How to update your summer wardrobe sustainably

Nicole Nesti | Pixabay.com

Summer is here, and with fun plans and trips on the horizon, it can be tempting to buy new clothes to change up your look while in a new place. 

However, buying a whole new wardrobe for your two-week vacation or busy summer agenda is unnecessary and harmful to both your wallet and the environment. Excessively buying new clothes is a waste of the resources needed to make clothes and generates massive amounts of textile waste that is sent to landfills.

To make one cotton t-shirt alone requires more than 2,700 liters of water; that’s more than 700 gallons. Making and selling that same t-shirt also produces more than 6 kilograms of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of driving a passenger vehicle roughly 15 miles. Further, 342 million barrels of oil are needed to make synthetic fibers used for clothing globally each year, and throughout their lifetime these clothes shed microplastics that contaminate our waterways. Fast fashion companies often produce poor-quality clothing with short lifespans so that you have to keep buying more. Landfills are quickly filling up with textile waste, with over 1.2 million tons thrown away in California each year. 

Luckily, we can be part of the solution. By reducing the number of new clothes we buy, we can reduce the amount of textile waste going to landfills and preserve the valuable resources used in clothing production. It is possible to reduce your consumption without getting bored of wearing the same clothes. Try out the following tips to have a sustainable and stylish summer!

Guide to Updating Your Summer Wardrobe Sustainably

Tip #1 Make the clothes you already have feel new 

If you are feeling tired of your current wardrobe, there are many ways to spice up your clothing without buying new pieces. Add simple embroidery designs to your jeans or shirts for a cute look. Patches are also a simple way to add flair to a garment you are tired of. If you have more time on your hands, try out natural dyes to change up the colors of your clothes. If you are experienced with a sewing machine or interested in learning, try out upcycling, turning old clothes into entirely new pieces by cutting up and sewing together used fabric. 

Tip #2: Organize a clothing swap

If you need to add new pieces to your closet, a clothing swap is one of the most sustainable ways to do so. Gather a group of friends and have everyone bring some clothes they don’t want anymore. Then, exchange the pieces between each other. This is a great way to add some new pieces to your summer wardrobe while maintaining the sustainable practice of wearing clothes for as long as possible. Alternatively, you can join a “Buy Nothing” group, where members can give and receive clothes for free (like a clothing swap but online). 

Tip #3: Make your clothes last longer 

If you find yourself needing to buy new items often because your clothes wear down quickly, try implementing practices that will help your pieces last longer. Learning how to mend any rips and tears in fabric can help you make the most out of your clothes and keep them from unnecessarily ending up in the landfill. To prevent your clothes from fading and wearing down quickly, it helps to wash your clothes less often. The washing machine takes a toll on fabric and can cause it to break down, which is why it is best practice to wash your clothes only when they are visibly stained or smell. Further, using a clothesline or drying rack can help keep items from shrinking or wearing down in the dryer (and also helps reduce your electricity bill). 

Tip #4: Be a responsible shopper

If you are considering a new clothing purchase this summer, ask yourself if you are actually going to wear the item, or if you already have a garment that fulfills the same need. Most people don’t realize it, but the majority of the clothes in their closet rarely see the light of day: studies show that people don’t wear at least 50% of the clothes in their wardrobes. Wearing the clothes you already own for as long as possible is one of the best ways to reduce your impact on the environment and save yourself money. Bottom line – only buy what you really need. 

As you start packing bags and planning outfits for your summer getaways and backyard barbecues, take a look inside your closet and see if you can implement any of our tips before buying new clothes. There are many ways to make your wardrobe feel fun and new without contributing to wasteful fashion industry practices. Have a happy sustainable summer!   

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Authors

Radha Feist

Radha Feist is a sophomore at the University of Chicago and a summer intern with CALPIRG.

Fiona Hines

Legislative Advocate, CALPIRG

Fiona supports CALPIRG’s advocacy efforts across the state, leading campaigns to reduce plastic waste and protect public health. Fiona lives in Los Angeles, where she enjoys spending time in the sunshine and seeing live music.