Make Your Wardrobe More Sustainable

Are you joining the "No-Buy January"? Are you having trouble sticking to that commitment? Or maybe you want to make your wardrobe more sustainable. Well, here are five ideas and alternatives to buying new clothes.

Organize a SWAP with friends. Make it a party. Everybody can bring a few pieces and then have fun trying things on.

RENT a dress or fancy item for a big occasion. Several online platforms offer affordable rentals for things you might not wear more than once.

Shop for SECOND-HAND or vintage items. It is fun to find the perfect pair of worn-in jeans or give a new life to a flowy top, but the hidden benefit is that it saves usable clothing from going to the landfill. And that’s triple sustainable.

REPAIR one of your favorite garments. You can patch holes or hem pants or customize your clothing. Just search YouTube for a good tutorial or idea, and go for it!

DIY OR MAKE something yourself. Many trade schools and community centers offer sewing classes. Start with something simple, but once you know how to sew the sky’s the limit.

#TIPS for shopping secondhand:

Accessories such as secondhand scarves, belts, and bags are great finds, and they can add a fun pop of color to any outfit or look. The easiest way to switch up a look is to get creative and add different accessories – so don’t be afraid to create a small collection of belts, hats, scarves, bags, purses, necklaces, and other secondhand accessories to update or even totally change an outfit. Look for items you love and that personalize outfits by showing off your taste.

A timeless jacket can add polish to any look, plus an extra layer of stylish warmth and coziness. Bonus: they are often well-constructed and have pockets so you can carry your phone and random items. Another bonus to finding older jackets and blazers secondhand is that these are usually well-made and of high quality. Look for lining and darts - these details will not only give a better fit, but they often indicate that items were carefully constructed and will last a long time.

A versatile and cute denim jacket is a great option to throw on over a printed dress or just jeans and a cute shirt. Can’t find one of these rare treasures in the local resale shop because they all get scooped up so quickly? Check out some of the online thrift website options like ThredUp, Tradesy, Vinted, Poshmark, and even eBay. Many of these sites have alert options that you can customize to receive notifications if you are searching for particular items.

Read more tips in the unCover Handbook.