Revamp Your Wardrobe: A Sustainable and Budget-Friendly Guide

Serena McKenzie 

If you’re searching to revamp your wardrobe this winter, consider adopting a more sustainable approach to your personal style. This guide will offer 5 creative and budget- friendly ways to give your wardrobe a mindful modish makeover.

1. Learning to knit/crochet.

Learning to knit or crochet is one of the most unique and creative ways to add to your wardrobe. Handcrafting your own garments means that you are in complete control over what to design. There are plenty of accessible online resources where you can find beginner- friendly tutorials and patterns to get started. Look out for sustainable yarns such as organic cotton, bamboo or recycled yarns which require less water to produce, and also check that they have been coloured with plant-based dyes. Picking up a creative new hobby like crocheting or knitting can provide a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment. Opting for the sustainable route ultimately gives a rewarding feeling.

2. Upcycling

Think twice before discarding old or unworn clothing as you can find a way to repurpose them into something completely new and stylish. Examples of this include turning frayed or worn-out jeans into shorts or a denim skirt, or you could use dyes, patchwork or embroidery to create a new look. Take materials you already own to give your clothes a second life and you will reduce the demand for new clothing production, ultimately lowering your carbon footprint. Keep an eye on our socials to know when the next upcycling workshop is taking place, and get involved! 

3. Capsule wardrobe

Constructing a capsule wardrobe is an eco-conscious and minimalist approach to fashion as it involves curating a selection of timeless and versatile pieces which can be used in many different outits. However, this doesn’t mean you have to compress your flare and creativity and only stck to neutrals. Lucy’s blogpost ‘What is a Capsule Wardrobe’ answers your questiions and doubts by suggesting an alternative to typical capsule collections. Her version involves picking 6-8 different outfits to rotate which helped her cut down her wardrobe from 150 items to 32! To get started, think of the staples: jeans, blazers, tailored trousers etc. and you will both reduce your consumption in the long-term and save time while picking an outfit in the morning.

4. Clothing Swaps

Look out for our society’s clothing swaps where you can trade your unworn clothing for new stylish pieces. When you donate clothing, you will receive credit to purchase any of the items on offer and this credit can also be used at future swaps where there will be a totally new selection. By exchanging your unworn garments, you can refresh your winter wardrobe and support sustainability knowing that 50% of the profits will go to Fashion Revolution.

5. Thrifting
Finally, if you are keen to buy new sustainable pieces at low prices, steer away from H&M and instead choose to shop at the local charity shops. While it can be disheartening to see a circulation of fast fashion labels in charity shops, checking for eco-friendly and endurable materials (See Lauren’s post ‘Sustainable Materials – a Guide on What Fabrics to Look for’) is an easy way to create a long-lasting, sustainable wardrobe. Otherwise, check out the posts about shopping on Vinted and Depop and give online thrifting a go!