Want to Save the Planet? Minimize Your Wardrobe.
The next time you wonder how you can help save the planet from the climate crisis, look to your closet. Is it stuffed full of clothes that you hardly ever wear or are holding onto for when you lose ten pounds? Do you still have that little black dress from your twenties that would now fit over one leg? Or perhaps you are holding onto that relaxed pair of jeans in case you outgrow the five that fit now? If your closet resembles Jane’s in the movie 27 Dresses, it’s time to let go.
Does It Spark Joy?
Not sure where to start? Try Marie Kondo’s approach to the process of decluttering your closets. Author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy and host of the hit Netflix series Tidying Up, the internationally recognized organizing consultant walks you through her KonMarie method of deciding what possessions to keep and what to discard.
To start, throw all your clothes in one big pile, including coats and jackets, so that you can get a full sense of how much clothing you own. If you haven’t cleaned out your closets and drawers in awhile, you may be surprised at how much clothing you have accumulated.
Hold each item and decide whether it ‘sparks joy’ for you — if not, let it go. Is it something you can’t wear anymore? Let it go. Are you keeping it for sentimental reasons? Let it go, but take a photo first for a sweet memory. After my mother passed away, it took me more than five years to donate the beautiful but too-large silk blouse she wore to my wedding but I still enjoy it through our wedding photos. Born out of her Shinto heritage, Kondo stresses the importance of thanking each item for its service before passing it on to ease the letting-go process.
Kondo demonstrates how to fold and store the items you choose to keep to save space and, at a glance, give you an accurate assessment of what you own and where you may need to fill in gaps without over-buying.
Whittling down your closet may take more than one iteration, but eventually, you will reach the point where you feel like you are in control of your wardrobe rather than it controlling you.
But How Does KonMarie Help the Planet?
The cost of the fashion industry accounts for 10% of carbon emissions worldwide. In a 2016 survey of 3,000 adults, thrift retailer Savers found that North Americans discard 81 pounds of clothing a year, clogging landfills with 26 billion pounds of textiles.
According to Down2earth Materials, cotton textiles in those landfills decompose in one to five months, but those comfy, stretchy Spanx? They can take a whopping 30 and 40 years to break down.
In his documentary River Blue: Can Fashion Save the Planet? river conservationist Mark Angelo uncovered the environmental and human cost of making perhaps the most ubiquitous item in the American closet: a pair of blue jeans. Angelo traveled down blue rivers around the world polluted with toxic metals, heavy chemicals, and indigo dye from denim manufacturing plants. Cancer rates among both workers and residents along these rivers have given rise to “cancer villages.”
Not to mention that it takes over 2,600 gallons of water (10,000 liters) to make a single pair of jeans. When you consider that Americans buy 450 million pairs of jeans annually, the cost to the planet is staggering.
Discard, Donate, Recycle, Repeat
So, what to do with the items you have thanked and decided to send on their way? Savers estimates that 95% of clothing can be repurposed or recycled.
- Repurpose. That full-length bridesmaid dress may liven up your closet, and perhaps your social life, as a shorter party dress. Old t-shirts work great as cleaning rags. If you are handy with a sewing machine, the internet offers a multitude of repurposing ideas.
- Donate. Thrift stores, consignment shops, and charities are always looking for more inventory. Somebody will be thrilled to wear that too-small sweater or sport that trendy bag.
- Recycle. Recycling centers such as Bra Recyclers and Soles 4 Souls accept used clothing and shoes. If your bras are too far gone, consider sending the clasps to Carolina Waterfowl Rescue to help repair the shells of injured turtles. In the Seattle and Portland areas, Ridwell accepts clothes and accessories in any condition. Their biweekly pickup of threads and common household items along with rotating featured items turns recycling into a treasure hunt.
Less Is More
Once you have fine-tuned your sense of what sparks joy, you will find that you can shop faster and reduce unnecessary purchases. In these pandemic times, minimizing time browsing in stores and among crowds is not only more convenient but could be life-saving.
Try these tips for minimizing what you buy:
- Place limits on each type of clothing and accessories you buy — if you only regularly wear two pairs of jeans, why buy five? Do you need a purse or bag to match every outfit when one would suffice?
- Limit clothing purchases to what you will be wearing for the foreseeable future. Americans are embracing comfort as they shelter and work from home — sales of comfortable activewear and cozy PJs are up while suits, dresses, and formal wear remain on the racks.
- Opt for quality over quantity. Blue jeans made of 100% cotton denim and non-toxic dye last longer than synthetic, chemically treated fabrics. Organically grown cotton is handpicked, making it softer and more durable than regular cotton — handpicking maintains the integrity of the fiber, which is manufactured without the use of pesticides and machinery.
- Zero in quickly on items that fit with your natural color palette. A seasonal color analyst or DIY app can help you determine which colors and shades best complement your hair, eyes, and skin tone and bring out your natural vibrancy. These items will naturally spark the most joy.
- Prioritize brands that commit to providing sustainable, long-lasting wear. Patagonia’s Worn Wear offers traded-in and recrafted gear. Revtown dyes their denim using shrimp shells, nut shells, and orange peels.
For more minimizing ideas check out Becoming Minimalist’s practical guide to owning fewer clothes.
Get Going and Minimize
So, are you ready to minimize for the planet? Applying the spark-joy principle will keep your closet and drawers trim, translating into less stress for you and less wear on your pocketbook. Also, as you become mindful of how your fashion choices are affecting the environment, you may find that wearing blue jeans that you know haven’t harmed workers or the planet brings you the most joy of all.
