5 simple tips to become a better sustainable shopper in 2020

Marie Kondo Your Wardrobe

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“A great exercise I did when ‘Marie Kondo-ing’ my wardrobe was to actually take all my clothes out, think about what I owned, and match new pieces together to create different looks. It’s a fun and creative way to restyle your wardrobe and fall back in love with older and neglected pieces. When looking at your clothing, get creative and be bold with mix and matching items you haven’t thought of before.

Marie Kondo’s method of ‘sparking joy’ is a very easy method, and while a tad time consuming the first time, it is worth it. I would suggest looking up the process or reading her book. But the simple premise is holding each piece of clothing you own and asking yourself if it sparks joy for you. If it does, keep it. If it doesn’t, get rid of it. However, one thing that I felt was missing from her work is finding a second home for your items. In my next couple of tips, I share how to be responsible with your disposal.”

Swap Instead Of Shop

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“Give a second lease of life to your clothes by swapping instead of shopping. In Singapore, we’re lucky to have The Fashion Pulpit, the only permanent clothes swapping store in Singapore, where you can refresh your wardrobe at very little cost. Or get your friends or colleagues together and do a clothes swap.”

Breathe New Life Into Your Pieces By Upcycling Or Re-working The Piece You Have

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“Another great option is to upcycle or rework some of the pieces you have. There are a lot of great workshops that you can join in Singapore that provide guidance and the tools to be able to do this. If you’re looking for some workshops to join, join our newsletter. We do a weekly summary of sustainable events in Singapore and Hong Kong you can join. Or follow The Fashion Pulpits events; they do around one a week. “

If You Have To Shop, Shop Vintage Or Second-Hand Instead

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“Vintage or thrift shopping is another creative way to give clothing a new lease of life. With a little bit of patience and a good eye, you can find gems among the stones. If you’re into luxury, sites like Style Tribute or The Fifth Collection have excellent deals on pre-loved luxury items.

I do most of my thrift and vintage shopping when I travel. I went to Paris in 2019 and they have so many beautifully curated vintage stores to explore. For me, I look for unique pieces that I absolutely love. I don’t focus on brands or material, but something that I will cherish and wear for a long time. The Fashion Pulpit is a great place to thrift shop or swap, they have both options. Others you can check out are Refash, which allows people to buy and sell pre-loved items offline and online. The Kint Story is a new online store started by two NUS Graduates selling pre-loved clothing, which is very nicely curated.”

Try Renting Your Wardrobe Instead

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“If you don’t want to buy a new piece but still want to have something for a special occasion – renting is a great way to go. There are lots of rental options in Singapore to get a dress or outfit for birthdays, weddings, or even brunch this weekend. One of my go-to is Rentadella.

Founder Ming Bridges has an excellent eye and the site has great dresses that are beautiful and give you the extra sparkle for whatever occasion you may have. I have a lot of friends who use Style Theory for everyday items and designer bags on rental programs, which is great, and they have over 30,000 pieces in their inventory.”

This article was first published in Cleo.