Sustainable fashion is a complex issue that goes far beyond eco-friendly labels. We asked our senior stylist and sustainability expert, Clare Nall-Smith, to share her wisdom on how to adopt more sustainable shopping habits, teaching us how to adopt a more sustainable approach to our wardrobes, focusing on making thoughtful and long-lasting choices. Clare has over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry. As a stylist, she emphasises the importance of choosing quality over quantity and is passionate about circular fashion, helping you to curate a wardrobe that does all the talking for you.
THE CHALLENGES WITHIN OUR WARDROBES
Forget Victoria Beckham's luxurious walk-in wardrobe. The reality for most of us is often a wardrobe bursting at the seams, poorly organised and badly planned. We're confronted with a mismatch of uncoordinated, ill-fitting, and unworn pieces. Not to mention all those clothes 'we'll fit back into once we've lost a few pounds' or the rail of clothes we just can't part with for sentimental reasons. Clare explains that mentally, this situation puts us in a bad place: one of confusion, low self-esteem, and guilt for buying those clothes in the first place. Because we fail to take action, we are then confronted with these feelings every day!
MAKING CONSIDERED CHOICES
To have a truly sustainable approach to fashion, we must look beyond eco-friendly brands and pre-loved or vintage finds. Sustainability encompasses the principle of making more informed decisions about our fashion consumption. It's about gaining a deeper understanding of your personal style, preferences, and daily lifestyle needs. Choose clothes that resonate with you, ensuring each piece has the potential for repeated wear. The concept of having a personal 'uniform'—a set of much-loved and versatile items—can be freeing and efficient as well as kind to the plane
