Be More with Less

Building An Ethical, Minimalist Wardrobe

Imagine looking into your closet each morning, seeing everything and knowing exactly what to choose, and feeling wonderful about how you look, and where your clothing came from. This is the minimalist wardrobe - a selection of high-quality, conscious clothing items that work well together and look great on you.

We spoke to Kristi Soomer, Founder and CEO of Encircled, an eco- (and travel-) friendly clothing company based in Toronto, Ontario. Encircled makes versatile clothing from sustainable fabrics and is committed to high ethical standards in every single thing they do.

“Consumers value transparency from companies at a level we’ve not seen before, driven by access to information on the Internet. There is an increasing demand to understand the end to end supply chain, from where the clothing is made, the type of fabric used, and what people are being paid,” says Soomer. She says her customers are engaged and curious about their purchases, and that the trend is definitely moving toward quality over quantity and being mindful of purchases. Encircled lives its belief that transparency is essential to positive change in the fashion industry, so sustainability and conscious consumerism are at the core of every decision they make. The name originated from the idea that fashion can be full circle (their first piece, a cardigan, was named “The Cardi” in a nod to the Australian commitment to sustainability and wanderlust). They also believe strongly in inclusion; recognizing there are few ethical clothing options for plus size, the brand is introducing a greater variety of sizes.

Ethical fashion is rooted in the belief that clothing can be stylish and accessible, without exploiting people or the planet in the process.

The fashion industry is the second largest polluting industry worldwide (after oil) because of the immense waste created during the manufacturing of clothing—end of roll fabrics, cuttings, and slightly flawed garments typically end up in landfill—not to mention the carbon footprint created when clothing is transported from country to country for different stages of production.

Buying ethical means supporting brands who care about fair labour practices, and have high environmental and waste management standards. It also means the fabrics feel wonderful and are free of harmful chemicals. Encircled’s three core fabrics for example - modal, tencel and bamboo - are all naturally-derived, biodegradable, and sustainably sourced from regenerative crops that do not use pesticides. The dyes as well are free of harmful chemicals which makes them kinder on your skin, health, and the environment.

Where does one start? Encircled notes that the journey to building a more ethical closet doesn’t need to be all or nothing - tossing your entire closet to replace everything at once isn’t the idea. Start by auditing your entire wardrobe, keeping only what you love and love to wear. Donate the rest, then invest in one needed item—an ethically- and well-made shirt or pair of jeans— and simply be mindful about future purchases.

Choose fit over size, labels and numbers; with quality fabrics that will last, travel nicely and drape well. Launder with care, and your ethical and minimalist wardrobe will love you right back.

Sign up for updates from Encircled.ca and receive their excellent Minimalist Wardrobe Workbook to help you streamline your wardrobe and curate a closet full of items you love.