Food, clothing, shelter: the essentials in life. But what about the impact our fashion choices have on the environment?
Clothing is difficult to recycle. Many synthetic fibers are non-compostable and garment recycling is labor intensive, as items need to be sorted by color and material. Because of this, 85 percent of clothing in the U.S. ends up either burned or in landfills. Textiles actually account for 11 percent of waste in U.S. landfills, and globally the fashion industry is responsible for approximately 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
Clothing Swaps: An Eco Solution to Fast Fashion
We can easily avoid many instances of textile waste by changing a few behaviors. Many Americans have a pile, bag, or corner of their closet with clothing that they no longer wear. Maybe you received a few gifts still with tags that you have never worn? Instead of throwing away, selling, or donating clothing, consider a clothing swap as a great way to clear out unwanted items, score new pieces, and avoid waste being sent to landfills.
Swaps are also a fun way to engage friends, save money, and build enthusiasm around sustainable living.
Here are a few pro tips for a smooth clothing swap
1. Be Mindful of Your Guest List
Try to invite a well-rounded group so each guest will find clothing in their size. Try to match guests with similar taste and styles as well.
2. Think Quality over Quantity
Ask friends to bring a limited number of quality pieces instead of a few trash bags. This gives guests time to focus on items and perhaps even hear a story about where it is from and adventures it went on.
3. Provide Space to Display
Make sure you have enough space either on tables or blankets on the ground to lay clothing out.
4. Make It Festive
To help people get in the right mood, play music, and serve friends with snacks and drinks
5. Create a Dressing Room
Consider creating a space for guests to try on clothing.
6. Decide What to Do with Leftovers
Inevitably some clothing will be leftover. Arrange ahead of time for one individual to take clothing to be donated or have each guest be responsible for their own items.
If your swap goes well, you may consider hosting one seasonally with friends. Many of us have seen our preferences and size change throughout the past few years of the pandemic, so regular clothing swaps can be a great way to revitalize your wardrobe and regularly catch up with friends.
If you are interested in learning more about the fashion industry’s impact check out Sustainable America’s post, Jumpstarting Sustainable Fashion: From Big Companies to Our Closets.
Chakula, mavazi, makao: vitu vya lazima maishani. Lakini vipi kuhusu athari za mitindo yetu kwa mazingira? Ni vigumu kurudisha nguo katika hali ya upya. Nyuzi nyingi za synthetic hazina compostable na nguo recycling ni kazi kubwa, kama vitu zinahitaji kuwa sorted kwa rangi na nyenzo. Kwa sababu hiyo, asilimia 85 ya nguo zinazotengenezwa nchini Marekani huchomwa au kutupwa kwenye mabwawa ya taka. Kwa mfano, nguo ni sehemu ya takriban asilimia 11 ya taka katika majumba ya taka nchini Marekani, na sekta ya mitindo ni sehemu ya asilimia 10 ya uzalishaji wa gesi za chafu duniani. Kubadilishana nguo: Suluhisho la Eco kwa Mtindo wa Haraka Tunaweza kuepuka kwa urahisi visa vingi vya taka ya nguo kwa kubadilisha tabia chache. Wamarekani wengi wana rundo, mfuko, au kona ya kabati lao lenye nguo ambazo hawavalii tena. Labda umepokea zawadi chache ambazo bado zina vitambulisho ambavyo hujawahi kuvaa? Badala ya kutupa, kuuza, au kutoa nguo, fikiria kubadilishana nguo kama njia nzuri ya kuondoa vitu visivyotakiwa, kupata vipande vipya, na kuepuka taka kutumwa kwenye matope. Swaps pia ni njia ya kufurahisha ya kujihusisha na marafiki, kuokoa pesa, na kujenga shauku karibu na maisha endelevu. Hapa ni baadhi ya tips kwa ajili ya kubadilishana nguo laini. Jitahidi kuwakaribisha wageni wengi ili kila mgeni apate nguo za saizi yake. Jaribu kufanikisha wageni wenye ladha na mitindo kama hiyo pia. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Fikiria ubora juu ya wingi Waulize marafiki walete idadi ndogo ya vipande vya ubora badala ya mifuko michache ya taka. Hii huwapa wageni muda wa kuzingatia vitu na labda hata kusikia hadithi kuhusu mahali ambapo ni kutoka na adventures ni akaenda juu. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Kuandaa nafasi ya kuonyesha: Hakikisha una nafasi ya kutosha juu ya meza au blanketi kwenye ardhi kuweka nguo. 4. Uwe na uhakika Kufanya ni sherehe Ili kuwasaidia watu kupata katika hali nzuri, kucheza muziki, na kuhudumia marafiki na vitafunio na vinywaji 5. Kuunda chumba cha kuvaa Fikiria kuunda nafasi kwa ajili ya wageni kujaribu juu ya nguo. 6. Uwe na uhakika Kuamua Nini Kufanya na Mabaki Bila shaka baadhi ya nguo zitabaki. Panga mapema kwa mtu mmoja kuchukua nguo za kuchangia au kila mgeni awe na jukumu la vitu vyake mwenyewe. Ikiwa kubadilishana kwako kunaendelea vizuri, waweza kufikiria kufanya kubadilishana kwa majira pamoja na marafiki. Wengi wetu tumeona mapendekezo yetu na ukubwa wetu ukibadilika katika miaka michache iliyopita ya janga, kwa hivyo kubadilishana nguo mara kwa mara inaweza kuwa njia nzuri ya kuamsha wardrobe yako na kukutana na marafiki mara kwa mara. Ikiwa una nia ya kujifunza zaidi juu ya athari za tasnia ya mitindo angalia chapisho la Amerika Endelevu, Jumpstarting Sustainable Fashion: Kutoka Kampuni Kubwa hadi Kabati Letu.