Easy Formula for Looking Great without Harming the Planet
Do you ever feel like you have too many clothes but nothing to wear? Do you ever regret buying something online that doesn’t fit or match your style? Do you ever wonder how much your fashion choices affect the environment?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone. The fashion industry has changed dramatically in the last 50 years.
Retail technologies are designed so that we buy more. Judging from our clogged wardrobes and the amount of returns, they do a fantastic job. We are constantly bombarded with ads, influencers, and social media posts that tempt us to shop for the latest trends. Have you noticed how easy it is to order clothes from our couch, pay in instalments, and return them for free if we change our mind?
We sometimes press the “buy” button faster than we can think whether this item fits our wardrobe.
Quite often it doesn’t fit the capsules we already have or it doesn’t fit our bodies comfortably enough. Here we have two options - to return it or to forget about it pushing it to the dark corner of the wardrobe and eventually throw away.
One shocking fact about the fashion industry is that most returns are destroyed or discarded and not resold. This may happen only if the cost of reverse logistics and remarketing is higher than its profit. From this, we can only understand the true cost of its production and the value of the materials used. Another shocking fact is that only 1% of clothes is recycled due to different types of fibres that cannot be separated from each other.
So the reality is that technologies make us buy a lot of clothes but they don’t make us look great. For two simple reasons.
First - there is no technology to ensure a perfect fit virtually. This makes online shopping a permanent waste generator.
On the other hand, style is very personal and you can hardly find a stylist that matches your mood or imagination in 100% of cases. Have you been surprised to see some looks in the Instagram feed that people are proud of? You are the only ideal stylist for yourself if you have proper easy tools. This is like every talented person can now create a fantastic movie with AI tools without knowing how to operate a professional camera.
But there is a easy way to fix this. A way to look great without harming the planet. A way to enjoy fashion without feeling guilty. And it’s easier than you think. All you need are two simple rules:
Rule 1: Try Before You Buy
This rule applies to any clothes that need to fit your body well, such as jeans, dresses, shirts, etc. (You can skip this rule for sports pants or other loose-fitting items). The idea is to try on the clothes in a physical store before you buy them online. We are anyway omnichannel and social and sometimes go to fashion stores. Even if you don’t buy the item right there you may do it later online but you make sure they fit you well, feel comfortable, and look good on you. You also avoid the hassle of returning them later.
Rule 2: Think in Looks
This rule applies to buying a whole new look or to any clothes that need to match your existing wardrobe, such as tops, jackets, accessories, etc. The idea is to think of how the clothes will look with the outfits you already have, before you buy them. You can use an app that lets you create and visualize looks with your own clothes and the ones you want to buy. This way, you can make sure they complement your style, create new combinations, and you won’t regret that the newly purchased item was a waste of time and money.
The huge environmental positive impact of such actions is the immediate reduction of returns and the reduction of potential deadstock (also waste) in our wardrobes.
By following these two rules, you will not only look great, but also efficiently reduce your carbon footprint. You will reduce the amount of returns, waste, and pollution caused by the fashion industry. You will also save money, time, and space in your wardrobe. You will enjoy fashion more, and feel good about yourself.
So what are you waiting for? Start today!
Think in Looks to Save the Planet!
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