Fashion New Year’s Resolutions: Here’s To Being More Sustainable In 2022

It’s that time of the year again. The time when we all resolve that this year is going to be the year we are going to lose that weight, eat healthier, drink more water, work out more often, save more money, or whatever else we think will result in a positive change going forward. This year, however, I’m resolving to make a change that’s positive for me and hopefully at least a little bit beneficial for the rest of the world. My resolution is to shop sustainable fashion and practice sustainability, and hopefully, you’ll be inspired or see how easy it is to make these changes in 2022 as well!

Shop Sustainable Clothing Brands

While we all love our labels, there’s no denying the fact that some are simply more sustainable or ethical than others. 

Quick definition per Wikipedia: Sustainable fashion is a movement and process of fostering change to fashion products and the fashion system towards greater ecological integrity and social justice. It concerns more than just the textiles or products themselves, but rather the entire manner in which clothing is produced, who produces it, and how long the life span of a product is before it reaches the landfill, among other things. 

Some of my favorite sustainable fashion and activewear/athleisure brands include Patagonia, prAna, Nisolo, Zuri Kenya, Farm Rio, Dressed in Joy, eShakti, Ministry of Supply, and Universal Standard, but there are plenty of others. 

Yes, these pieces might cost but you know it’s going to a good cause and not contributing to the fast-fashion landfills that are damaging many parts of the world. And the makers – who are often overwhelmingly women in many societies – are earning fair wages for their labor. This does contribute to a generally higher cost for the garments, but you can feel good about knowing your money is going in the right pockets. 

Invest In Quality

This can go hand-in-hand with sustainable fashion. Shopping less in general but buying quality pieces when you do can lead to building a more thoughtful and coherent wardrobe. It also aligns well with doing the research to find source sustainable brands that are ethically produced. Their stricter production standards and goals of creating pieces with longevity tend to result in pieces that will last. 

Of course, there is nothing more sustainable, ethical, or cost-effective than simply not buying any new clothing or accessories. And while I most certainly plan to “shop my closet”, there are other ways to get one’s fix of new or trendy pieces. 

That could mean buying secondhand from a local consignment or via sites like Poshmark and The RealReal, or by working with the pieces you already have in your closet to turn them into something new. 

Make Friends With A Tailor

Not only can a tailor fix the fit of pieces that are almost perfect, but they can also refresh older pieces to make them more on-trend. 

For instance, you could change things up by cropping a pair of pants for a fresh look or changing a jacket’s sleeves to bracelet length. You could also add darts to a top that doesn’t fit the way you want it to, or otherwise alter your pieces to fit your body the way you want. You can also refresh a piece by changing out the buttons or swapping an exposed zipper for a hidden zipper, for example. 

Or Go The DIY Route! 

What’s more, if you are so inclined, you might be able to make some of these changes yourself! Even if you have no experience with sewing or anything similar, there are hundreds if not thousands of tutorials out there on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, blogs, and various fashion and style-related forums. Just practice on a piece that you wouldn’t be heartbroken to lose or a second-hand item as a trial. 

Try Bespoke Fashion To Be More Sustainable

Companies like eShakti will make pieces according to your measurements, but if you are interested in further customizing your wardrobe, there are many options for bespoke clothing who advertise on Instagram, Etsy, TikTok, and DePop. Share your favorites in the comments! 

Pay Attention To Shipping Costs

While for a lot of us, shopping online and returning what doesn’t work is a necessary evil, and I definitely recognize that if you wear an unusual or hard-to-find size you might be limited to online options (in many cases). However, thinking about the constant cycle of shipping and returning also aligns with buying less and buying local to wherever you currently are. 

Use A One In, One Donated Strategy

We’ve all heard of the one-in, one-out strategy for organizing one’s wardrobe and I’ve certainly followed it in the past. While there are some things that you should pretty much always toss when they are worn out (no one wants your old socks), but chances are you have things that don’t fit the way you want them to or that you’re just not that into anymore. Donate those! Your outdated jacket is another person’s fabulous vintage score. 

Shop Sustainable Fashion

Pictured above from left to right:

Prana Emerald Valley Jacket, $23

eShakti WAYWARD FANCIES Double Gauze Cotton Jogger Pants, $49.95

Farm Rio Rauti Puff Sleeve Sweater Dress, $195

Patagonia Women’s Fleetwith Romper, $119

Dressed in Joy Masai Women’s Hoodie, $75

Zuri Good Vibes, $110

Nisolo All-Weather Amalia Boot, $250

Universal Standard Classic Denim Shirt Chambray Blue, $96

Are you planning on trying to be conscious of ethics and climate change in 2022? How do you think it will affect your style and purchasing decisions? And what your favorite strategies and brands? Let us know in the comments or in our Growing Younger Facebook Group! 

–Jacqueline Zenn

You may like to read more of Jacqueline’s fashion styling posts like Luxurious Loungewear Under $100 That You Need In 2022 and Cabin-Core, Cottage-Core, Study-Core, Oh My! Deciphering The New Trends.

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