Clothing waste is a big problem caused not just by individuals but also by big businesses. It’s difficult to do anything about the fashion companies that are producing and throwing away too much, but you can take control of your own habits when it comes to clothes. Many of us throw out clothes too early or buy things that we don’t really need. How many items in your closet are things that you have never worn? If you want to be a more ethical consumer, there are various steps you could take to make a change. Take a look at these tips to create a more ethical wardrobe or closet.

Take Good Care of Your Clothes

You can start by making sure that you take good care of the clothes that you already own. It’s easy to neglect your clothes when they seem so easy to replace, but if you take care of them, you can help them to last longer. Not only is this a more ethical way to manage your wardrobe, but it also means you can avoid the disappointment of your favorite items falling apart. Firstly, check the care instructions on all of your clothes and accessories and follow them to the best of your ability. You can also check the material and follow standard practices for caring for it.

Learn to Mend Your Clothes

Even if you take good care of your clothes, sometimes you’re faced with a problem. When an item has a hole, a button falls off, or the heels on your favorite shoes wear away, there’s no need to throw anything out. With the right skills, you can make repairs instead. Some basic sewing skills can get you far, helping you fix things like loose buttons or patch up holes in the fabric. Knowing how to darn is excellent for knitted items, giving you the skills you need to fix any small holes or tears.

Rediscover Your Wardrobe

If you feel like you’re bored with the clothes you already own, you don’t have to rush out and buy more. Before you go on a shopping spree, consider whether you could rediscover something you love in what you already own. You could find something you haven’t worn for a while or, perhaps, have never worn. You can find new ways to wear something that you’re familiar with, creating new looks from what you already have. There could be some amazing outfits already hiding in your collection of clothes and items that you could fall in love with again (or for the first time).

Buy Sustainable Clothing

When you do need to buy new clothes, there can be a right way and a wrong way to do it. It’s easy to find cheap clothes, but if you’re buying them new, you can guarantee they’re not going to be particularly ethically made. Fortunately, there are sustainable options if you want to take a more ethical approach to buying clothes. Brands like UpWest use sustainable materials so that you can keep your closet as eco-friendly as possible. If you’re careful about what you buy, you can select clothing that is also made in an ethical way by workers who are paid fairly.

Upcycle Your Clothes

When you’re bored with the clothes you already have, another way to fall in love with them again is to learn how to upcycle them. There are plenty of ways to upcycle clothes, whether you make use of items you already have or buy second-hand clothes for your projects. You can upcycle clothes by tailoring them into new styles or cutting them up and refashioning them into new garments. If you have a sewing machine, there’s a lot you can achieve. However, you don’t even necessarily need to have a sewing machine to make some interesting changes to your clothes.

Swap with Friends

If you have something you no longer want to keep, you definitely don’t have to throw it away. In fact, it can give you a good way to refresh your clothes. Instead of just getting rid of something you no longer want, consider swapping with friends. If you have similar styles or you want to mix things up a bit, you can agree to make some swaps and share with each other. It means that you each get something that is new to you while reducing waste. It’s also a fun thing to do together, maybe with some wine and snacks.

Buy More Mindfully

When clothing is cheap, it can be so easy to just buy anything that you see and like. However, not only can this get expensive quickly, but it can end up being pretty wasteful too. If you want to make smarter purchases, you should try to buy more mindfully. Instead of letting your impulses win, buy what you really want and need only. If you’re not sure whether to buy something, try making a note of it and coming back to it later. You might find that the initial desire has faded, and you don’t really want it anymore.

Look for high-quality clothes and accessories too. Even if you don’t focus on specific ethical brands, you can make sure your purchases are more ethical by choosing things that will last longer.

Make Second-Hand Purchases

One of the best ways to make sure your wardrobe is more ethical is to buy vintage or second-hand items. It’s so easy to find things you love, not just at thrift stores or yard sales but also with various apps and websites. You can find pretty much anything second-hand, including plenty of unique vintage finds. It also gives you a great way to sell or donate anything that you no longer want. There are plenty of other people looking for second-hand items that they can give new life to, and you can offer them yours.

You can create a much more ethical wardrobe with a few smart choices. By avoiding fast fashion, you have the option to ensure all of your clothes help save the planet.