5 Ways to Build a More Ethically and Socially Conscious Wardrobe

The idea of buying ethical clothes has been gaining in popularity. At one time, it was difficult to find brands that disclosed how their clothes were made and what materials went into making those clothes. Thankfully, now consumers (like you and me) have a much easier time finding brands who are invested in following and sharing how their clothing is made.

Clothes are necessary to daily life. There is no reason why fashion should hurt the planet or harm those who produce the garments.

I've been interested in making my fashion choices better for a while, and I have occasionally been able to purchase a few sustainable pieces from places like PACT and Nisolo. The problem is that even though sources for ethical clothing are more abundant than in the past ethical clothing can be pricey.

Recently though, I borrowed the book The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth L. Cline from the library. I had heard good things about the book before reading it, so I had pretty high expectations for it. The book absolutely did not disappoint. The book was incredibly thorough in explaining the issues within the fashion industry and how consumers can make changes in their own choices.

The biggest takeaway that I got from the book is that everyone can have a conscious closet regardless of your clothing budget or your personal style. Thanks to the information in the book and a couple of other sources, I no longer feel overwhelmed at the idea of having my closet align with my values.

While it may not be possible to build an entire wardrobe from ethical clothing brands, there are several simple steps that can instantly make your wardrobe more sustainable.

1. Wear the clothes that you already have. Even if the clothing in your wardrobe is from a fast fashion store, continuing to wear those clothes instead of buying new ones keeps extra resources from being used. If you like scrolling through instagram, #shopyourcloset, #30wears, #project333, and #glamcapsule can provide inspiration.

2. Have a clothing swap with friends. If you're like me, part of the reason that you want new clothes is because you get bored with the clothes that you already have. Swapping clothes with friends extends the clothes' use, and lets you get new clothing. I'll be honest that it's been several years since I've swapped clothes with friends, but I had a lot of fun when I did.

3. Thrifting is a good choice both financially and ethically. Resale shops are slightly pricier, but they are still less expensive than retail and save time compared to thrifting. I currently use Poshmark, and one of my absolute favorite skirts can from ThredUp. If you aren't using these yet, you should be. You can sign up using my link for ThredUp, and we'll both get $10 to spend on secondhand fashion.

4. Wash your clothes in cold water and allow them to air dry. This is possibly the easiest change ever to make. Making both (or even just one) of these changes to how you do laundry keeps your clothes in good condition for longer. I've had a foldable drying rack for years, but I've been lazy. (When I pulled out the rack this weekend, my husband had no idea what it was. Oops.) It really does not take much extra time and you can totally still use a dryer if you need something dry right way.

5. Use a reusable bag when you buy clothing at a store. When you can't buy clothing from ethical sources, you can at least reduce the extra waste of a plastic bag. You probably already have totes or extra bags at home, so this is an easy option no matter where you shop.


I hope this post has inspired you to rethink a few of your ideas regarding sustainable, ethical fashion. Creating a more conscious wardrobe is attainable for everyone. It doesn't mean that every piece that you buy has to be from niche ethical brands.

Personally, while I still plan on investing in ethical pieces in my wardrobe, I feel better knowing that I can make smaller changes as I work up to being able to afford better made clothing.

Full disclosure, links to books are affiliate links. If you purchase a product using my links, I may receive a very tiny compensation from the company.