How often have you read that sustainable fashion is better? Maybe someone even told you that your wardrobe should only consist of sustainable pieces - perhaps they encouraged you to get rid off of all ‘non sustainable’ ones? That is pretty much the opposite of sustainability if you ask me.

I agree that it is important to support brands that work with ethically sourced materials and who ensure their employees, or that the factories they hire, have a fair working environment . They play a big role in my buying decisions too - but I have not always been in a position to make this a priority when purchasing clothes. The simple fact is that I was once was a teenager, then a twenty-something, and during those decades I didn’t have the income to buy from sustainable brands (making sustainability accessible for a younger audience has only developed over the last few years). I relied on high street chains, sample sales and freebies. However, I wouldn’t dare throw out the items I bought back then just because they don’t meet the standards I look for in a fashion item today. Yes, the fashion industry is harsh and it does harm human kind as well as our planet, but so does unnecessary waste. Many items that are produced and never sold end up in landfills. Wrongly produced garments get destroyed, cut up and burnt, this of course harms the environment even more. The list is long and I could go on forever. Either way, I don’t want to add to the damage that’s already been done by adding my perfectly good `non-sustainable’ things to the mix, and I would urge you not to do that either. Here are a few things that can be done instead (I am sure some of them are not new to you but I think it’s good to have them listed in one place):

Only wash your clothes when they actually need washing. If they smell a bit try hanging them outside first before you throw them into the washing machine. Remove stains with curd soap and a sponge. Your items will last longer - plus you save water and reduce the amount of nasty chemicals going into the precious groundwater
Mend damage. Unfortunately, I cannot sew myself but am lucky to have two grandmothers and a husband who are happy to fix small holes and tears or put buttons back on. For bigger issues e.g. broken zips, too much fraying on jeans or similar, I work with a seamstress
Store your clothes carefully. Folding your t-shirts and trousers carefully as well as hanging dresses and shirts neatly will help them last longer. Careful: never ever hang knits. If you do, they stretch out so fold them instead.
Remove pilling of woollen materials so that they look like new again. You can use a lint roller, or for sensitive knits a razor. You can also get a professional pilling remover if you prefer.
Have outfit parties with your friends (you can even do that via zoom or Skype). Get your old clothes out and come up with new outfit ideas together. You’ll be surprised how cool that t-shirt from your early twenties can look if it’s part of a new combo.
Swap clothes. If you really don’t love an item anymore and it only takes up space in your closet, hand it down to your sister or a friend. You might even want to swap clothes so that they get a second life. If that is not an option I suggest selling them on platforms such as Vestiaire, Shpock and Kleiderkreisel - or giving them to charity.

*jumper - inherited from my great aunt who wore it in the 80s, jeans - secondhand, blazer - high street but inherited from my aunt who bought it in the late 90s (I’ve owned it since my late teens)*

I hope you find the above useful. Furthermore, I hope that it’s inspired you to give older, perhaps almost forgotten pieces a second chance, and let them have a sustainable future. If you have other tips on doing so or keeping wardrobe staples alive for as long as possible, do let me know. I am always happy to learn more about it!

Katharina x

*cardigans - one is original vintage, the other two from high street brands (I’ve owned one of them since I was 17, the other one since I was 21), coat - charity shop*

Words & images: Katharina Geissler-Evans, heiter magazine