Guest Blogger: Sophie Laperriere, Intern, Sustainable Kingston
In the era of fast fashion, increasingly quick trend turn-over, and overconsumption, textile waste is among the fastest-growing waste categories in Canada. Textile waste is an issue that affects practically everyone. Like many other issues relating to sustainability, it can be challenging to know where to start and how to apply changes to your day-to-day life. Here are a few things you can do to reduce your textile waste:
1. Buy less.
The simplest way to avoid contributing to textile waste is by buying less. This doesn't mean not buying the clothing items you need, but instead thinking if you genuinely need those items in the first place and if there are any alternatives to buying them. Unfortunately, overconsumption is a big problem in our society. We often purchase things we want rather than things we genuinely need. Identifying if something is a want rather than a need reduces your contribution to textile waste.
2. Buying second-hand instead.
Needing new clothes is a given. However, second-hand clothing is a great way to get the clothing you need without adding to textile waste. Whether buying from your favourite thrift store or receiving hand-me-downs from friends and family, all efforts help reduce your contribution to textile waste.
3. Quality over quantity.
Buying clothes that are of good quality that will withstand the test of time will also help reduce your textile waste. Although it may make more sense initially to buy more clothing items that are of lesser quality, you will find yourself replacing those items more quickly, than you would with better quality pieces over time. Make sure to remember that expensive clothing is not inherently good quality and vice versa. It is important to assess each piece of clothing and use your judgment to deduce if the item is of good quality or not.
Some hints that a clothing item is of good quality include:
- Patterns in the fabric match at the hem
- The label includes detailed care instructions and information about the product
- There are no pieces of the item that are glued
- All details on the item are sewed
- Jeans feel stiff and heavy
4. Research good brands.
Sometimes buying new clothes is inevitable when you try and buy from stores and brands that are environmentally and socially conscious. Look for brands that are transparent in their approaches to clothing production and manufacturing. It can be challenging to research every brand you buy from and trust that the information you find is accurate. An excellent tool to help simplify your research is Good on You, which allows you to search brands from an extensive directory. Good on You rates brands based on sustainability, so you can trust that you make a sound, well-rounded choice. Ensuring you are buying new clothing from sustainable brands will help reduce your impact on textile waste.
Here are some local stores in Kingston that are working to provide customers with access to sustainable clothing:
5. Only buy items you love.
When buying clothing items, both new and used, try only to purchase pieces you genuinely love and know you will wear many times. This helps ensure you actually wear the clothing items you have, that you will be more likely to keep them for a longer period of time and thus reducing your contribution to textile waste.
6. Think of throwing out clothes as the last resort.
Throwing out clothes directly contributes to textile waste. You should only consider throwing out clothing if you have exhausted all other options. Before throwing out clothing items, try to think of how you can upcycle or repurpose your item. Upcycled clothing has become increasingly popular and also allows you to exercise your creativity. Donating clothes you no longer wear to a second-hand store or to a friend who might like them is also a great way to avoid throwing out clothing.
At the end of the day, it's important to remember that nobody is perfect. Trying your best to reduce your textile waste within your means is what counts. Applaud your effort and continue to explore new ways you can live a more sustainable life.