Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, or Resell
This blog post was written by Liluye Staff Writer, Katie Hutchinson, who is a driven and compassionate environmentalist and humanitarian.
The phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” has been drilled into the minds of every primary and secondary, U.S. school student. Typically it refers to plastics, paper, and aluminum, but the same can be said about clothing. Not only can you reduce the amount of clothing you purchase, reuse, and recycle by buying and donating to thrift or second hand stores, but you can also repair and resell it.
As I’ve mentioned before, consumers are increasingly more aware of what is going on around them and the need to purchase clothing that is sustainable is paramount.
For a start, reducing your closet is something I encourage everyone to do. Go through all of your clothes and ask yourself, “do I wear this often?,” “do I still like this?,” and “would someone else like it more than me?” Then, take a day to rummage through your belongings and reduce what’s in there. Make a decision to cut back on your future buying, thus reducing your overall clothing supply.
To reuse… this is the easiest principle of the five. Maybe a friend or parent has something that they are getting rid of, or the more obvious, go and purchase clothing from one of the trendy, second hand stores. This is a win-win… great price, great finds, a great way to spend your afternoon, and it doesn’t contribute to new demand/consumption.
To recycle… it isn’t just donating old articles of clothing to thrift stores (I mean that is included, too, but it’s so much more than that). For example, you can look up your favorite brand’s website to see if they will recycle your old, cherished items. Places like Nike and Patagonia will not only recycle and repurpose things that were once bought from them, they will pay for it, too. That old Patagonia t-shirt you don’t wear in the back of your closet may just be worth a few bucks at the end of the day. Also, check out what all your favorite brands have to offer. Don’t be afraid to do research. You have all of the power and availability to learn at your disposal.
Another great and creative recycling option is to cut up that old, cotton t-shirt. It can be used to make reusable makeup pads, grocery bags, or even patches. Get creative and see if you can create a new hobby out of your old clothes!
Now that we’ve covered the basics we all know, let’s think of ways to repair those old jeans you have. YouTube is literally filled with videos on how to sew, if you’re a beginner. The same goes for that button that keeps popping off your shirt. Too many people get discouraged or intimidated by having to repair something. Don’t toss something out because it needs to get repaired. Just about all things can be repaired and given a new life, even if you can’t find a local business to do it.
Lastly, there’s always a resell option that can be quite lucrative. Just like those big stores buying back outfits, you can sell your clothes online, too. There are literally tons of places you can list your clothing on that are simple to use.
These five sustainable fashion principles can transform the way you purchase and live your life. You will be amazed how easy they are to implement and you will feel great about how much impact you’re making on your carbon footprint now and in the long run. You can start today by just using the reuse/swap principle first and see how that feels and works and then graduate to reducing your overall clothing supply next. Have fun with it, knowing that you made a difference living a more sustainable life.
