We all feel a certain amount of pressure when it comes to owning new and trendy clothes. With each passing season, there are new, cool, hip clothes available in stores and online. We're often told that we have to adapt to these new styles and trends. And yes, it's fun to shop, put together cute new outfits, and snag clothes you love! But hyper-consumerism not only hurts our wallets, but also the environment. I've put together a few tips for you to transform your wardrobe affordably and sustainably.

3 tips to transform your wardrobe affordably and sustainably

1. Clothes swap with family or friends

My first clothing swap was organized by the student council of my degree program. I'd never heard of this concept before and had never considered how useful it actually was. The principle is simple: Each participant brings discarded clothing and offers it for exchange. All clothes you bring with you should, of course, be clean and intact.

Whether you end up swapping a sweater for a tank top, pants for a jacket, or a designer bag for a tote bag is up to you. The only condition is that both parties are happy with the swap. Of course, you can also give away or sell items of clothing; but, as the name suggests, the main focus of a clothing swap is the exchange.

At the university clothing swap I participated in, all Clothes that were left over at the end were donated to an organization for people in needI think that's a great idea, and it's definitely something you could consider for a clothing swap with family or friends.

What I like so much about the principle is that you can Ghas a different motivation to clean out your wardrobe: You're not alone in this, you have a deadline for the clothes swap (which makes it easier to get motivated) and you have new clothes in sight!

So why not start a clothing swap with colleagues, friends, or family members? In times of WhatsApp groups, email lists, and social media, organizing such an event is child's play! can also be wonderfully combined with events such as summer festivals, garden parties or even film evenings.

2. Enhance existing garments

Whether it's stains, holes, or simply a color you're tired of, there are plenty of ways to upgrade existing clothes you actually like but somehow don't wear anymore and give them a new lease of life. On YouTube, Instagram, or Pinterest, for example, there are tons of inspiration for such DIY ideas (“DIY” stands for “do it yourself”). TheSorryGirls For example, in one of their latest videos, they show three ways to “make stains on clothes disappear.”

Last year, I grabbed three old, plain T-shirts I found in my closet and tie-dyed them. Because one of the shirts was way too big for me, I also quickly turned it into a crop top. cut to sizeAnd just like that, I had three “new” items of clothing!
By the way, Batik Also great as an activity for children – after all, you can't mess around with paints so freely every day, right?

So if there are clothes that you hardly wear anymore and want to give away, it's worth considering whether you can spruce up the garments with a fun sewing or crafting project.

Have existing garments tailored to flatter your body shape

Speaking of tailoring, our bodies change several times throughout our lives. Children often grow overnight, pregnancies require a lot of room, and weight gain or loss can occur for a variety of reasons. All of this impacts the clothing we need.
But far too rarely do we think about adapting existing clothes to our changing bodies, and go shopping for new clothes instead. Simply because it feels like the quicker and easier solution. Tailors often even cheaper than buying a new piece of clothing. Perhaps there is also a sewing enthusiast in your environment who would make small changes for you for free?

Not all garments can be adjusted "just like that." Sometimes the right fabric is simply missing, or the damage is irreparable. That's not my point. Rather, I'm concerned that theThe option of tailoring is becoming more present in our mindsBecause often more is possible than we initially think.

3. Shop secondhand before buying new clothes

A point that may be obvious, but perhaps not. Because although the growing awareness of our environment Although shopping for used clothing has become more popular again in recent years, it still has a somewhat frowned-upon reputation in certain circles. "Second-hand clothing smells," "Clothes are only given away when something is wrong with them," or "in second-hand shops, you only find clothes from the 70s" – all of these are Prejudicesthat still exist. Admittedly, you do have to have some time when shopping secondhand. And yes, there are shops that take advantage of the emerging hype surrounding secondhand and offer their clothes at completely inflated prices. But these things shouldn't stop you from at least trying it out. try out.

If you are reluctant to leave the house, you can Online platforms How Vinted to use.There you can List and sell clothesthat you want to get rid of, as well as used clothes from other people buyThe entire buying and selling process is made very easy. Vinted (formerly Clothes roundabout) I've already made quite a few bargains!

Bonus tip: 5 questions you should ask yourself before buying new clothes

1. Does this item of clothing actually enrich my wardrobe?

2. Can it be styled in different ways?

3. Does the color match the rest of my clothes?

4. What about the quality of the garment? Is it sustainable and durable?

5. Will I still wear this item of clothing next year?

These questions will help you make more sustainable purchasing decisions. If you can answer all or most of the questions with "yes," then you're well on your way to conscious consumer behavior. :-)

If you would like to learn more about sustainability, mindfulness, healthy eating or family and pregnancy, Check out more exciting blog articles on these topics here.