Sustainable Fashion 101: College Edition
By Elyse Capelli
College is a stressful time of life where convenience inevitably becomes our priority. It’s hard to manage a full school workload, extracurricular activities, jobs, and taking care of ourselves as it is; how could we possibly find the time and mental capacity to create a sustainable wardrobe? But, fear not, this comprehensive guide on practicing slow fashion is designed especially for college students and does all the heavy lifting for us.
Photo by Becca McHaffie on Unsplash
How to Sustain an Ethically Conscious Wardrobe
1. THRIFTING. THRIFTING. THRIFTING.
Buying secondhand clothes is probably my personal favorite slow fashion practice solely because it’s so accessible! My college town is full of big-name thrift stores and a great group of “hole-in-the-wall” stores. There’s always something for everyone’s personal style, especially with a large student population donating their clothes and contributing to a sustainable fashion cycle. Going thrift shopping is a great excuse to be active, get out of your house or dorm, and hang out with your friends! A shopping trip doesn’t have to kill your bank account or the environment. I love to engage in thrifting challenges with my friends and buy outfits for each other, select pieces for monochromatic outfits, or upcycle a piece to create something new.
2. UPCYCLING. UPCYCLING. UPCYCLING.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a secondhand store wishing our best find of the day fit us a little better here and there or that it had a different shape. The solution is easy: upcycling! The coolest part of upcycling—the process of taking something, like old clothing or fabric, and turning it into a new piece that is more valuable and useful—is that we hold the power to make any existing piece of clothing OUR OWN. I believe fast fashion culture has convinced us that we must constantly be turning our closets as new trends emerge; this is a false narrative they have projected onto consumers. You can elevate your wardrobe not only by upcycling finds from thrift stores but also from your own closet! Learning to upcycle is a form of empowerment; you have pure creative freedom, hold the capability to curate anything for YOU, and can liberate yourself from the chains the fast fashion industry has on us. Fashion is one of the most popular forms of expression; why not make your style entirely yours?
3. CLOSET SWAPS. CLOSET SWAPS. CLOSET SWAPS.
One of the best parts of college is living with roommates and getting to experience a variety of different walks of life, personalities, and, of course, styles! I often find myself getting bored with my wardrobe and itching to go shopping just for the thrill of having something new—shopping in my friend’s closets totally satisfies that craving! My roommates and I are constantly borrowing from each other, so we have something that feels new, but actually isn’t, to wear that day. Lately, they have been letting me curate outfits for them to borrow from my closet! It’s so much fun getting to see your friends rock something that you love and let it bring the joy it brings you to them!
4. CPW. CPW. CPW.
Cost-per-wear has become my most significant evaluating factor whenever I buy something new. Asking ourselves this question can often determine whether or not we should invest in the piece: is this worth it? If this item prevents me from buying others like it in the future, it might be feasibly worth investing in now. In addition, the cost-per-wear technique is budget-friendly. It alleviates unnecessary impulsive buys we often make (and regret later).
A simple formula for calculating cost-per-wear is: Cost of Item / Number of Times Worn = Cost-Per-Wear
The sustainable fashion community would recommend calculating CPW for your first year to see if the piece would be worth at least one year of investing in. If it is, you should calculate the CPW for the following years based on your personal preferences. This is how we can still spoil ourselves with something new but make purchasing decisions that are sustainable as well.
5. ETHICAL FASHION DIRECTORY. ETHICAL FASHION DIRECTORY. ETHICAL FASHION DIRECTORY.
Many of us want to make consumer choices that reflect our values, but we only have so much time and energy. Sometimes finding and choosing ethical clothing can feel overwhelming, which is why we at Dressember have created a directory of ethical fashion options that reflect our values. When you shop Dressember’s Ethical Fashion Directory, you'll have access to exclusive discount codes from our favorite brands, feel confident that your supporting vetted companies, and support the work here at Dressember. Shop the Ethical Fashion Directory at dressember.org/directory today.
Being a college student is hard, but being an ethically conscious one can prove to be harder. Half of the battle is committing yourself to a new lifestyle and finding a supportive network of like-minded individuals standing beside you; the Dressember community is absolutely the place where you can accomplish your sustainability goals. Remember to put these slow fashion practices into action as you build your wardrobe for this year’s 10th Annual Dressember Style Challenge! Rally a group of friends and sign up to become Dressember advocates today at dressember.org/funraise.
About the Author
Elyse Capelli is a senior at California State University, Chico,and will graduate in only three years with her B.A. in History; she is currently in the application process to attend law school next fall. Elyse has always had a passion for fashion and hopes to utilize her degree to uphold ethical fashion practices. In her free time, Elyse is a proud member of Alpha Gamma Delta, a volunteer at the Legal Services of Northern California, and a Dressember Ethical Fashion and Research Intern. She spends a lot of time outdoors with her family and friends and is enthusiastic about being a good human.