Limiting your footprint comes from limiting your consumption. Every product requires materials, transportation, energy, resources, and more. If you use less, you will preserve more. My next challenge is to limit your consumption in your closet.
The first step is to think neutral and versatile when shopping for new pieces. An outfit that you will wear once is a substantial waste of everything that went into it, and the money you paid for it. If you need a very particular article for a one time use, consider renting, borrowing a friends, or buying second hand to donate back when you’re done. Fill your closet with neutral clothing that can pop with a bold accessory. This will avoid that one shirt that you only wear three times a year because it’s just too much for a regular day.
Next, think less is more. If your clothing is neutral and versatile, it is easy to keep a small closet. Black, white, grey, and tan can be mixed and matched together and spruced up with colorful jewelry, scarves, belts, ties, etc. Simplifying your closet may seem like a tricky task but learning to live with less is much easier than you may think and it makes choosing an outfit much easier in the morning.
If you like having a large closet and many options to choose from, one of the best ways to reduce your consumption without simplifying your wardrobe is to share. Embrace hand me downs and second hand shopping to make one article last until it cannot be worn any longer.
And don’t forget about your shoes. When shopping for shoes, the same suggestions apply but also think quality. If your shoes are versatile enough to wear almost daily, you want a shoe that will last. Buying new shoes every month would probably equate to just owning too many shoes and wearing each every once and awhile.
If you are looking to simplify your closet now, don’t jump straight to the end goal. First, go through your closet and decide which articles you have not worn in a long time or you do not wear frequently. These should be donated to second hand shops or passed down to a friend who would wear them more, not thrown away. Second, decide which articles are neutral and versatile and could work for you in a simplified closet. My suggestion is to keep these aside and try to avoid them. Wear the clothes that you would ideally get rid of until you can’t wear them anymore. This will ensure you have made the most of your purchase before deciding to retire them. Over time, your closet will very slowly shrink as everything gets worn out and as you replace the articles you didn’t want to let go of, you will be transforming to a simplified closet and a simplified life.
Lastly, don’t forget about recycling. Most curbside recycling companies do not accept textiles but there are facilities that will give you cash, like a scrap metal recycling yard. The small percentage of textiles that are recycled is saddening and I hope it’s because of a lack of knowledge not a lack of motivation. Don’t let your textiles end up in a landfill when you can make a difference. (Disclaimer: some places will not accept shoes, only fabric based things like shirts, pants, sheets, pillow cases, etc.)
Limit your footprint by simplifying your closet and limiting your consumption.
LIMITING YOUR FOOTPRINT 