Sustainability has finally arrived in people’s minds. Many ask: How can I make my own everyday life more sustainable? Fashion in particular plays an important role in this. It is not uncommon for us to buy clothes that we actually do not need and that in the end do not wear at all. It is estimated that a million tons of clothing just end up in the trash every year. Sustainability looks different. A first important step to ensure more sustainability in your own styling behavior is therefore to shop more consciously. Because: change begins on a small scale. We will give you simple tips that will not only improve your ecological balance when shopping, but also your fashion style. And thanks to the sustainability tricks, you even save money!
1. muck out closet
In order for you to shop more sustainably in the future, it is important to take inventory first. What clothes do you have? What do you particularly like to wear? Where are the closet bodies? Understand what you like to wear and what you don’t. This is the first step towards shopping more consciously in the future and avoiding wrong purchases. When you muck out your closet, you will probably find parts that you no longer knew you had at all.
Instead of constantly shopping for new fashion, you should combine your existing clothes. This is not only good for the environment, but also refreshing for your style. Because by trying and re-styling you get a better feel for fashion and for what suits you.
2. Keep your eyes open when buying jeans
Did you know that around 8,000 liters of water are used to produce a single pair of jeans? The ecological balance of jeans in destroyed or used look is even worse. Because to make the trousers look old and worn, the jeans that were carefully made beforehand are literally destroyed using even more water and toxic chemicals. A real environmental sin!
Means for you: keep your eyes open when buying jeans! The fashion company C&A recognized this problem and acted on it. For the production of new denim pieces, the fashion brand is now using recycled and more sustainable materials (e.g. organic cotton) – keyword: old becomes new! At C&A there are also so-called water-saving denims. In the manufacture of these garments, a large amount of water is saved in the washing process (a total of 65% less water consumption in the last washing process).
To prevent clothing from ending up in the trash, C&A also launched the ” We Take It Back ” program, which gives clothing a new lease of life. Customers can pack a package with their sorted out clothing and send it free of charge to C & A’s collecting partner PACKMEE. Most clothing is reused. If this is not possible, the clothes start their new life as cleaning rags, for example. For each package, customers receive a 15% discount voucher on their next purchase.
3. Use recycled materials
You can’t always avoid buying something new. For example, when the clothes no longer fit or are simply broken. So that your ecological balance is not gone with the shopping trip, you should pay close attention to what ends up in your (!) Pocket. Many well-known fashion labels are now increasingly using environmentally friendly materials. With the #wearthechange campaign, C&A has also set itself the goal of establishing sustainable fashion as a matter of course.
The company attaches great importance to the use of certified organic cotton from controlled cultivation and is one of the largest buyers of organic cotton. Organic cotton is not only better for the environment (after all, 11,000 liters of water are used to produce one kilo of conventional cotton), it is also safer for cotton farmers and the environment in which they live. This applies to both their health and their economic wellbeing.
And best of all: C&A proves that sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be a luxury. Because in terms of price, the products made from organic cotton do not differ from those made from conventional cotton. Win-win, then!
4. Invest in timeless classics
In addition to sustainable fashion, there is another tip to protect the environment when shopping: You shouldn’t be tempted to buy impulses (you usually regret that anyway). Think twice about which garment you choose. Why? In contrast to trend pieces, you can wear timeless classics for years. Star designer Guido Maria Kretschmer also swears by this tip.
He recommends that women invest in five pieces of clothing: white blouse, well-tailored blazer, black dress, trench coat and pencil skirt. Why? Because these fashion classics conjure up a great figure, make the look look nobler and never go out of style. Extra tip: Don’t be afraid of thrift stores. Second-hand fashion has long since dropped its mothball image. In the meantime there are trendy shops in many big cities where you can find stylish parts. There are also online platforms where you can buy, sell and even trade worn clothes.
The great thing about secondhand: you give worn clothes a new life, save money and do something actively against disposable fashion. In addition, you will often find exciting one-off items such as accessories in second-hand shops that enhance your outfit and set it apart from the 08/15 looks.
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