are you itchy to buy a few items? Don't worry about placing an order, this article will take you to create a sustainable wardrobe that does not consume impulsively, so that you can stay stylish and save money!

What is Sustainable Fashion?

First, let's understand what it means to be sustainable. Sustainable fashion is the concept of incorporating environmental, economic and social factors into the fashion industry, from the manufacture of products to the choice of consumers, sustainable fashion focuses on reducing carbon emissions, supporting ecological diversity, improving the working environment of workers, and so on.

In recent years, because of fast fashion, the production of cheap and fast replacement of clothes is often linked to waste and environmental protection. If you look at global greenhouse gas emissions every year, the fashion industry accounts for between 4% and 10% of greenhouse gas emissions every year.

In addition, according to Tian Xinyi, Network Director of the Resource Recycling Taiwan Foundation, when people wash their clothes, they will contribute to the release of about two-thirds of the microfiber volumes of Taipei 101 building, which will flow into the ocean with sewers and cause pollution.

In addition to the formation of marine pollution, marine organisms can also cause a crisis in the food chain due to the accidental ingestion of microfibers, revealing the huge impact of fashion on the environment. In addition, SDG 12 of the United Nations also emphasizes the promotion of a green economy to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Therefore, sustainable fashion is not only a trend, it is also about the future of your life and the entire planet.

(Recommended reading: Zero waste fashion Story Wear, poet director Lu Jianzhang, through clothes to deliver the perpetual confession of "to the future")


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How to create your own sustainable wardrobe?

Building a sustainable wardrobe isn't as hard as you think, here are 5 tips you and I can do!

1. Inventory of dressing needs and styles:

The first step in creating a sustainable wardrobe is definitely facing the wardrobe that you may have exploded. Take stock of what clothes you have and categorize them. In the process, you will learn about your own frequency and style, and know more about your preferences and degree of use.

For those clothes that are less worn or brand new, you can do second-hand recycling, and also remind yourself that if you have special clothing needs, you can consider renting instead of buying next time.

2. Develop one-in-one-out buying habits:

To reduce impulse shopping and avoid overspending, you can set a "one-in-one-out" buying habit – if you want to buy new items, you must donate at least one piece of clothing you don't need in your home. You can donate unwanted clothing to institutions, second-hand websites, or friends and family, while also making other people's wardrobes more sustainable.

This not only avoids overcrowding of wardrobe space, but also gives clothes to those who really need it.

(Guess what you want to see: you're not throwing something away, but making it have a suitable home: inventory of 5 environmentally friendly second-hand pipes)


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3. Value the quality of clothing over quantity:

Fast fashion is cheap because of the cheap price of clothing, consumers tend to treat clothes as consumables and buy more and more, forming a cycle of waste between production and consumption. The British charity Barnardo's report also pointed out that the British women's clothing cycle is to wear it 7 times, and then put it away or throw it away after 7 times.

To improve this phenomenon, we can look at our own purchasing behavior. It may be more expensive to buy a high-quality, more sustainable piece of clothing, but the product will also last longer. By reducing purchases per season, you also reduce your carbon footprint.

4. Learn to take good care of your clothes:

Think about it, do you pay more attention to those items with high unit price and relatively good quality? And they really have a long service life? This practice actually applies to all clothes, and corresponds to different treatment methods for different clothing raw materials. For example, paying attention to the temperature of the washing water, whether it can be ironed, etc., can greatly improve the quality of clothing preservation.

Also, don't rush to discard your clothes when they are damaged, you can assess the condition of the repair first. If you have basic repair skills, most of the slightly worn clothes can come back to life. Of course, you can also seek the help of a professional tailor!

5. Invest in good seasonal items

There are always many seasonal sales when the season changes, but chances are you're just attracted by the low prices and buy out-of-season clothes that you don't need. To avoid such pre-consumption, you must consider the climate and habits in which you live.

In Taiwan, comfortable sweat-wicking T-shirts, basic windproof jackets, and moderately thick trousers are all versatile items that can accompany you for more than one season. In addition, if you live in a rainy area, a good pair of waterproof shoes can also accompany you through the long rainy season, and you don't have to prepare too many replacement shoes.

(Extended reading: It's time to buy clothes!" If you have a hoarding mentality, you should try minimalism)


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Increase the code to share! 3 sustainable fashion brands in Taiwan

After reading how to create a sustainable wardrobe, if you also want to become a part of sustainable fashion, here are 3 local sustainable fashion brands in Taiwan.

  • Zero-waste fashion Story Wear

Story Wear's proposition is to create a zero-waste fashion brand, with a style based on denim collections. The brand's products are handmade by local women, five non-profit organizations, and also co-branded with other organizations to speak out on different issues such as the ocean and Ukraine.

  • FYNE

FYNE was officially founded in 2021, and "zero waste" is the ultimate goal of the brand. FYNE is committed to the research and development of recycled production technology, pioneering a 100% circular process, from stitching, fabric, wash, zipper to buttons, 100% recycled materials.

  • Cocoon wrapped Twine

Cocoon Wrap Twine started in 2010 as a studio and store in Taichung, focusing on fair trade, adhering to natural and environmentally friendly materials and production methods, providing reasonable wages for producers, creating lasting and transparent partnerships, and eliminating child labor and gender discrimination.

Now you know the key to a sustainable wardrobe. While doing your part for the planet, you can also maintain your own fashion style. Let's stop being troubled by impulse shopping and support sustainable fashion.

If you like this article, invite you to start practicing together, and share these practical practices with your friends!