Are You Ready For A Wardrobe Reality Check?

In ‘Get Your Greens’, an ongoing series in line with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, British Vogue explores how the industry is advancing towards a greener future. Vestiaire Collective, the pre-loved fashion platform and editors’ secret weapon for sourcing past season pieces that got away, is asking its followers to take a long hard look at their wardrobes during lockdown. Do you know the environmental impact of the clothes crammed in your closet?

Chances are you didn’t consider the carbon footprint of the new trackies you just clicked to buy from that household-name brand, either. In line with Earth Day’s 50th anniversary on 22 April, the online marketplace has launched the Wardrobe Reality Check, urging consumers to build an eco-conscious clothing edit that will stand the test of time and not end up in landfill, like the £140 million worth of clothing currently being buried in the UK each year.

The challenge runs in tandem with Vestiaire Collective’s #fashionshouldfeelgood social campaign. “The topic of sustainability can sometimes feel a little overwhelming, especially when you consider the long journey the industry is on,” Vestiaire Collective co-founder Fanny Moizant tells British Vogue. “We want to empower people to realise that they can drive meaningful change by making small steps they can feel good about. In the end, it’s not the big statements that will drive the most impact, but the changes taken by individuals every day.” 

The crux of the Wardrobe Reality Check guidelines is of course the message that Dame Vivienne Westwood has been singing from the rooftops for years: “Buy less, choose well, make it last.” Moizant’s team has simplified the cleansing process, and promises that the initial clear-out stage only takes two hours. On average, between 53 and 79 per cent of a person’s wardrobe has not been worn in the last 12 months. So asking, “Do you feel good in that piece of clothing?” as a barometer of whether or not to keep an item soon clarifies which category it should sit in: keep, resell, repurpose, recycle or donate.

Moizant herself has a strict one-in, one-out wardrobe policy, and always considers shopping pre-owned or vintage options before purchasing a new item. But, until the Vestiaire Collective guidelines came to light, she was not aware of the damaging microplastics released when machine washing clothes. (The washing of textiles releases 0.5 million tons of harmful microfibres into the oceans every year.) For her, like the rest of the Vestiaire staffers – including a newly hired Chief Sustainability Officer – it’s about doing their best to be mindful consumers. Often a wardrobe overhaul is the best way to press the reset button, so we can start shopping and caring for our existing clothes with intent.

Go back to the start

Good quality staples made to stand the test of time should ideally form the core of your wardrobe. Investigate options from sustainable brands or resale sites which can act as the basis of your outfits today and for years to come. The next section of your wardrobe can consist of more trend-led pieces. These should still be of good quality, but it’s more likely you might want to switch them out after a couple of seasons. Consider reselling them when you’re ready for a change and investing carefully each season.

Shop vintage

Classic or unusual pieces of fashion history can be tricky to locate but are definitely worth the effort, giving your wardrobe a spin that’s unique to you and kind to the planet.
Consider a virtual aspect to your wardrobe Temporary needs for special one-off occasions can be met by borrowing a piece from a friend or a rental company, rather than buying something you’ll only wear once.

Try a simple hanger trick

Always try to remain conscientious of how you’re using your wardrobe – constantly evaluate how much of your closet you’re wearing versus what is left unused. A great way to keep an eye on this is to turn the hangers of the pieces you wear in the opposite direction to the rest. At the end of the season, you’ll clearly be able to see the pieces you didn’t wear once.