Building a Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe: Move Away from Fast Fashion

The term fast fashion has garnered attention over the last few years. What does the term denote? And, why do we need to move away from fast fashion? Developed in the 1990s, the term encapsulates a profitable business model where fashion brands replicate high-fashion designs, manufacture them in bulk, and sell them at a low cost. As a result of this practice, fast fashion paved the way for a culture of human rights violations, unfair trade practice, and animal abuse.

However, brands are now influenced by consciousness. As more people embrace slow fashion and create more mindful ways to live life, brands automatically get pushed towards creating more sustainable and ethical products. Before we jump to how one can create a capsule wardrobe as an ideal way to move away from fast fashion, read our recommended checks to ensure you are buying sustainable and ethical fashion.

Build a Capsule Wardrobe and Bid Goodbye to Fast Fashion

With winter right around the corner, it’s time to officially say hello to sweater weather. What better way to brighten up the cold white wintertime than with our colorful scarfs and stoles. Building a capsule wardrobe with scarfs is a good way to set your first step into the journey in becoming sustainable and conscious. Scarfs and stoles enable us to use the same outfit but give it a different look every time. Brighten up the holiday season by gifting our sustainable scarfs to your loved ones for this Christmas.

What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

A wardrobe or closet that contains only your most basic and essential clothes and accessories; and one that you can mix and match for all occasions. Ideally, these are limited sets of clothing and accessories that are versatile for all occasions and can be adapted to different styles. In setting up your capsule wardrobe, you begin to identify what is most important to you, while also keeping space for you to grow.

The process of building a capsule wardrobe can be super fun. At the same time, you are also reducing the carbon footprint that you would otherwise leave by investing in multiple items that keep adding to your ever-growing closet.

Tips for Building a Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe

Assess and identify as the first step. Building a capsule wardrobe does not mean you need to give away everything you own. The idea is to only keep what is most important and essential, and figure out how you can mix and match from those limited sets.

Keep it simple. A few pants and skirts, maybe in blue, black, and gray that will go well with almost everything. Pair it with neutral tone tops or patterned tops. A few dresses for formal or big occasions. Don’t forget jackets and overcoats. Add in a few scarves (or get your hands on ours!) in different shades that can be worn around the year, no matter rain or sunshine. If you like bracelets, chains, and earrings, limit them to three or four pairs. Finally, a pair of each, formal, casual, and sports/gym, shoes to complete your wardrobe.

Sort clothes based on what you love, what you maybe love, and what you don’t love. Alternatively, you can also identify clothes that you have not worn in the last three months and you don’t plan to wear them for the next three as well. Next, move those items that you have been holding on to for a special occasion but never found the right time to wear it, and years have passed in this time of contemplation. Finally, those clothes that don’t fit you but you are saving them for a future when it may come of use. Once these items are sorted, recycle, donate, or throw them away.

How Best to Dispose Items not in Use ?

You can either build an all seasonal capsule wardrobe or update them every three-fours months at the change of the season. While the latter gives you the option to change some items of your closet more frequently, an all seasonal wardrobe goes the extra mile in being conscious and mindful of your footprint.

For the items that you are willing to part with, try repurposing them by giving them away as donations, to friends or family, or even reuse as something else to reduce waste. Vintage stores and second-hand stores and online marketplaces  are on the rise, most of them very user friendly hence a great  alternative for clothes and accessories you do not intend to use anymore.

Author-  Manasa Ram Raj

You may also like to read: How to Make Sustainable Living the New Norm in Your Daily Life?