The Wales Recycles guide to a planet-friendly summer wardrobe

With summer just around the corner and maybe even some holidays in the calendar, many of us are turning our thoughts to what we’re going to be wearing when the sun finally makes an appearance. It’s a time when our inboxes and social media feeds are bombarded with fast fashion and the latest ‘must-have’ pieces for our summer wardrobes.

But with the textiles and clothing industry one of the most polluting, and Wales aiming to become a zero-waste nation by 2050, now’s the time to make planet-friendly fashion choices that will also save you some holiday spending money! Here’s how… 

WRAP research shows that nearly two in five (39%) of us say our wardrobes are disorganised, making it difficult to know what’s in there. It’s more likely among 18 to 34s (46%) and, as any parent will relate, those of us with children (43%)! So why not use approaching summer as an excuse to have a bit of a tidy-up in your wardrobe?  

 You might find pieces you’d completely forgotten about and it’ll be just as good as buying something new. It’s also a great opportunity to get creative and try mixing up different pieces to create new outfits. 

If your wardrobe really could use some new summer staples, whether for your hols or a music festival, pre-loved is the way to go – and it’s still new-to-you! Whether you head to your nearest charity shop or download an app like Vinted or Preloved, you might well be amazed by the vintage and second-hand treasures you discover while saving money and protecting the planet.  

 Just over half (54%) of UK residents say they’re happy to buy second hand or vintage clothing, so it’s no wonder that we’re also seeing more and more preloved shops popping up on our high streets. That means that if you enjoy going round the shops more than buying online, you can still indulge in a second-hand shopping spree. Look at Cardiff City Centre, for example – its second hand clothing boutiques, such as Beyond Retro and the Safe Foundation, are packed with one-of a kind pieces. 

WRAP research shows that in the UK, nearly half (45%) of us are buying clothing at least once a month, and around one in eight (13%) of us are doing it weekly. It’s also more likely for young adults (81% of 18-24s buy clothes at least once a month) and with rising household income.  

 One way of reducing the environmental impact of this habit is to choose where and how you invest in new clothes. Choose eco-friendly brands and think ‘slow fashion’, buying from companies who are serious about reducing their impact on the planet and picking out timeless pieces that won’t go out of style within six months. 

Summer is a time of year when there’s more likely to be a one-time-only invitation dropping on your doormat, with wedding season having the potential to create the need for a new outfit. Around one in four (23%) say they regularly buy clothing with the intention of using it for a short amount of time. Rather than buying an outfit you’ll only wear once or twice, why not rent instead? The growing number of clothing rental services are also a great way to enjoy wearing designer clothes for less.

You can avoid the need to buy new clothes by keeping your current ones in great condition and usable for as long as possible. Maintaining your clothes by following the care instructions will prolong their life, and nearly three in five of us in the UK (59%) are already going to a lot of effort to maintain our clothes. Similarly, repairing damaged items will give them a new lease of life – try Repair Café Wales when the need arises, or maybe even teach yourself a new skill via YouTube tutorials! 

 Finally, upcycling is a great way to add a unique twist to your clothes when you feel the need for a wardrobe refresh. This could be as simple as adding different colour buttons or using iron-on patches, or if you really want to get creative and learn something new, you could even try a sewing course and upcycle an old item of clothing as your sewing project. 

 The fashion industry is responsible for a huge volume of harmful CO2 emissions, but we can all do our bit to reduce that. Here in Wales we’re already one of the best in the world at recycling, and we’ve set ourselves the ambitious goal of becoming a zero-waste nation by 2050 (or sooner) to help tackle climate change. We won’t achieve that goal without making planet-conscious fashion choices, but when the way forward is as fun and hassle-free as the tips we’ve outlined here, we reckon that shouldn’t be too much of a hardship!