The 7R’s of Sustainable Fashion

Let’s talk about fashion, more particularly, sustainable fashion. Fashion can be beautiful, artistic, creative… but also very costly. The cost being referred to is not the cost you might be thinking, but the cost of fast fashion to the environment.

Millions of garments are produced, purchased, and thrown away every single day, leaving a bigger footprint than most realise. That’s what brings us to the 7 R’s of sustainable fashion.

This article will introduce you to the 7 ways you can promote more sustainability in your fashion consumption and creation, helping you understand the practical steps you can take to reduce waste and pollution and choose clothing in a more mindful way.

1. Rethink

Sustainability starts with awareness. Before buying a new top or a new pair of jeans, ask yourself: Do I really need this? How long will I use it? With so many options at our fingertips, the temptation of buying it all feels ever present, but taking the time to reflect on our personal buying habits is worth having a think over. You can break the fast fashion cycle by rethinking those old habits and making more thoughtful choices when buying clothes.

2. Refuse

Fast fashion brands are called fast for a reason. They can push out dozens of new styles and looks within a matter of weeks, but that doesn’t always guarantee that the quality of the clothing is any good. Refuse low quality, poorly made clothing that rely on cheap labour and fast trends. By saying no disposable fashion and buying clothing that lasts longer, this not only shows consumers want better but also ensures your wardrobe can stand the test of time.

3. Reduce

It’s hard not to indulge in a shopping spree every now and then, but the problem with constantly buying clothing is that the more we buy, the more clothing waste and pollution. It’s better for our environment to do something as simple as asking ourselves: Do I need so many clothes? The fewer items we buy, the less clothing ends up in landfills. Reducing means cutting our consumption of clothing, choosing timeless pieces over trendy items, investing in quality, and focusing on what can last.

4. Reuse

Feeling that itch to buy a new outfit again? How about taking another look at your wardrobe and bringing back those outfits you used to love! Reusing outfits is a great way to keep clothes still in use and avoid wastage. You can restyle old outfits, borrow from family or friends, swap clothing with others or even donate old quality clothing to charity. You can style older pieces that you love while creating a positive impact on the environment.

5. Repair

A missing button or torn seam doesn’t have to be the end of a garment’s life. Often when we might think a piece of clothing has seen its last days, it’s very possible it still has years in its lifespan if we simply just repair it. Learning simple repairs such as sewing a button back on or visiting a tailor who can fix ripped seams can increase the lifespan of a piece of clothing. Repairing also helps us value our wardrobe instead of treating it as disposable.

6. Repurpose

Old clothes can take on new life. However, unlike repairing an item, this time you can use your creativity to make a whole new piece of clothing, accessory, furniture etc. A skirt can transform into a stylish new bag, a shirt can become a pillowcase, it’s called upcycled clothing! Using scraps of fabric from previous clothing to make a whole new item, not only does it increase the lifespan of an item, repurposing is also a fun creative outlet.

7. Recycle

When your favourite top has truly seen its last days, recycling is the next step. Instead of clothes ending up in landfills and creating more pollution, old fibers can be turned into new materials that just might end up back on our shelves. 

Learning more about how to make more conscious choices when consuming and disposing of our clothing empowers us to reduce pollution, support more ethical production and promote more environmental consciousness.