sustainabili-dit Words by Anushka Patil Let’s take a deep dive into our closets. How many times have you sighed while saying “I don’t have anything to wear,” as you stare down the clothes in your wardrobe? Do you really not have anything to wear? Or, do you only see the impulse buys that were “love at first sight” but now only pair well with that one specific top? Shopping sustainably is about more than its environmental and ethical impacts; it’s also about its impact on you. It is possible to buy clothing that you can wear for years and still love as much as the first day you bought it. As trends come and go faster and faster with each cycle, the first step to a sustainable wardrobe is freeing ourselves from conforming to every trend. While this doesn’t entail purging our closets (more on this later) to make a capsule wardrobe, we can still choose to invest in timeless quality pieces and potentially unlimited outfit combinations. Last year, Ecoversity, along with the
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Adelaide Sustainability Association collaborated with Makerspace Adelaide on a new initiative. Makerspaces are community networks that support a circular economy through extending the shelf life of mate-rials and fostering skill development. In this workshop, I learned the importance of repairing clothing instead of tossing them. I watched with wide eyes as the mentors explained how they brought new life into their decade-old cardigans and unintentionally ripped jeans. I initially arrived at the workshop to fix a dress with a broken button and discovered there was a more sustainable way to do that. Using a patch to sew onto the fabric, which had lost its structural integrity, ensures the button will stay on stronger and longer than before. Whether you’re someone skilled with handiwork or just happy to seek out a local tailoring business, altering your clothing to get that perfect fit for your body is an excellent way to improve its longevity. Not only will it elevate your style by flattering your personal figure but it will also get more wear and love.
