11 affordable ways to make your wardrobe more sustainable

We’re all tempted to update our wardrobes with affordable and trendy items.

But the reality of buying cheap clothes is that you get what you pay for.

After a couple of washes, you will find loose threads, discoloration, and other signs of a poorly constructed garment.

This isn't even considering the toll making these clothes has on our planet and the people working in garment factories.

So, how can we look stylish, save money, and reduce our impact on the planet?

Circular fashion can help you save money on clothes.

More and more circular fashion brands are popping up every day.

Each offers unique styles and new ways to make your wardrobe more sustainable.

They also offer quality garments at a discounted price. Sometimes, you don’t have to pay at all.

With clothing swaps, for example, you can acquire a garment in exchange for something you don't wear anymore.

You can shop online, at boutiques, street fairs, and on apps like Depop and OfferUp.

Here are a few ways circular fashion can help you look stylish on a budget:

1. Participating in Clothing Swaps

If you don’t want to spend money but still want to update your wardrobe, clothing swaps are the way to go.

All you have to do is bring a garment you don’t want and exchange it for something you do.

Check out Miami’s Clothing Swap Society for more info if you're in Miami.

2. Thrifting

If you scroll through Instagram often enough, you’ve probably run into a meme about the joys of thrifting.

It’s not only a fun escape from daily life. It’s also a way to save money and find rare and interesting clothing items.

Some of the racks might be packed, and not everything is a grail, but you never know what you might find if you take the time to thrift regularly.

3. Fashion Resale

For a higher quality and more curated shopping experience, you might want to check out fashion resale and consignment shops.

Countless apps and vendors offer previously owned clothing from brands you already wear, like J. Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, and even designer garments.

You pay less than half the retail price and can find garments that are like new–sometimes never worn.

Check out this blog post to learn more about how to care for vintage and upcycled clothes.

4. Mending, Laundering, and Altering Garments

When we get rid of garments, it’s usually because they are stained, have holes, or are too big/small.

When life happens to your clothes, there are ways to keep them in your wardrobe.

If you spill coffee on your white pants, soak them in Oxiclean.

Lost weight?

Have your shirts and pants taken in.

Do anything but throw them away.

5. Upcycling and Reworking Clothes

Upcycling is a fun and creative way to reuse garments that would otherwise be thrown out.

You can turn boring denim jeans into a top or accessory, applique hoodies with cool patterns, and use fabric paint to turn a jacket into a work of art.

If you search for upcycling ideas on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, you’ll find hundreds of ways to bring new life into old garments.

6. Creating a Capsule Wardrobe

If your closet is overflowing with stuff you never wear, a capsule wardrobe might be a good way to get the most use out of your clothes.

All you have to do is edit and curate timeless basics that can be mixed and matched.

Then, you can throw in trendy pieces without repeatedly purchasing the same pieces.

7. Renting Trendy High-end Pieces

Every once in a while, an occasion calls for a show-stopping outfit.

The only problem is that you will likely never wear the outfit again after being photographed and posted on social media.

This is when renting high-end pieces makes sense.

8. Cropping and Distressing Outdated Clothes

You don’t need a sewing machine to transform thrift finds into one-of-a-kinds.

A pair of scissors will do.

Cropping tops that don’t fit and distressing denim can make an ordinary outfit stand out.

It’s also a great way to adjust garments for warmer weather.

9. Purchasing Quality Garments

Many brands use ethical practices to manufacture new clothes.

Buying high-quality garments you will use forever is another way to make your wardrobe more sustainable.

And if you factor in cost per wear, it will save you money in the long run, even if you pay full retail.

10. Making Your Own Clothes

Making your own clothes is the most time-consuming option but also gives you the most creative freedom.

You can design and create garments that fit your body perfectly.

You don’t even need to purchase patterns.

Many online tutorials show you how to clone the clothes in your closet.

And you can source your fabrics sustainably, too.

11. Support Local Fashion Designers

Every fashion designer starts somewhere.

Supporting local emerging fashion designers gives you a say as to which ones will succeed.

And shopping locally is more sustainable than purchasing from bigger brands.

Shopping circular for these two items is crucial.

According to Thredup, jackets and jeans are the most carbon-intensive fashion items to produce.

That means that shopping for these items second-hand is even more powerful. 

Jeans are easy to wash and last long, so it’s a no-brainer to shop for jeans from resale shops.

And in cities like Miami, jackets are worn less due to the temperature most of the year, so they are likely to be in great shape. 

Plus, jackets are a fun way to express your unique style.

Army jackets, for example, are often worn by artists and creatives. They’re easy to sew patches onto, too. 

And a denim jacket will always be a staple of any wardrobe.

One more reason to shop second-hand.

Have you ever worn a new shirt and noticed that it smells funny? 

Just because something is new doesn't mean it’s clean. 

That smell is the result of your new garment off-gassing. 

According to Molekule, off-gassing describes the release of harmful gases trapped in products and materials during production.

It exposes you to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can harm your health.

And since your skin is the largest organ on your body, you’re exposing yourself to these gases when you wear that new shirt.

So, avoid purchasing new garments whenever possible, especially if you’re prone to allergies or sensitive to abrasive chemicals.

Create a wardrobe that matches your identity.

The clothes we wear every day represent who we are.

That goes beyond just the styles we choose. How we source our fashions is equally representative of who we are.

Shopping can be a powerful form of activism.

What do your fashion purchases say about you?

Making your wardrobe more sustainable is a form of activism. Learn more about how circular fashion can help save coastal cities like Miami from rising sea levels.