“The slow fashion movement is about making the most out of your wardrobe and wearing your clothes again and again. It’s about ending our relationship with fast fashion through choosing quality over quantity. One easy way to start embracing slow fashion is through the #30wears campaign.” —Jen from The Sustainable Edit
#30wears is a social media campaign created by the company EcoAge. The campaign and its founder Livia Firth aim to promote the idea of getting the most out of your clothing. With the rise of fast fashion and our consumerist culture, the lifecycle of a garment has severely decreased. The system isn’t sustainable in any sense of the word. Making more thoughtful wardrobe choices can make life much more enjoyable, can save you money, and can help you step a little more lightly on the earth. Imagine having a closet full of items you are excited to wear over and over again, rather than a pile of purchases you regret. Here’s how to get a wardrobe you love:
#swapbeforeyoushop
When you swap, you significantly extend the number of wears each garment gets. 33% of women consider clothes “old” after wearing them less than 3 times. If you’re one of those people, you’re certainly not alone! Swapping is a great way to mix up your wardrobe regularly without the guilt.
At Swap Society, we have a thorough process to vet each item we receive. We go through every piece by hand to make sure it meets our quality standards. Sometimes we receive garments that are totally wearable, but have a minor imperfection. Whether it's a tiny snag, a faint stain or a missing button, at our discretion, we may accept a garment and mark it as “IMPERFECT.” This makes sure those garments get more wears. Items that don’t make the cut are donated.
Shop for Quality Not Quantity
When you do shop, look for high quality, sustainably made pieces. Clothing items that are made well will fit better and last longer. Many popular brands nowadays are desperately trying to follow current trends and churning out low quality clothes at an obscene rate. These garments can be filled with chemicals and aren’t likely to last you very long. When you fill your closet with high quality garments, you’re able to trust that they will be your friends for a long time.
Dress with Versatility in Mind
Participating in #30wears means accepting that you will be a *gasp* outfit repeater. Throw away any shame or judgement you’ve ever felt about wearing the same item or outfit multiple times because it’s not worth it! Often our culture associates repetition with lack of creativity, but I beg to differ. In order to wear the same piece multiple times you have to get a little creative. To keep things interesting look to accessories and versatility within your items. Try knotting that shirt next time, adding a different jacket, a necklace, roll your jeans etc. Not every single experiment will be a hit but, through trial and error, you will be able to figure out what works best for you!
Curate Your Closet to Fit Your Style
The last key to #30wears success is properly curating your closet. There is not one way to do it, but it’s best to have a way rather than a haphazard mess. I know that I stand mostly alone in my love for organization, however once you have a sorted closet, you won’t be able to go back! Personally, I organize my closet by color and then by garment type. This helps me avoid feeling overwhelmed when picking out an outfit. Once I’ve decided on a color, there is only one section I have to look through. You may want to stick to color, garment type, or outfit sections. You may want to put your basic pieces in one section and accent items in another–it’s up to you! Make your life easier and employ a little closet planning to fit your personal style.
#30wears can seem daunting, yet it quickly becomes a love story between you and your clothes. There are pieces I have had in my closet for almost a decade and it’s wonderful to remember how my style has changed over the years. Swap and shop smart, and look for pieces that you can grow old with.
Audrey Stanton was born and raised in the Bay Area and is currently based in Los Angeles. She has attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, London College of Fashion, and received a BFA in costume design from the California Institute of the Arts. Audrey is deeply passionate about conscious fashion and hopes to continue to spread awareness and love for ethical consumption. Visit her blog audstant.com and follow her on Instagram for lots of #slowfashion inspiration!