The Trendy Way to go GREEN

RAZZ writer Tais Donaldson shares her top tips for combining fashion and sustainability.

These days many of us are looking for ways to be both fashionable and sustainable, and this is where upcycling comes in. Upcycling is the process of taking old or used clothing and repurposing it into something new. Over recent years this has become an increasingly popular trend for creatively reinventing your wardrobe. Budget-friendly and environmentally conscious, it is a great solution for anyone looking to transform their clothing collection!

Why should we upcycle?

The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, responsible for a significant amount of textile waste, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Upcycling combats these issues by keeping clothes out of landfills and reducing the need for new clothes to be produced. If that alone isn’t convincing, here are some other reasons to try upcycling:

• Environmental Impact: Making new clothes requires a significant amount of energy, water, and other resources, whereas upcycling clothes only requires minimal resources. Additionally, it reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

• Cost-effective: It’s a cheap way to refresh your wardrobe. Instead of buying new clothes, you can give new life to clothes you already own.

• Creativity: Upcycling clothes is a great way to express your creativity. You can take a plain piece of clothing and turn it into something unique and one-of-a-kind.

• Personalisation: It can be a great way to make your wardrobe stand-out and express your individuality.

• Slow fashion: Upcycling encourages buying fewer, higher-quality clothes that will last longer. It avoids fast fashion clothing, which is often made from low-quality materials and not built to last.

• Promotes sustainable living: You’re making a conscious decision to reduce your environmental footprint and create a more sustainable future.