“We put sustainability at the center of everything we do. It is an evolving goal and definition, and we don’t have all the answers. But we want to focus on efforts that have the biggest impact”
– Reformation
Fashion has been at the core of who I am as a person since as long as I can remember and until recently I had no idea the impact “fashion” had on the planet. Did you know that fast fashion is one of the leading causes of pollution? Do I hate saying that? Absolutely, but unfortunately it’s true.
While it is unlikely that I will simply give up my love for fashion there are a few ways that I can help reduce the waste.
As a company Reformation has been making efforts to reduce the waste. Everything from jeans and skirts to dresses and blouses are being made in a more sustainable way. When shopping the website you are able to look at each piece and see the sustainability facts. For example, the jeans I am wearing saved 16.0 lbs of carbon dioxide, 355.0 gal of water, and 1.2 lbs of waste AND they were sustainably made in Los Angeles. Amazing right? If you are curious as to all efforts Reformation is making look here.
Invest
Although I love Reformation as a brand and have found a new obsession with many of the pieces they make it does not suit my style entirely. This is where those “investment” pieces from places like Elitaire come in. It is always smart to invest in pieces that will stay in your wardrobe for years to come, pieces that are of higher quality and made to last. If you are local to Huntsville (or have the internet), Elitaire Boutique is the ideal place to shop for those slow fashion pieces that are less harmful to the environment. Pieces that will not only be worn once but for years to come, trendy and classic.
Recycle
The time has come to part with a piece of clothing, but do not simply throw it in the trash. Did you know Americans throw away around 14 million tons of textiles each year? Next time you are choosing to part with your clothing, try selling it first. Applications like Poshmark, DePop, and Mercari are easy ways to recycle your clothing by giving it a new home. Donations are another option but make sure the location is in need of clothing before donating as to not overwhelm their stock. Lastly, if selling and donating are not an option try cutting up old clothing and using it for something else such as cleaning or fun DIY projects.
How do you plan to reduce textile waste?
XO
Katelyn Moshier
*My Answer: I will stop wearing clothing only once and instead invest in pieces that I love and want to style different ways for years to come*