A More Responsible Closet

 This...

 

Closet + APP

Not That...




    
I enjoy the creativity and change that comes with fashion.  Today there are a lot of quick and affordable ways to have a fashion fix. It is very easy to make an impulsive purchase. Products are ever evolving and affordable. Unfortunately, the downside is waste and more of a burden on our natural resources. Recently, I returned a purchase to H&M. Guilty! The cashier and I, started to converse about buying what we need and not what we want. Easier said than done...

H&M has taken a more responsible approach to fashion. They were forced to due to the fact they depend on customers to purchase frequently.  Posing a huge issue of waste and responsible purchasing.

That being said, there are solutions for each of us to utilize. Giving us more of a balanced approach when it comes to organizing and purchasing:

Organization

• Organization is important. You have to know what you have to be able to utilize it.            

Clothing App's

• Not for everyone but genius for some! Checked these two out:  Closet +  and Stylebook.    Simple to use. Essentially, it is an online diary of your closet. Has the ability to mix and match clothing and accessories. The downside is you have to be someone like myself who is already organized. Clothing needs to be photographed (time). Takes a few hours on a Saturday. Gives you options you would never have thought of and a little spark to reuse things you might be tired of in new ways.  

Less is More

• Once you know what you have I suggest you break up your closet into Work, Weekend,  Casual, and Fitness.  Buy the best basics you can. Go for simple basics in fabrics that will last like Cotton, Silk, Wool, Linen. Look at the label and make sure the percentage is mostly in favor of the latter. It is in our best interest and the environments favor that we buy things we love and make use of them. Wear it out!

Recycle, Donate, Sell

• Use old tee's for cleaning. Return bags of clothing to merchants like H&M and receive a discount. Closing the loop...a tiny bit. Also, by recycling and having your kids involved they are forced to see the impact we are having. Forcing our children to make more responsible purchases in the future.

Eco Friendly Products and Sustainable Clothing

• Recently, I was gifted Wool Balls! They are to be used in the dryer as an alternative to dryer sheets. They cut down on drying time (energy) and made my sheets so soft because of the natural lanolin. Wool Bed Company.
• The container store has many Swedish and American made brands...                                        Eco friendly alternatives for organization.
• The fashion industry is notorious for human rights violations, depletion of natural resources, and toxic chemical use. There are many small brands who are trying to pave the way for the industry.  These practices are not mainstream and the prices tend to be premium. So, if you can't afford to buy or don't like the options presented in that arena, know you can make a difference just by being more conscious about the amounts you buy!

Be Well,
Kim