10 slow fashion pledges you can make this year
By Nona Dimitrova and Florenne Earle Ledger published 10/01/2024
With 2024 finally here, so are New Years' resolutions. January can often be quite daunting, you might feel like you have to reinvent yourself- whether it's getting active, bettering your style, cutting out fast fashion, quitting your vices. We're here to lovingly remind you that your resolutions can be as big or small as you'd like them to be.
On that note, we're sharing 10 small steps you can pledge if you're trying to build more sustainable fashion habits. Whether you choose one or four, any of these pledges will make a positive difference:
- Not buying anything with plastic fibres in it.
- Styling items 5 ways before purchasing (with Whering).
- Looking at the clothes you already own for inspiration first.
- Avoiding purchases for a specific occasion - buying things with forever in mind.
- Only buying X items this year (you can set this figure yourself, but 12 and under is a good place to start).
- Waiting before buying anything, revisiting all purchases to ensure you really want them.
- Borrowing/lending/renting clothes more this year.
- Focusing on altering old items before buying new items. We know you have a pile. You know you have a pile.
- Auditing your wardrobe and parting with clothes you don’t wear any more. Keeping a journal of what you do and don't like.
- Tracking your outfits using a wardrobe app to see your styling habits and make smarter purchases.
We spoke to people heart of the sustainable fashion community to hear what they're working towards this year.
Sustainable fashion journalist, Sophie Benson, is starting by tackling her repair and alterations pile. 'It's important that we take care of what we already own before turning our attention towards new things'.
As an expert, we also asked Sophie what she thinks is important for other people to focus on this year:
Her recent Instagram post has more details on the realities of garment workers' lives, it's definitely worth a look.
We also spoke with Sophie Cundall, Sustainable Fashion Content Creator (and Whering team member), about her sustainable fashion pledge for this year.
It's safe to say a no buy year is a big commitment, we're excited to see how Sophie gets along with it. If a no buy year seems too much for you, you could always start with a month to begin with.
Callum Winn, our Head of Marketing and Nona Dimitrova our Social Content Manager also share their pledges.
Tell us your sustainable fashion new years resolution by getting in touch on Instagram, Twitter or TikTok @Whering__.
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