Okay, if we have succeeded in convincing you that sustainable fashion is here to stay, and you are still here with us, you may be wondering: what are some practical steps I can take to get closer to a more sustainable wardrobe.
It is important to take a step back and appreciate that sustainable wardrobe is not a state, but a modus operandi – a way of thinking about your wardrobe. By that, we don’t mean abandon all the luxuries that you indulge in (we are guilty too), nor that you have to exclusively opt for recyclable hessian blazers. However, there are a few easy steps that you can take to get closer to the goal.
1. Run the 30 wears test
Statement pieces are great – but they should be integral part of your wardrobe to justify the environmental footprint of the piece. The recommendation here is choose well. Defy the cyclical trends – which oddly enough, appear in classic menswear too – and pick items that are truly versatile – think navy blue blazer, black turtleneck, white linen shirt and the likes. When buying something, take a moment to ask yourself if you will indeed wear the piece for at least 30 times. If the answer is yes, go ahead and buy it. You will be startled at how often the honest answer turns out to be no.
2. Look after your clothes
Before you skip this step for the next one, thinking it goes without saying, it’s worth breaking this down, and you will see for yourself there is room for improvement. Good care of clothes means that you will be able to prolong the lifespan of your items and decrease the need to replace them. Think dry cleaning only when necessary (never more often than three – four times a year per item), hand washing your cashmere or wool blends (sweaters in the washing machine are a no-no) and turning dark coloured items inside-out (especially pants) before putting in the washing machine.
3. Find yourself a tailor
This is an extension of the previous step. If you can’t think of a specific person when asked ‘who is your tailor’, then you can start by googling some options in your city. There is always an artisan that can work some magic when repairing your old clothes or accessories.
4. Travel wisely
Warning for controversial statement ahead – some of the biggest style mistakes we have ever made were out of necessity on a trip (be it business or leisure). Surprisingly, one of the significant sources of junk in our wardrobes are clothes or accessories we were forced to buy, when we, in the good old days, could travel and discover the world. Think all those white shirts, jackets, sandals or swimsuits we once ended up buying so we don’t feel like a fish out of water. Not only did we never wear them again since, but in some cases, we filled excess luggage with them, which is a critical contributor to air pollution caused by travel. According to the UN’s Environment Programme, reducing the weight of your luggage by 15kg decreases your emissions by around 50–100kg on a four-and-a-half hour flight. These are idle purchases that could have been averted should we have put some more thought when packing. Remember – if Gary Grant could travel the world and embark on his adventures accompanied only by whatever fit in a small duffle bag, and still managed to pull flawless looks, then so can we.
5. Buy sustainable
And by that, we don’t mean just second-hand, it can mean new old stock, never-worn pieces or purchases that didn’t work out (have a look at the previous Gents Cafe’s article for a thorough definition). This should become an integral part of the process when you are in the market for a new addition to your wardrobe, or in fact, when you are ridding yourself of items you don’t need anymore. Bookmark places where you find such sustainable items and make sure to come back often. There are treasures on the web, and many of the aficionados in the classic menswear community go through regular purging of their classic stock, which provides unique opportunities.
Our platform, Silkxchange, provides a space for classic menswear enthusiasts to sell their old items and buy sustainable, so here is a place to start.