How to Build an Ethical Wardrobe
Without going on a long rant (I’ll do my best…), one of the things I hate most about many of the guides to building ethical wardrobes is that most start with cleaning out your closet, and then determining what you need to complete your wardrobe. And then buying it. This is NOT the best way to build an ethical wardrobe. At all.
Why? Because:
The most ethical clothes are the ones you already own.
The idea of starting an ethical fashion wardrobe by purging your closet and then adding to it is the opposite of an ethical wardrobe, akin to buying more to start your minimalist or zero waste lifestyle (another rant just waiting to happen!).
If you stop buying unethical clothes, and start working on minimizing what you do buy, you are on your way to building an ethical wardrobe. Cherishing what you have, taking care of it, and repairing it when needed is the start of an ethical wardrobe.
So, first things first. Do NOT throw out your existing clothes and go out and buy a bunch of new ethical clothing. This is not a sustainable approach to wardrobe building (and certainly isn’t good for your finances, but that is another topic altogether!).
Even the most ethically made clothes are still new clothes that demanded energy and resources to make, not to mention packaging and transportation. Even the most ethically made clothes are not as ethical as the clothes you already have.
Figuring out how to build an ethical wardrobe is daunting.
Ok, rant done… Figuring out how to build an ethical wardrobe can feel daunting, for sure. Where to shop and what to buy, not to mention the worry over price, can all be concerns when starting to build an ethical wardrobe. It doesn’t have to be.
How to Build an Ethical Wardrobe:
The first step to building an ethical wardrobe is realizing that the clothes you already own are the most ethical clothes! I know, I keep repeating myself, but I see so many posts about what to buy, that it seems that we often forget this. And, I was guilty of this in my early ethical fashion days. I would buy anything and everything that was ethical, not realizing that overconsumption (even of ethical fashion) is still overconsumption and not sustainable.
Don’t worry if your clothes are from fast fashion brands or if they are 100% rayon. Don’t worry if you bought them because they were on sale and maybe they aren’t the best addition to your wardrobe. Don’t worry if it they were made cheaply, in unsafe and unfair working conditions. It is worth repeating, the clothes you already own are the most ethical clothes!
But, here are 8 Steps to Help You Build an Ethical Wardrobe:
Step 3: Find your personal style
Step 4: Assess what you already have (and love)
Step 5: Consider a uniform or capsule wardrobe
Step 6: Clean out your closet responsibly
Step 7: Take care of what you have
Step 8: Now you can shop!
Step 1: Determine Your Why
You need to be clear about why you want to build an ethical wardrobe. Your why will help you stay committed (the second step) and will help you create your own criteria for what ethical fashion means to you.
So, first determine why you want to build an ethical wardrobe and what that means to you.
Once you’ve determined what an ethical wardrobe means to you, use that criteria every time you shop. Familiarize yourself with a few brands and shops that meet your criteria before you need something. And then commit to it…
Step 2: Make a Commitment
This might be the most important step. And now that you know why you want to build an ethical wardrobe, it should be a little easier.
You have to make the commitment though. Without a seriously conscious effort it can be difficult. Ethical clothing is harder to find and oftentimes more expensive. And non-ethical clothing is very pretty, very tempting, and available almost everywhere!
So make a commitment to ethical clothing!
Once you’ve committed there are a few other things you can do to create your ethical wardrobe.
Step 3: Find Your Personal Style
The next thing to do is find your personal style. Without a personal style, you are likely to buy things that don’t exactly work for you that you never wear. So, take some time to find your personal style and then stick to it. This makes shopping easier and dressing every day much, much easier. It also builds confidence in both your look (which we all could probably use a little more of this!) and in your ability to shop ethically.
Only purchasing clothes that fit your personal style helps minimize impulse purchase, helps to ensure you are buying things you will actually wear, and helps you dress with purpose. All of this helps with building a conscious, ethical wardrobe. And it helps you dress better, which makes you feel great
Step 4: Assess What You Have (and Love)
Ok, here is where I do agree with most ethical wardrobe building lists. You need to assess what you already have. Go through your closet thoroughly and see what you already have. This will help you build a better and more ethical wardrobe because you are often reminded of what you already have (so don’t need to buy more) and can build on it if you do need to buy something.
Step 5: Consider a Capsule Wardrobe
Or a uniform, or whatever you want to call it. After you’ve found your personal style, consider putting together an everyday uniform or capsule wardrobe. Not only will this make getting dressed much easier, but it also helps you to not buy things that won’t fit in with the uniform, and then won’t wear.
Step 5: Clean Out Your Closet Responsibly
Now that you’re working on your personal style, it makes sense to get rid of some of the things that don’t quite fit. This isn’t a necessary step, but can be helpful in creating a wardrobe you love, not to mention an easier morning.
We often forget that the disposal is as much a part of the ethics as the use and manufacturing. This step is not a suggestion to ruthlessly cull your closet of everything that isn’t perfect and send it to the Goodwill. You need to get rid of your clothing responsibly and with care.
Step 7: Take Care of What you Have
Most of the time, when you clean out your closet, you find some clothing that needs a quick repair. If you’re anything like me, these items get stuffed in a bag and never make it to a tailor or cobbler. We need to change that. We can extend the life of our clothes, making for a more ethical wardrobe if we learn how to take care of what we have.
This means washing more gently, learning how to make easy repairs, and finding a skilled tailor and cobbler for the more advanced repairs (and then actually taking the clothes or shoes to them!)
Step 8: Ok, Now You Can Shop!
But slowly, consciously, intentionally, and purposefully. Now that you’ve determined why you want to build an ethical wardrobe, and have made a commitment, if you need something, get it. Try to buy secondhand if possible. When it isn’t, go as high quality as you can afford, and try one of these brands. Then make sure you love the heck out of it and treat it well. Get at least 30 wears out of it.
Bonus: A Few Quick Tips To Build An Ethical Wardrobe
There are a few things that I have done over the years that have made building and maintaining an ethical wardrobe easier. A few things that you can do today:
- Familiarize yourself with the best consignment and second-hand stores in your area.
- Unsubscribe from any non-ethical shop or brand email newsletters. This is the best thing I have done for my wallet and my ethical wardrobe!
- Find shops in your area that sell ethical fashion.
It may seem like a lot of work to building an ethical wardrobe, but to be honest with you, once it is done, it is easier than having a conventional wardrobe. Having a neat, purposeful capsule collection of clothes eliminates a lot of stress each day. Having fewer options when shopping helps to eliminate the paradox of choice.
Once you get started, stay the course. There will be times when you have no time or are in a bit of a “situation” when you have to pick up something quick. That is ok. Forgive yourself and buy something ethical next time (or skip it altogether). Just commit, minimize what you buy, and take care of what you already own and you’ve built yourself an ethical wardrobe!