Photo by Norwood Themes
Instead of throwing out old clothes, consider donating them to local thrift stores or charity shops. This prevents your clothing from going to landfill, and allows another person to continue wearing and caring for the item.
Check out our Eco Shops page to learn more about thrift stores in Toronto!
Photo by Joel Muniz
Clothing swaps are a great way to shop for new or gently used clothing without consuming brand new items. Swaps include exchanging gently used clothing in order to gain new items for your wardrobe. There are lots of swaps that occur online, or you can choose to host a clothing swap with some of your friends.
The steps for hosting a clothing swap include:
1. Create a guest list of who you plan on inviting
2. Set a time and location for the event to take place
3. Tell everyone who’s invited to bring gently used clothing that they no longer want
4. Host the swap, and trade clothing to get a whole new wardrobe
Photo by Sasha Matveeva
If your looking for an outfit for a special occasion or shopping for trendy garments that you don’t want to own for a long period of time, renting can be a great option for you! Clothing rental companies allow you to choose from a variety of product options, and some companies offer a monthly subscription where you get unlimited rentals. This is a great alternative to purchasing new clothing, and allows you to try new outfits without committing to owning them or paying the full price for a new garment.
Here are some clothing rental services that operate globally:
Photo by Charles Deluvio
Using a mesh laundry bag can help prevent plastic microfibres that shed from your clothing from going into our lakes and oceans. The mesh bag simply catches the particles while still allowing your clothes to be washed, and is an easy way to incorporate sustainability into your everyday routine.
Here are some places to buy mesh laundry bags:
Photo by Blissy
Instead of paying a few cents extra for a plastic or paper bag each time you shop, invest in a reusable bag that you bring each time you go shopping. This will help reduce the amount of single-use plastic and paper bags from being distributed, and save you from dealing with extra waste from your shopping trip.
Here are a list of places to purchase reusable bags:
Photo by Micheile Henders
While it can sound daunting to have to learn to sew or patch clothing, mending actually can be a fun and cheaper way to maintain your wardrobe. There are lots of easy ways to repair damaged garments, without using a sewing machine or having to purchase many materials.
Here are various tutorials to help you mend your clothing:
Photo by Kris Atomic
