Commentary by Sara Holtz
Did you know 80 percent of clothing is landfilled or incinerated, and approximately 35 percent of microplastics released to oceans globally originate from washing synthetic textiles, like nylon and polyester?
Here are some ways to adopt more sustainable practices when it comes to your wardrobe:
- Assess your closet regularly. Keep what you love and wear often, then donate or sell good condition items you don’t wear.
- Thrift and buy second-hand. Before you purchase new clothes, shop vintage or local consignment stores like Amanda’s Exchange or the bi-annual Whale of a Sale children’s consignment event at Grand Park. Participate in a clothing swap, whether it’s via friends, Maven Space or @indyswaps on Instagram, who hosts events at venues like Lux & Ivy.
- Invest in quality. Shift your mindset to view clothes as more of an investment and take a capsule wardrobe approach where you intentionally select pieces that are essential yet versatile. Prioritize higher quality fabrics that will last longer over lower quality pieces that are inexpensive and not durable. Eco-friendly natural fibers include organic cotton and linen, hemp, bamboo and Tencel Lyocell, which is made of wood from certified forests.
- Consider sustainable brands. Instead of shopping for cheap, mass-produced, trendy clothing, focus on finding brands that have fair labor practices and ethical production practices with certifications like Global Organic Textile Standard, Certified B Corporation or OEKO-TEX, to name a few. Goodonyou.eco has a directory to vet sustainably rated brands.
Afterglow Market is a Carmel-based online boutique where you can find sustainable brands such as Pact, MATE the Label and Toad & Co.
Embrace these tips and you will not only reduce clutter and waste but also help conserve our environment. Being more conscious and intentional with your wardrobe habits (and pocketbook) does not mean you need to sacrifice your style.
Sara Holtz is a volunteer with Carmel Green Initiative, Inc. Learn more at carmelgreen.org.
