10 Tips to Create an Environmentally Friendly Wardrobe

In our journey toward sustainable living, it is crucial to extend our efforts beyond plastic waste reduction and energy conservation. One often neglected aspect is our wardrobes. The fashion industry’s fast-paced nature and excessive clothing consumption have significant environmental impacts, from resource depletion to pollution. However, with a few simple changes, we can create an environmentally friendly wardrobe that reflects our commitment to sustainability. Let’s explore ten practical tips to help you build a conscious and eco-friendly wardrobe.

Tip 1: Prioritize Quality and Longevity

Instead of succumbing to the allure of cheap, trendy garments that quickly lose their charm, opt for high-quality clothing made to last. Invest in timeless pieces, durable fabrics, and well-constructed designs. By choosing quality over quantity, you reduce the demand for fast fashion and contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry.

Tip 2: Embrace the Thrill of Secondhand Shopping

Thrifting and consignment stores offer a treasure trove of unique, pre-loved clothing options. Embrace the thrill of the hunt and give a new home to beautiful garments that would otherwise end up in landfills. Secondhand shopping not only helps reduce waste but also allows you to curate a wardrobe that reflects your individual style.

Tip 3: Opt for Organic and Sustainable Fabrics

When purchasing new clothing, prioritize items made from organic and sustainable materials such as organic cotton, hemp, linen, or Tencel®. These fabrics require fewer pesticides, water, and energy during production, making them a greener choice for your wardrobe.

Tip 4: Practice Mindful Clothing Care

Extend the lifespan of your clothing through proper care. Follow garment care instructions, wash items at lower temperatures, and air dry whenever possible. This approach reduces the energy consumption associated with clothing maintenance and prevents premature wear and tear.

Tip 5: Repair and Upcycle for Sustainability

Instead of discarding clothing with minor tears or missing buttons, learn basic sewing skills or find a local tailor who can help repair and breathe new life into your garments. Upcycling is another fantastic way to repurpose clothing items creatively. Turn old jeans into shorts or transform a shirt into a tote bag. The possibilities are endless!

Tip 6: Simplify with a Capsule Wardrobe

Consider adopting a capsule wardrobe approach, which involves curating a small collection of versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create various outfits. By focusing on quality, timeless items, you not only simplify your wardrobe but also reduce the need for constant buying and the associated environmental impact.

Tip 7: Borrow and Swap for Variety

For special occasions or items you may only need once, consider borrowing or swapping with friends or family members. This practice promotes a sense of community, reduces consumption, and adds variety to your wardrobe without accumulating excess clothing.

Tip 8: Choose Garments Free from Harmful Chemicals

Pay attention to the chemicals used in the production of clothing, such as dyes and finishes. Opt for garments that are certified as free from hazardous substances, such as those labeled with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

Tip 9: Support Ethical and Sustainable Fashion Brands

Research and support fashion brands that prioritize sustainable practices. Look for certifications like Fair Trade, B Corp, or the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) Higg Index. By choosing consciously, you contribute to a fashion industry that values both people and the planet.

Tip 10: Mindful Donations and Recycling

When it’s time to part with clothing items you no longer need, donate them to local charities or shelters instead of throwing them away. If the garments are no longer wearable, explore textile recycling options to ensure they are properly repurposed or transformed into new products.

Fashion Forward, Earth Conscious: Closing the Loop on Sustainable Wardrobes

Creating an environmentally friendly wardrobe is a meaningful step toward a more sustainable lifestyle. By prioritizing quality over quantity, embracing secondhand shopping, choosing sustainable fabrics, practicing mindful care and repair, adopting a capsule wardrobe, borrowing and swapping, avoiding harmful chemicals, supporting ethical brands, and embracing donation and recycling options, you can reduce your fashion-related environmental footprint while expressing your unique style. Let’s make conscious choices to build a wardrobe that aligns with our values and helps protect our planet.

 

How Mobile Apps Are Changing the Fashion World

Chances are that you’re checking this blog out on your smartphone. Even if you’re not, there’s one sitting right next to you, charging up for another scrolling session on Instagram, to keep track of what’s the latest in the world. This simple fact has inspired most, if not all fashion brands to take notice of the emerging customer trends in terms of tech use and start leveraging mobile more than in the previous years.

Knowing that the fashion industry is already trend-based and seasonal by nature, it’s perfectly normal to expect fashion giants as well as aspiring designers to follow what their customers need and want.

In more ways than one, mobile apps are now redefining these relationships: both in terms of how fashion brands communicate with customers, but also how these brands secure their presence in this oversaturated market. Apps have an immense potential for fashion brands to boost their sales, and through that, to elevate customer experience and relationships to new heights.

The rise of m-commerce

While we’re on the subject of boosting sales for your fashion brand, did you know that the m-commerce sales are expected to reach $3.56 trillion by the end of the year? A significant slice of that multi-trillion-dollar pie will go to apparel and fashion in general, that’s for sure. Being part of that means positioning your brand as best as possible on mobile devices.

However, in 2021, it’s imperative to expand beyond just mobile web and tap into the potential of  mobile app marketing to target customers, reach a broader audience, and deliver a secure user experience. Whether through mobile marketplaces that can showcase your brand or by developing your own mobile app, your fashion business can experience exponential growth in the coming months and years with a strong app presence.

Personalization through branded apps

Off the rack is no longer that appealing. The modern customer likes the freedom to wear authentic, personalized apparel, and even more so, to get personalized offers from brands they love and follow. Working with an app development agency, a fashion brand can create a branded app that provides customers a dedicated shopping space with personalized offers and suggestions.

Such an app is not just a space for advertising your new collections. It’s primarily there to learn from its users and adapt based on your customers’ previous shopping preferences. Implementing that data means providing each user an authentic, branded experience, and it amplifies your chances of boosting customer retention and repeat business. In simpler terms, more sales.

Pocket-sized marketing with major impact

Marketing a fashion brand in this highly competitive sphere is a challenge in and of itself. When you have mobile apps at your disposal, you can gain direct access to a specific demographic that will benefit from your offers.

What’s more, you get to explore discovery platforms in the form of apps that help you get the feel of the market and test out new, potential wearables you come up with, before you invest any time or money in the manufacturing of the product.

With your own app, you can publish content that is tailor-made (pun intended), allowing you to learn what captures your customers’ interest and what needs further tweaking. Sending out notifications, alerts, and emails to your existing customers also lets you position yourself better.

Built-in loyalty programs

Yet another way mobile apps allow fashion brands to boost customer bonds is with the help of in-app loyalty programs. Customized to their preferences and based on their previous shopping habits, these programs can help your business retain your existing customers, make them happy, and increase profits in one fell swoop.

Even if they already trust and love your brand, people love freebies. Showing your appreciation to your customers and letting them know that you value their every purchase is best achieved with loyalty schemes that are delivered through mobile apps – personal and personalized at the same time.

Access to new target audience knowledge

Promoting your brand values, such as waste-free fashion collections, collaborations with relevant influencers, or a turn for sustainable solutions shouldn’t go unnoticed. With your own app, and many app-based news outlets, you can spread the word about your brand’s core purpose and values. At the same time, you can learn about your audience based on their reactions to the kind of content you produce, the collections you create, and above all, the feedback they provide.

Apps are a brilliant outlet for quick and painless surveys that take practically no time to complete. Built-in review and rating options help you understand audience preferences, and open feedback will allow you to understand what kind of values your customers love, and what makes them stay true to your business. In the long run, that means utilizing this carefully collated data to market your brand more effectively.

 

For any fashion brand, increasing profits means more opportunities to grow, expand into new design directions, experiment with collections, and of course, secure a spot in the “timeless” fashion segment for their customers. With the use of your very own mobile app, combined with presenting your brand across existing apps, you can achieve all of the listed goals, provided that you take a strategic approach and listen to your customers’ voices.

The Best Budget-Friendly Clothing Sites

With clothing stores shuttered across the country and loungewear dominating the latest trends last year, how did you shop fashion?

Did you scour the internet for new ways to shop without breaking the bank? Or were you re-shopping your closet, mixing and matching outfits to create fresh looks?

As fashionistas around the world adjusted to a new era of fashion, several fast-fashion brands came out on top by keeping up with popular styles while maintaining affordable prices.

Sitejabber dug into the research and looked through their data from over 3 million reviewers to help you find out which brands shoppers reported as the best sites to look for cheap yet trendy clothes beyond the pandemic.

Here are the top 10 best budget-friendly clothing sites shoppers recommended.

 

ASOS

On almost every affordable fashion “best of” list, you’re likely to find ASOS. And to be honest, we’re not surprised. ASOS may be one of the most prominent brands executing a great balance between quality, fashion, and affordability. The retailer not only carries its own line but dozens of other designers, allowing them to provide a large variety of clothing. You’ll find that many of the pieces look sophisticated and are perfect for streetwear.

 

Chic Me

Despite a rough start, Chic Me has really elevated their services. Shoppers reported finding tons of amazing dresses and tops for a fraction of what the price looks like it should be. Chic Me has plenty of options for whatever you’re looking for, just make sure you order ahead of time as some reviewers report slower shipping times.

 

Fashion Nova

Fashion Nova was so popular that in 2018, they were the most searched-for clothing brand. They even beat out luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci! Fashion Nova is continuing to take over with celebrity-approved cheap dresses and jeans, solidifying their spot on this list.

 

Lulus

Heading to a formal event, or perhaps even walking down the aisle? Lulus could be your next favorite online store for cute, elegant dresses and outfits on a budget. They even carry a line of affordable wedding dresses! Although Lulus may not be quite as cheap as the other brands on this list, shoppers report loving the quality of each of their pieces.

 

Missguided

Missguided is another popular site shoppers flock to for the latest trends. Shoppers love everything from their loungewear to their slinky dresses. If you’re looking for extended sizing or a maternity selection, check them out!

 

Nasty Gal

Looking for something to wear for a night out? You might want to check out Nasty Gal for that “turning heads” outfit. Nasty Gal carries clothing for other occasions as well, always making sure to stay on trend for every season.

 

PrettyLittleThing

Endorsed by many influencers, PrettyLittleThing has grown increasingly popular for women in multiple countries. Despite its name, PrettyLittleThing designs both feminine and edgy outfits that keep up with the latest trends. Reviewers recommend finding your activewear and outerwear here.

Shein

While all the brands on this list offer low and competitive prices, none can do discount shopping like Shein. Shein has built quite a reputation for themselves and is now a go-to for many shoppers for amazingly affordable prices. Shein also carries the biggest variety of clothes for not only women, but men, kids, and your pets too!

 

Tobi

Whether it’s a cute dress or a cozy sweater, you’ll be able to find your next Instagram-worthy outfit at Tobi. They also constantly mark off their items by 50%, so shoppers advise to always wait for those sales (but you probably won’t have to wait long).

Zara

While Zara may already be a household name, they are trending more than ever! Zara is a retailer always designing runway-esque styles for the budget-conscious shopper. If you want to find classic basics, fashion-forward statement pieces, or power outfits for work, Zara is the place for you.

 

For more details on how reviewers rated their overall experiences with each brand, check out the full discount clothing guide on Sitejabber.

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