How Green is Your Wardrobe?

Don't just throw out your wardrobe and start from scratch; instead, take a second look at what you have and see how you can rework it, or what else you could pair with it. And when you do start shopping, don't choose trendy duds that you'll be sick of in a year; go for sturdy fabrics and classic shapes that will stay with you indefinitely.

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How to Go Green: Wardrobe
Eco-Tip: Choosing Green Clothing

All of these are fairly easy fixes, but the button is the easiest; all you need is a needle and thread to loop it back on. The others, since they involve sizing and more careful sewing, can be done by any tailor for a small fee—it's easier, cheaper, and greener than buying new.

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Doing your laundry by hand lets you avoid the harmful chemicals in dry cleaning, while we'd save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide a year if we all used clotheslines. Of course, if you don't have the time (or the arm muscles) to handwash everything, look for an Energy Star machine to save power—and really, there's no excuse for not line drying. It's better for your clothes too.

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How to Go Green: Laundry
Cut Back on Energy Use from Your Dryer
Detox Your Home: In the Laundry Room

Since styles and sizing have changed dramatically over the years, setting your heart on the perfect fitting piece is a lost cause. Instead, look for clothes that can be taken in or let out to your own measurements, fabrics that don't have stains or tears, and items you can coordinate with what you already own.

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Vintage Shopping: Everything You Need to Know to Find Perfect Pieces
Enienay: Reworking Vintage Clothing into New Classics

A big chunk of the environmental damage caused by your wardrobe comes from the chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides that go into growing or producing the fibers. Conventional cotton requires 1/3 pound of harmful additives for one t-shirt; it adds up quickly.

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Choose Cotton Carefully
Green Your Jeans
Organic Cotton: For Clothing, Baby, Bedding, and More

As with any other product, from coffee beans to jewelry, buying items branded with a Fair Trade label means you're supporting local artisans, safe production practices, and green consumerism.

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Fair Trade: Not Just for Hipsters
Have a Fair Trade Holiday and How

Even if you aren't a slave to the trends, we all have clothes we get tired of. Instead of trashing those old college t-shirts or your holey jeans, try turning them into rags, blankets, quilts, or other projects.

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How Long Will Your Clothes Live in a Landfill?
Green Wardrobe: By The Numbers
97.4% Net Energy Savings from Reusing Cotton Clothing

Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART) represents more than 1,000 businesses that, annually, stop more than 2 million pounds of fabric from entering the waste stream. Most of the pieces rescued wind up as secondhand clothes, but others are recycled into new fabrics for cars, furniture, and other home decor.

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How to Reuse Your Old Bridesmaid Dresses
What Can I Do with Clothes I No Longer Want?
Donate Your Spare Winter Coats

Bamboo, silk, and linen all have drawbacks in their processing, which makes organic cotton the best option here. Cruelty-free silk and organic linen are good alternatives, too.

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Great Source Lists Organic Eco-Friendly Fabrics
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It's hard to find secondhand shoes in good condition, but buying new doesn't have to mean drastically increasing your carbon footprint. Look for companies that have streamlined their production processes to minimize waste, and that use recycled materials and non-toxic glue to hold it all together.

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Where Can I Find Eco-Chic Shoes?
Buy Green: Women's Casual Shoes
Buy Green: Men's Casual Shoes