Decluttering your wardrobe & utilising clothes you do not wear - A Simple Guide to a Conscious Closet
The path to sustainable, rather mindful living is never an easy one. One such obstacle for me was, decluttering my wardrobe.
Do you know, we barely use 21% (approx.) of the entire 100% of our wardrobe?
It is estimated that more than 1 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year, with most of this coming from household sources.
Even though nearly 100 per cent of clothing is recyclable, about 75 to 85 per cent of textile waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated instead of being reused, thereby polluting the environment, according to the ITJ. - indiantextilejournal.com
The future of India, can lie in one of world's biggest landfill if we continue to consume at the current rate. The rich Indian culture of using a garment from 'riches to rags' (literally) is somehow diminishing. I am sure you all will have memories of waiting for a sibling to hand-down their fave t-shirt to you once they have outgrown it, of your fave dress being used as a wash cloth, or simply giving away old clothes in exchange of steel utensils. We did it all, recycled, reused and repurposed.
WHAT HAS CHANGED?
- Fast fashion brands entering the Indian textile market, making garments cheaper than buying dinner.
- Convenience of shopping online and easy returns.
- Faster developing trends
- The need to follow those trends emerging from developed countries.
'A conscious closet journey begins with a clean-out. There is just no way around it. Our closets are meant to hold all the beautiful things that we are excited to wear. But they have been hijacked! And turned into dark recesses for impulse buys and fashion regrets, and clothes that we don’t like and don’t work and don’t fit. supposed to hold all pretty things you need
My overstuffed wardrobe contained hundreds of items and yet I wore only a sliver of what owned. Each morning I opened the door and reached far enough to grab the same tops and bottoms again and again. I am not alone!' -
Could not relate more to this excerpt from 'The Conscious Closet'.
If you feel the same, read on…
I never empty my wardrobe at once. That can feel overwhelming, specifically if you are not the type who shops every month. I decided to do it in a certain way - I have one bag of a certain size and I would only give away the volumes that fit in that bag. That way, it did not feel like I was emptying my cupboard all at once.
Important tip : Keep the clothes you love! (be realistic)
You may have some clothes with sentimental values, like your teenage t-shirt, or something that is ancestral. There is no way, someone else is going to understand and value that item as much as you will. So keep it!
Closet cleansing should be about mindfully handing down or re-using the clothes your already own, instead of buying new. Limiting your purchases to a few sustainable outfits and maximising the use ability of each outfit.
So, take sometime out…play your fave record…and start the task with a calm mind.
It is not just a fashion guide but a revolutionary book to better understand the art of dressing well without harming the environment.
Once you are done segregating, celebrate with the glass of wine ;P . You did well!
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That is a great way of revamping your closet without having to buy. You can swap clothes with your sisters, brothers, besties, etc. for a brand new look.
REPURPOSE OLD CLOTHES : Go to your tailor and discuss the possible ways to either revive or repair or renew an old outfit.
DONATE to house-help or people you know, in need - We have a culture of donating old clothes to our house-help, here in India. Similarly, if you know anyone who may need the clothes, please do the honours
DONATE TO CHRISTIAN CHARITIES - It is an easy task to find any church or foundation accepting donations of clothes for the needy as they do a lot of social work and are networked well.
I also suggest you look at these institutes which make donating easier, where you don't have to go and find people or foundations. They do the work for you.
SHARE AT DOOR STEP -
Not only do they make sure your donations reach the right place, they even reward you! The actual reward is however, the fact tat they keep your clothes out of landfills and in the hands of someone who really requires them. The best part, you don’t move a muscle! You schedule a pick up according to the volumes of clothes. You pay a basic transportation fee and donate items of your choice.
Another such is Clothes Box Foundation. They both follow pretty much the same working model.
Another thing I used to do personally, is exchange a bag of clothes for 15% discount at H&M, but again, they are a fast fashion brand. I am not fully supportive of their conscious strategies yet.
You can find your own places to donate. I am posting this because there are people who do not know where to donate clothes or how to reach out to the needy. If you personally know people or places who ethically do this then donate there.
Remember you can also repurpose your old clothes with some DIY. But I do not prefer that because if it does not turn out good, it is a wasted garment.
Anyway…if you know more organisations or textile collectors, please do comment!
Hope this helps and sending more love to you for making the right decision of creating a conscious closet. May all your donated clothes find a happy new home!
XO
Kimaya
