MAKE WAY FOR A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE! HERE’S HOW!

Fashion is a necessity, an art-form and an industry as well, but most importantly, fashion is a movement. It holds the  to uplift, provides an outlet where creativity thrives, and brightens lives. This sector that is estimated to reach a turnover of 38.2 billion dollars by 2023, has supported numerous jobs globally, and fosters racial and cultural harmony by uniting people worldwide. As a powerful means of self-expression as well, fashion helps a person be their authentic selves and wear their soul on their sleeve.

However, the fashion industry also contributes a whopping 10%  sector to the climate crisis, more than international flights and shipping put together. It constitutes a fifth of the global annual production of plastic, which is estimated to be 300 million tonnes. In addition, the sector exploits labour, rapidly pollutes and depletes natural resources, and uses unethical supply chains. The movement for sustainable fashion has rapidly expanded in recent years in an effort to bring about meaningful change in the fashion industry and globally to address the current climate emergency before it is too late by embracing accountability, optimising operations, transforming working conditions, and gradually eliminating waste.

Reading scores of stories and pages of statistics about the negative impact of fast-fashion sparked a major sense of urgency in the founders of AWare, a sustainable fashion and home decor label based in Belgium. AWare thus produces apparel, footwear, accessories, and items for the home decor market in an environmentally responsible manner using materials that are found locally. Their mission is to demonstrate that clothing and home goods can be made in an ethical and sustainable manner without compromising on aesthetics and quality. The company takes great satisfaction in its production method, which generates zero waste.
Now you can also introduce earth-friendly sustainability into your lifestyle with some minor yet impactful tweaks that only require a strong motivation to do something good for the planet. Here are the best and easiest tips to follow, from the co-founder of AWare’s parent company, Stijn Bevernage-
 
1. Mix-match-repeat to create new looks:
We will eventually run out of items to wear if we save particular colours or clothing pieces for special occasions or never think of pairing them together. Why not pair your all-black bottoms with the red purse and the beige shirt you wore to your most recent fancy party? Try novel colour combinations that you've never thought of before to get more wear out of your clothing.
 
2. Shop from thrift stores, buy secondhand clothing
It's not for everyone, but if you're up for the challenge, shopping at vintage stores or thrift stores can be a great way to locate one-of-a-kind looks without blowing your entire budget. Repurpose anything that would have otherwise been discarded by its prior owner and give it a second chance at life.
 
3. Do not give into shopping at every Sale
Do not hoard clothes no matter how attractive the offers are. Instead, take a day and rummage through all the clothes you already own, even old ones. You might be surprised to find tops, skirts or even pants in there that are spanking new!
 
4. Purchase a high-quality washer and dryer
Buying devices to make your present possessions last longer is just as important as buying clothing that was made with intention. In order to reduce fabric damage and assist your clothing get cleaner in less time, helping you conserve energy as well, there are now washing machines that select the qualities and volume of each load.
 
5.Choose durable materials for sustainable home decor
Making sustainable home decor is made possible by durable materials. Selecting a material should depend on how long-lasting it is, so that you may be able to use it over a good amount of time and thus minimise the need to buy more. Employ renewable or replaceable resources that are readily available and have a minimal impact on the environment.
 
6. Make your own natural home decor
If you look closely, nature has a lot of resources to offer us that we can use for making really unique and customised home decor items by ourselves. Use dry leaves, seashells, dried flowers, pebbles etc., to make eye-catching pieces that add a special touch to your interiors.
 
7. Upcycle old or broken pieces
Did you accidentally make a tear in  your new tablecloth? Don’t discard it as waste! Utilise damaged and ageing items and upcycle them into beautiful art and craft projects. Make cushion covers from old sarees, artisanal planters from broken clay pots, or even vegetable prints on fading t-shirts, have fun with your imagination!
 
8. Donate or recycle, don’t dump
If you have grown tired of your current decor or wardrobe, make sure you give those products for recycling to produce something new, instead of sending them to the dumpster. You’ll reduce costs and negative effects on the environment in this way. You can also donate your clothes to the underprivileged who really need them, and that’ll certainly be a better thing to do than throwing them into the trash.
 
So these are the genius ways you can walk the path to a sustainable lifestyle that is kind to the planet and good for your soul. Simply put, taking action to cut your dependence on environment-unfriendly processes won’t just benefit businesses and consumers, but could also provide our planet a lifeline.Remember the principle: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Repair, and you'll be all good to go!
 
(Primary Keyword: ‘sustainable’; Secondary Keywords: ‘earth-friendly’, ‘environment’, ‘good’)