How To Build A Wardrobe That Protects Our Planet

That makes it tricky for us as consumers, too. We can all agree that cutting out single-use plastic and eating mostly plants are positive goals, but what does sustainability look like when it comes to buying new clothes? The good news is "sustainable shopping" doesn't have to be a total misnomer: From supporting Fair Trade brands to buying local or secondhand, we've got a solid number of strategies to help us get started with building a wardrobe that's better for the planet. Covering them all in depth would be enough to warrant dozens of posts, but we take a closer look at one below!

As consumers, we do have power when it comes to the decisions we make: Being more intentional about each purchase can help slow down the cycle, even if you don't shop at traditional "fast fashion" retailers. Not sure where to start? Here are four things to consider when stocking your closet to make the most out of reducing, reusing, and recycling:

A note on natural fabrics: Just because a shirt's label reads 100% linen doesn't mean it's high quality. Fiber authenticity and quality can be assured by a variety of certifications. Woolmark, for example, is the global authority on wool—look out for its iconic logo, which certifies a product's wool content quality and purity. (You've probably seen it on the labels of Merino wool pieces from eco-minded brands including 3.1 Phillip Lim and Tracksmith.) The Woolmark logo guarantees fiber quality and authenticity for all of the material's myriad uses.

What's more, according to a recent Nielsen study that dove into the laundry habits of consumers across the world (as part of the Woolmark Company's Global Wardrobe Study), wool items tend to be washed less frequently than clothes made from other fibers, at lower temperatures, to boot, saving you both time and money.

Some materials, like Merino wool, are made for this. Wool is the most reused and recycled fiber of all common apparel fibers—often getting second, third, or fourth lives thanks to its durability as a garment. Beyond that, wool can be reused in insulation for cars, mattresses, and other items, too. And if wool garments end up getting tossed out, the fabric—as a natural and biodegradable fiber—can decompose in a matter of years, leaving little impact on the earth.

More and more brands are actively changing up how they operate to be kinder to the planet. Supporting the ones that do is a vote for more planet-minded practices in the industry.

Just like with all other choices we make, remember that the best sustainable shopping practices are the ones you can actually keep doing over time. Call it what you like—slow fashion, conscious fashion, ethical fashion—it's all just a way of consuming clothing in a more thoughtful and mindful way. If you look at the ingredients of a food item before you buy and eat it, do the same with your clothing—become a label turner!