Hello everyone, it is a fact that climate change is a major issue we face worldwide, and it is getting worse with time. Textile waste is a major contributor to the green house gas emission and warmer climate. According to the EPA, there was about 16.9 million tons of textile waste generated in 2017. This number comes from the amount of clothes households throw away each year as well as the fast fashion industry discarding scraps and unwanted apparel. The good news is, we can slow down the speed of global warming with simple ways! Zaftan by Zankhna Designs is a major supporter of all things green and we share 5 easy ways to build a more ethical closet! Start today!
1.Thrift. Thrifting has never been more popular and trendy. Not only is it great for finding unique pieces, but is also environmentally friendly. Now days, it has easy to thrift as you can do it online or in person. Online has several resale apps and websites such as Poshmark, Curtsy, Mercari, The Real Real, or Facebook Market Place. These websites are easy to use and fun to search for something new and exciting. Thrifting in-person is also fun and effective. You and your friends can plan a day dedicated to shopping at local thrift and consignment shops while also exploring your town.
2. Upcycle. If you have some staple pieces that you are tired of but are not ready to donate, upcycling is the perfect solution! Upcycling is taking your old clothes and transforming them into a new and improved clothing item. You can cut up a shirt to make it a one-shoulder, crop a tee to give it an edgy look, or cut and fray your old jeans into shorts. This is a great way to create one of a kind clothing pieces as well as lower the amount of textile waste each year. Well + Good created a list of 15 ways to upcycle your closet that you will actually want to wear.
Photo Credit: www.thegeniusworks.com
3. Shop from ethical companies. It is easy to forget that a major part of textile waste comes from large industry brands and fast fashion brands. An important way to make sure your closet is ethical, is to be aware of a brand’s environmental stance. Fast fashion brands like Zara and Forever 21 create loads and loads of waste each year due to their increasing number of fashion seasons. However, there are many companies out there that are taking steps to help combat global warming. The Good Trade made a list of 35 fashion companies that are environmentally conscious and taking a step towards a cleaner world. Some brands they mention, and that you may already know and love include Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, Reformation, and Levi’s.
Photo Credit: www.reformation.com
4. Rent Outfits. Have you ever needed a killer outfit for a night out but know that you won’t wear it again? Well, instead of buying something and tossing it after, support the new craze of renting. Websites including Rent the Runway, Armoire, Gwynnie Bee, Le Tote, and Infinitely Loft, all have the top styles for discounted prices. These rental shops are not only great for the environment, but also for your style. You can rent the newest and nicest clothes for half the price and look like the fashion icon of the century. The best part about some of these rental sites, such as Armoire, is that you can rent our exclusive Zaftan dresses from our Fall/Winter collection!
Photo Credit: www.armoire.com
5. Take care of your clothes. Being more careful with your clothing will be better for the environment in the long run. Laundering your clothing more mindfully, as well as not being reckless with your clothes will allow you to keep them nice so you can donate, sell, or upcycle in the future. Not only is textile waste a major issue, but water and energy waste from laundering is too. By maximizing your wash loads and using Eco-friendly detergent, you can help make a change a small step at a time. Treehugger posted an article on 11 ways everyone can help be more Eco-friendly with their clothes. By being careful with your clothes, you can resell and donate them for someone else to use in the future.
Photo Credit: www.treehugger.com
Zaftan is an environmentally conscious brand that knows the importance of eliminating textile waste worldwide. With global warming being such a prevalent issue in our world, we have to find easy ways to make changes in our day to day life. Starting with how you shop is an easy initial step, and can really make a difference. You can take the first step by thrift shopping, renting an outfit, upcycling an old piece of clothing, being aware of what you are buying, or even just changing up your washing cycles. If you try out any of these 5 tips and tricks, feel free to share and tag us on social media @designerzankhna!