If second hand probably has no more secrets for you, other practices can allow you to contribute – on your own scale – to the good health of the planet. Here are three concrete actions to integrate into your daily life to reduce the impact of your wardrobe on the environment.
Focus on upcycling
Upcycling – surcyclage in French – consists not only in giving unused products a second life, but also in giving them added value. The practice has become commonplace in the fashion industry in just a few years, to the point that the majority of players are now offering upcycled collections. It must be said that the process makes it possible to significantly reduce waste and waste as brands use leftover fabric, landfill clothing or used items to create new ultra-trendy fashion pieces.
As such, upcycling seems like a good solution to buy new clothes without harming the planet (too much) – all things considered, as the production process (necessarily) remains minimally impactful. Brands all over the world participate, from ready-to-wear to luxury to bridal fashion.
The Koché brand, carried by Christelle Kocher, is one of the pioneers in this field. She has also recently launched an entire collection, in collaboration with Puma, designed from used AC Milan jerseys. But she’s not alone, and today we find fashion pieces made from totally unexpected objects like cigarette butts, oyster bags and even airbags and seat belts. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for online or in stores, there’s nothing standing in the way of turning used or damaged clothing into brand new creations yourself.
Extend the life cycle of clothing
Reducing waste and the millions of tons of textiles thrown away every year around the world also means extending the life of the clothes in our wardrobes. Something far from unfamiliar to boomers and their parents, who didn’t hesitate to refurbish parts that had holes or wear out over time rather than systematically replacing them. A practice that was considered obsolete a few years ago and has been back in force for a few months now. There are many brands that now offer this kind of service, while at the same time professions that were doomed to disappear now seem to be successful again. This is especially the case for shoemakers who are now surfing new technologies to repair and maintain shoes and leather goods to extend their life.
Rent your clothes
Another solution is the rental of clothing, which can also reduce overconsumption and by extension waste and waste. It’s a matter of hiring exceptional pieces – evening or ceremony dresses – or everyday items, to associate with timeless pieces from your dressing room to have style without impacting the planet. Houses like Burberry or Maje have launched their own service, but it is also possible to find happiness on special platforms. However, be careful with the logistics put in place by these new players, as certain services, such as the dry cleaning of clothes, can have an impact on the planet, a recent Finnish study found.
(ETX Daily Up)