How To Build a Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe
If you’ve been wondering how to build a sustainable capsule wardrobe, you’re in the right place. And no, this doesn’t mean digging up a buried trove of clothing from a few decades ago. A sustainable capsule wardrobe is a set of clothing that can easily be mixed and matched, meaning less pieces in your closet, but more possibilities for different looks.
This is a game-changer for traveling, but it also helps you eliminate waste and keep a beautifully organized closet.
Ideas for capsule wardrobes
By season: create capsule wardrobes for each season with one for summer, one for fall, and so on.
By purpose: working from home, traveling, working out, business, casual, formal, etc.
By color: a neutral capsule (beige, white, tan, black), a warm capsule (pink, tan, neutrals) or a cool capsule (blue, teal, green, black).
Building a capsule wardrobe
The very first step in building your capsule wardrobe is to go through and organize your current clothing. You’ll want three categories: toss, donate, and recycle. Toss what you don’t want anymore and what can’t be donated or otherwise recycled. Then, donate the clothing that is still usable.
Following Marie Kondo, we can pile every single item onto our bed and ask the decisive question, “Does this spark joy?” before we resolve to keep it or not.
Recycling clothing can be as simple as making a few cuts or adjustments that change the piece into something you will want to wear more often. Like jeans that become shorts, for example.
Once you have your pre-existing wardrobe well and organized, the best next step is to figure out the pieces you’re missing. Go back to the basics and consider how to layer items too! Do you need more warm weather or cold weather articles, or is there a piece you’ve been meaning to get for some time now?
Find timeless essentials — tank tops you can layer, cardigans that can be casual or business professional and the most important item — that they all match. This doesn’t mean you need the exact same color, but you could go for beiges and whites, or denim with blues and khaki.
From there, choose new articles of clothing centered around durability, biodegradability, versatility, and comfortability. Natural fiber clothing is our go-to choice for all of those needs! This means nature-made, chemical-free clothing made out of cotton, linen, or wool, for example.
Make sure to select items that are going to last functionality-wise but also fashion-wise. That eccentric pattern might be on-trend for this summer, but may quickly lose its wearability as next summer approaches.
Choose classic items that can be mixed and matched into all manner of outfits that will last as long as possible. Bonus points are to be made for purchasing pre-used clothing to further boost your sustainability bonafides.
Don’t forget the accent pieces — handmade jewelry, a knitted scarf, a hat that feels like you. These can make your capsule wardrobe feel fresh, every time.
The last, last step in building a capsule wardrobe is to maintain your clothing as best you can. This means making repairs, upcycling clothes into pieces you will use more frequently, carefully storing items to avoid damage, and following the recommended guidelines for washing for that particular natural clothing fiber to thrive under.
Where to shop for a sustainable capsule wardrobe
Aday — made to be “ridiculously versatile,” their goal is for you to easily rinse and repeat items with their everyday, stretch and “all-day suiting” capsules
Eileen Fisher — committed to human rights and with items that are supposed to complement anything in your closet, you’ll love this shop
Toad&Co — designed for a vegan-centered lifestyle, Toad&Co offers a fun, modern pick of clothing made from sustainable and recycled fibers.
Project Cece — collates tons of other ethical fashion stores into one big website to simplify and speed up sustainable clothing shopping.
Buying sustainably can always be seemingly pricey. But, that’s because it is all too easy to forget the other ways your sustainable purchases will save you money! With sustainable clothing, a good trick is to divide that higher price tag by the number of times you will end up wearing it. From there, the timelessness and quality of the article of clothing will be self-evident.
A new wardrobe, a new you
Now your sustainable capsule wardrobe is in the works and you’re well past asking “exactly what is a sustainable capsule wardrobe?” But, reworking your entire wardrobe can seem intimidating. And many times, to be honest, it is.
Keep in mind that this process doesn’t need to be completed in a day or over a weekend. Building a sustainable capsule wardrobe can be as much about the process as it is about the result. Merely taking little steps toward your new, more natural wardrobe can go a long way in making a more sustainable future.