Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 2
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 3
Part 1: Opening the Door To Sustainable Fashion 5
Chapter 1: Closet, Meet Sustainable Fashion 7
Understanding Sustainability 8
Preserving our planet and preventing climate change 8
Treating people with dignity and respect 8
Calling Out the Problem with Todays Fashion Industry 9
The rise of fast fashion 9
A three-legged monster 10
Being Part of the Solution and Avoiding Eco-Anxiety 11
Taking Action: What You Can Do to Increase Sustainability 12
Chapter 2: Starting with the Clothes You Already Own 15
Taking Stock of Your Closet 16
Auditing your closet 16
Organizing your closet 19
Unlocking the Wow Factor in Clothes You Already Own 21
Knowing the color wheel 21
Mixing prints and patterns 22
Accessorizing for a different look 23
Using styling apps 24
Working with Outfit Formulas 25
Defining outfit formulas 26
Plugging in outfit formulas 26
Chapter 3: Adios, Fast Fashion 31
Identifying the Real Cost of Fast Fashion 32
Looking at the fast-fashion business model 32
Costing more than you may think 33
Taking a toll on garment workers 36
Adversely affecting the environment 39
Spotting Fast Fashion 42
Identifying popular fast-fashion brands 43
Spotting telltale signs that a brand is fast fashion 44
Moving Away from Fast Fashion and Toward Sustainability 46
Confronting Greenwashing 47
Taking a peek at sustainability 47
Spotting greenwashing 48
Chapter 4: Shifting to a Sustainable Fashion Mindset 51
Shopping as a Sustainable Fashion Consumer 52
Avoiding Impulse Buys 53
Use shopping lists 54
Take your time 56
Being Trendy and Sustainable 56
Avoiding Temptation 57
Detoxing your social media and inbox 58
Fasting from shopping 58
Being wary of sales 59
Finding a sustainable fashion community 60
Taking Pride in Repeating Outfits 60
Part 2: Purchasing Sustainable Fashion Items 63
Chapter 5: What Makes a Brand Sustainable? 65
Refuting Some Misconceptions about Sustainable Fashion 66
Looking at Sustainable Business Practices 67
Sustainable environmental practices 68
Transparent supply chain 73
Ethical labor practices 76
Reaching for Sustainable Fabrics 76
Natural sustainable fabrics 77
Innovative sustainable fabrics 81
Understanding Whats in It for You 83
Quality items that are designed to last 83
Small batches and made-to-order items 85
Timeless designs that wont go out of style 86
Assessing a Brands Feel-Good Factor 86
Chapter 6: Buying Less but Choosing Well 89
Thinking Long Term 90
Calculating cost per wear 90
Deciding which items deserve the investment 94
Taking on the 30-wears challenge 95
Sizing Up Quality 96
Feeling fabric quality 96
Critiquing construction quality 98
Searching for perks 99
Assessing quality online 100
Choosing between natural fibers and synthetic fibers 101
Exploring Capsule Wardrobes 102
Creating your capsules 104
Gathering the capsule wardrobe essentials 106
Part 3: Going From Thrifting Beginner to Scouting Pro 109
Chapter 7: Easing into Secondhand Fashion 111
Starting Online 112
Getting started on the right foot 113
Going down the rabbit hole of online thrift stores 117
Measuring yourself for the perfect online thrifted fit 118
Finding Your New Favorite Used-Clothing Shop 122
Doing good by shopping at charity stores 123
Considering chain resale shops and consignment stores 124
Preparing for Your First Thrift Store Visit 125
Deciding when to go 126
Navigating the store 126
Dressing for thrifting success 127
Examining an item before you commit to it 128
Chapter 8: Upscaling Your Thrifting Efforts 129
Finding Hidden Gems 130
Buying Used Shoes 131
Examining used shoes 132
Knowing where to go 132
Disinfecting and cleaning shoes 133
Sorting Through Accessories 133
Jewelry 134
Scarves 135
Handbags 135
Belts 136
Shopping for Vintage Clothes 137
How to tell whether something is truly vintage 138
Where to find vintage clothing 141
Chapter 9: Donating, Selling, and Disposing of Clothes 145
Giving Your Clothes a Second Life 146
Donating Clothes to Support Charitable Organizations 147
The difference between for-profit and nonprofit shops 147
The scoop on tax deductions 148
Where to put all those clothes 149
The Dos and Donts of Donating Clothing 150
Making Some Cash by Selling Your Clothes 152
Consigning your clothes 152
Selling clothes to secondhand stores for cash or credit 154
Selling your preloved clothes by yourself 155
Saying Goodbye to Clothes That Have Lived Out Their Usefulness 157
Dealing with Undergarments and Socks Sustainably 158
Donating bras 158
Getting rid of old underwear 159
Recycling and repurposing old socks 159
Part 4: Keeping Your Clothes And Shoes in Tip-top Condition 161
Chapter 10: Caring for Your Clothes 163
Doing Laundry with Clothing Longevity in Mind 164
Making sense of labels 164
Understanding washer settings 166
Hand-washing delicates, sweaters, and more 168
Drying clothes differently 169
Keeping clothes fresh without over-washing 171
Deciding on dry-cleaning 172
Caring for Different Fabrics 174
Cleaning your cotton clothes 174
Avoiding shrinking your wools 174
Removing and preventing pilling 175
Saving your silks 176
Chasing the moths away 176
Making synthetics last 177
Loving your linens 178
Removing Stains 179
Deciding How to Store Your Clothes 180
Clothes you should hang 180
Clothes you should fold 181
Chapter 11: Repairing and Upcycling Your Clothes 183
Making Your Fashion Circular 184
Getting Your Thread Wet 185
Prepping your sewing kit 185
Stitching up for sewing success 186
Repairing Your Clothes with Basic Hand-Stitching 187
Using a running stitch 187
Doing the backstitch 188
Sewing on a button 189
Repairing a seam 191
Patching a torn or threadbare spot 192
Fixing snagged clothing 193
Joining the Upcycling Movement 195
Tie-dyeing your old shirts with avocado skins and pits 195
Making old jeans new again 196
Investing in Alterations or Other Significant Repairs 198
Knowing what alterations specialists can help you with 199
Finding someone who does quality work 199
Chapter 12: Walking Miles in Your Favorite Shoes 201
Considering Why Caring for Your Shoes Is a Shoo-In 202
Prolonging the Life of Your Leather Shoes 203
Everyday maintenance of leather shoes 203
Occasional maintenance of your leather shoes 205
Keeping Your Sneakers Clean 208
Machine-washing your sneakers 209
Hand-washing sneakers 209
Using Shoe Protectants 210
Storing Your Shoes Properly 211
Part 5: the Part of Tens 213
Chapter 13: Ten Sustainable Brands for Every Budget and Style 215
Loud Bodies 216
Wayre 216
Passion Lilie 217
Whimsy + Row 217
Amour Vert 218
Mara Hoffman 218
Kotn 218
Outerknown 219
Parade 219
Organic Basics 220
Chapter 14: Ten Ways to Shop Sustainably on a Budget 221
Shop Your Closet 222
Shop Secondhand 223
Shop Intentionally 223
Look for Affordable Sustainable Brands 224
Check the Sale and Preloved Page 224
Attend Clothing Swaps 224
Check Resale Sites 225
Consider Clothing Rentals 225
Calculate the Cost per Wear 226
Upcycle Your Clothes for a New Look 227
Chapter 15: Ten Perfect Clothing Items for Your Thrift List 229
Quality Coats 229
Special Occasion Clothes 230
Trendy Fashion 231
Nice-to-Have Luxury Items 231
Boss Blazers 232
Cool Leather Jackets 232
Fabulous Scarves 233
Cozy Knitwear 233
Clutch Bags 234
Versatile and Statement Belts 234
Your Favorite Pair of Jeans 235
Chapter 16: Ten Family-Friendly Sustainable Clothing Brands 237
Pact 238
For Days 238
Jackalo 239
Conscious Step 239
Patagonia 240
Tentree 240
Loop Swim 241
Many Moons 241
Firebird Kids 242
Mightly 242
Chapter 17: Ten Sustainable Shoe Brands 243
Veja 244
Veerah 244
Etiko 245
Nisolo 245
Wildling 246
Cariuma 246
Ethletic 247
Thesus 247
Good Guys 247
Pozu 248
Index 249
